Bradley Officially Signs: 3/30

[ChicagoTRS]

From watching the press conference Bradley seems like a positive guy and a great teammate. He repeated the point that he dislikes negativity from the media, which tells me any little thing could get to his head. Hopefully that isn't true and he has a clean season off the field.

This may even may be a larger risk with Bradley than his injury plagued past.

- Chicago will be the toughest media market Bradley has played in...I do not consider Chicago to be super tough but there is defeinitely more of a spotlight here than Montreal, Cleveland, LA, Oakland, San Diego, and Texas.

- Chicago will be the toughest fan base he has experienced. Generally I would say Cubs fans are great for any ballplayer...if they love you but Bradley does seem to have a knack for stirring up controversey and saying some of the wrong things. He is definitely thin skinned. Cubs fans can definitely turn on a player.

- This will be Bradley's 7th team in 9 seasons. There is a reason he has moved from team to team.

- He has had relatively significant problems with teammates, broadcasters, umpires, managers, media, and fans in the past. At 30 years old we can hope he has matured and put that stuff behind him. He is definitely trying to say the right things now. Actions speak louder than words, he definitely has some proving to do before I would be willing to take his word on it.

I think the Cubs are still a relatively good team for him. The Cubs have a decent leadership structure in place, are a veteran team, and Pinella is one of the more capable managers at handling difficult players.

Hendry was in a tough spot this offseason trying to fill the RF role. There were no great options. The other free agent outfielders are very mediocre defensive outfielders and right field in Wrigley is a tough place to play. This is were Soriano kills us...he SHOULD be able to play right field. He is a good athlete...he has a strong arm...but he is still an awful fielder. If you could put AS in right then the other free agent outfielders become a lot more viable. But it is not an option.

Maybe Bradley is the best option that was available but I think I would have passed if possible and explored the trade market. It is too bad Brian Giles could not be convinced to drop his no trade...he probably only has a year or two left but I think he would have been a more reliable shortterm option. I think I would have preferred to trade for an outfielder and sign a free agent to fill the vacant starting pitching role. Matt Holliday anyone? (just kidding...but not really...Marmol, Marshall, +our top prospect?)

I hope it works out but I predict it will end badly with Bradley...

[Posey H8er]

I feel the exact same way. If he has a Jacque Jones-like two week slump to start the season then watch out. The fans will destroy him in the bleachers.

I guess you just have to hope for the stars to align and for all to be well for him this season.

Still I like his attitude a lot.

[GYBE]

C'mon. Jones was booed because he was one of the worst players in baseball for a long stretch. The douchebag put up OPS marks of .678 (April), .592 (May) and .525 (June) in 2007. It was three months of Neifi Perez production.

Bradley's too good to be anywhere close to that. We can argue about his health or tantrums...but the guy is going to hit. Over the last two seasons he's been one of the best hitters on the planet. Last year only Pujols and Chipper Jones were better at the plate. I'd be very surprised if he's not our best batter next year and I think people are seriously underestimating how good he is.

The only people who have been really heckled recently have been Jones, Neifi, Howry and Sosa. You have to be one of the absolute worst players at your position for a long time or be Sammy Sosa to really get the crowd against you.

[The Sheik]

They never heckled Fukudome and he was god awful for a lot of stretches. I think a lot of you and the media are over reacting. He has a hot temper, but at least he has a passion for the game unlike a certain highest paid player on our team.

[Posey H8er]

Fukudome had that first good month and all of the fans rode that train until it seemed October when they realized he sucked.

I wasn't trying to compare Jones talent to Bradley because there is no comparison. It's just easy for Cubs fans to turn on players if they aren't producing well for a period of time. Like Soriano when he gets in his often cold streaks. I think Bradley may be the type of guy who cannot take the criticism.

When healthy Bradley will be a force to be recking with. And I think Kosuke will turn things around this year and hit around .285/.385/.400/.785. IF he could do that he would be a great number 2 hitter. But chances are he will be average to mediocre again.

[ChicagoTRS]

The only people who have been really heckled recently have been Jones, Neifi, Howry and Sosa.

Don't tell Dusty, Corey Patterson, or LaTroy Hawkins that...

[GYBE]

Well that just furthers my point that you have to be one of the worst players in baseball (or THE worst manager) to get abuse. Bradley will be safe.

[#1TKfan]

i think lou should experiment of having lee bat in the middle of the lineup and have bradley bat at the 3 w/ aram still cleaning up. i dont think i can handle another season of early double plays by lee.

[Howling Mad]

The lineup concerns will always be here as long as Soriano is on the team.

He only fits in two positions, first, or seventh. Period. Anywhere else in the lineup he's a rally killer.

I doubt Lou sacks up and bats Soriano seventh, so it'll be lead off. Now having said that, the rest of the lineup is your standard 1-7,8. Thats the way Lou sees it, meaning Theriot is really the leadoff hitter, Lee is really batting second, Rammy third, and so on.

Soriano is batting leadoff to get the most ABs. I understand he's a very dynamic player, but when he's cold, shove him in the 7 hole. Those K's kill us, especially starting out with 1 out every start of the game.

I'd put money down on it that Lou keeps his philosophy and continues to bat Lee third. He will be unconventional and put Lee and Rammy back to back with Bradley batting 5th, and Soto behind.

Soriano
Fontenot
Lee
Rammy
Bradley
Soto
Fukudome
Theriot
Peavy

[Howling Mad]

He'll think if he has Fontenot in the two hole, that'll be enough to break up the right-hand-heavy bats.

pretty balanced

righty
lefty
righty
righty
switchy
righty
lefty
righty
golden arm

[AT350Kobra]

I think Bradley will work out good. Like others have said he showed a very positive attitude during the press conference and I think he'll definitely spark the team.

[ChicagoTRS]

Are you guys really basing your hopes on the fact he showed a positive attitude during his press conference?

I think there are things to base hope on...but what he says in his introductory press conference is not one of the things.

[AT350Kobra]

I'd rather him come in with a positive attitude than a negative one.

[Posey H8er]

I care more about him staying healthy than not getting along with teammates/fans.

That being said the press conference showed me that Milton does have a great attitude but he can't take any sort of criticism. If he plays well things should be fine and we will not have to worry about the dynamite being ignited...

[ChicagoTRS]

I hate this signing. Reasons:

1) We can only really count on him to play 2/3 of the season. He has only played over 100 games in a season twice in a 9 year career.

2) No one is mentioning that he is a far better hitter from the right side of the plate. The entire point was to get a right fielder to give us left handed protection in the lineup. Well Bradley is a switch hitter who mashes LHP and is average vs RHP..how does this solve our problems against tough RHP?

3) He has had anger/clubhouse issues at almost every stop of his multi-stop major league career. Prediction...Bradley makes and error in right field with our other resident head case Big Z on the mound = all out dugout brawl.

If by some miracle Bradley can stay healthy for a season or two it has the potential to be a good signing but probably a much better chance we will regret this signing.

If the team can work a deal for Peavy then we should be in good shape. But personally I think it is a longshot. San Diego is going to hold him to the trade deadline...they are asking for teams top couple prospects right now and I do not see us giving up that much. We probably do not have a prospect pitcher that fits what they want.

I hate that I was right...I would have taken any of the other free agent outfielders over this guy. The sad thing is they have outperformed Bradley and came cheaper. We are stuck with this ass-wipe for 3 years...