Milton Bradley has seen his star burn out as a member of the Chicago Cubs (along with many teams across MLB). When he signed with the Cubs this past off-season, I felt that maybe this was the new, fresh beginning he sorely needed. No one questioned his talent, but everyone questioned his mentality, fire, and attitude. The Cubs signed him to a 3 year, $30 million contract (which was unheard of in this off-season’s economic trying times) and was anointed the right-handed bat that would take the Cubs to the World Series.

However, Bradley has been injured, unhappy, and unproductive, while the Cubs are floundering behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals, a few games away from being officially eliminated from postseason contention. As with his past employers, Bradley has also brought controversy, ripping Cubs fans and the organization. Was it wrong to think Bradley could receive a fresh start with the Cubs, the same city and fans who sent death threats to then-manager Dusty Baker and former players LaTroy Hawkins and Jacque Jones? In 2006, Hawkins said “I thought this stuff was over 30 years ago…You can only take so much abuse until you fight back…To have people threatening to harm us over baseball games just doesn’t make sense…” Even Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster admitted that “sometimes it’s a whole lot easier to play on the road.” Bradley spouted off about the fans in Chicago being racist, though he did not give examples, just saying “he regrets there are idiots in the world…” GM Jim Hendry said that modern-day athletes have to expect criticism “it’s just the way the world is in professional sports…” To me, those comments suggest the Hendry expects the players to turn the other cheek to racist comments.

Bradley made a bonehead play earlier in the season when he threw the ball into the stands thinking there were 3 outs, and a run scored. Manager Lou Piniella talked about the play as if Bradley were a little kid “Do we need to go over math? One…two…three…” Johnny Damon of the NY Yankees committed the same error later in the year (though it didn’t cost a run) and it was laughed off and played out like a joke the next day.

On Thursday, Bradley took himself out of the game getting a hit because of a sore knee, before a pinch-runner, trainer, or Piniella had entered the field. Then on Saturday, Bradley was quoted as saying “you understand why they haven’t won in 100 years here…Everything is just bashing you. It’s just negativity.” Was this the last straw? GM Jim Hendry notified the team before Sunday night’s game in a closed-door meeting of his decision to suspend Bradley for the rest of the year and send him home. Hendry was quoted as saying “Recently, it’s become intolerable to hear Milton talk about our great fans the way he has. We pride ourselves on having the greatest fans in baseball…”

I doubt Milton Bradley will be a member of the Chicago Cubs next season. He will also be tough to trade, given his salary and his behavior. He would be a huge risk to any team. Maybe they will just release him and pay him the rest of his contract. I am not sure what’s best for him. Take time off and re-evaluate? Bradley is too talented to never be seen (or heard) from again. I think his best bet may be to join a team that flies under the radar and possible has a veteran presence to re-establish himself, like Pittsburgh, Seattle or Washington. The combination of Manny Acta, time in the minor leagues, and Jim Riggleman seems to have mellowed Elijah Dukes. The same can be said for Lastings Milledge in Pittsburgh with John Russell. I think Milton Bradley needs someone to believe in him and give him a chance, and he needs to do the same with his new team. Not everyone is trying to crush you.