The Chicago Cubs suspended under-performing outfielder Milton Bradley due to his “conduct detrimental to the organization.”  As communicated by Cubs GM Jim Hendry, this detrimental conduct was in the form of two incidents:

- Bradley saying that there was “negativity” surrounding the organization

- Bradley had a confrontation with hitting coach Von Joshua after refusing to pinch hit in a game situation 

Cubs manager Lou Piniella on the situation:

“You try things and you don’t do things because you don’t think they’re going to work, and you do your homework. Do they work out every time? I don’t think anybody is a miracle man, where things can work out all the time.

“In this business here, when things don’t work, somebody’s got to take some heat. It’s unfortunate. … (Hendry) is the same guy that put together a team that won 97 ballgames (last season). And he did a hell of a job.”

My thoughts about this?

“Whatever’s in the dark will come out in the light.”

As humans, we are always trying to hide something.  We put on that facade as if we have everything under control, knowing all the time that there’s a real issue brewing under the surface.  With Bradley, there’s always something brewing.  And the problem was that Chicago allowed it to fester.

Milton Bradley batted .327 with 22 home runs for the Rangers in 2008.

Bradley was what figured to be a huge addition to a talented Cubs team.  The organization, which hasn’t won a World Series in over 100 years, signed Milton to a 3-year, $30 million deal during the off-season.  The addition was met with mixed reviews.  Bradley had a past that was showered with inconsistent performance.  He worked hard, stayed mentally and physically healthy, and put together a great season in 2008 – one that earned him a spot of the American League All-Star team.  In 2009, Bradley has struggled mightily at the plate during in his first campaign with the team, only batting .257 in 393 ABs. 

Now of course, Bradley does not exume innocence.  His professional career has been filled with incidents that have either compromised his standing in the eyes of the fans and the media.  But GMs will always take a chance on a player that showed enough promise to make an All-Star team.  Especially one who made it on the American League squad – which is seemingly never void of offensively talented stars.

Since the beginning of the season, Bradley has struggled.  His frustration has built throughout the season, and the Chicago faithful (who are just that when it comes to their Cubbies) haven’t helped the matter.  The fans in the Windy City wear their emotions on their sleeves – and Bradley hasn’t been the only Cub to hear the disapproval of the fans (Alfonso Soriano).

But Milton has never been shy about commenting through the media to express his discontent – and Chicagoans should not be at all surprised by this.  And based on Piniella’s comments above, the Cubs had done at least some research on this guy before they gave him such a huge deal.  There’s no way that an organization is going to put such a large investment on the table without weighing all of the probable risks and rewards.

Given this, I think the Cubs could have done a better job at supporting this guy…helping him through his struggles.  It’s obvious to me that he’s putting lots of pressure on himself and he wants to excel.  His incidents reflect the nature of a true competitor…someone who wants to prove that he is worth that big contract. 

All of the drama withstanding, I have one question for Chicago Cubs management:

Now that the lights are turned on, what is it that you see in Bradley that you didn’t see before?