Hideo Nomo Has a Posse

Seriously, I thought I might have to wait until at least the regular season to kick this little series off, but the baseball gods give and the baseball gods giveth again. Ever since my favorite club decided to trade for Milton Bradley (not a bad trade, really, as it allowed them to flush the contract and BMI of Carlos Silva), I figured I would keep watch and follow his routine blow-ups throughout the season. I expect the Ms to do well and to be competitive in their West, but even if they fall on their collective face, well, there will always be the Milton Bradley Watch.

Bradley was interviewed by the New York Times – who were no doubt simply angling to antagonize the misunderstood outfielder and cajole him into a money quote or two – and asked about his troubles during his Cubs stint. Did Milton try to simply move on and allow the water under the bridge by letting bygones to be just that? Why no, he did not:

Two years ago, I played, and I was good. I go to Chicago, not good. I’ve been good my whole career. So, obviously, it was something with Chicago, not me.

Yes! The man’s been good his whole career. For the one year where he was not good, it was “something” with the city. “Something” with the fans, Wrigley, Lou Pinella, the traffic- whatever. Bradley claims the Cubs expected him to be a 30 HR guy despite never hitting more than 20 before his 2008 stint with Texas. Chicago manager Lou Pinella disagreed with the assessment.

Ah, Milton. It’s only March 4. The Ms have yet to play their second game of Spring Training. Already, the quotes are rolling in. It’s certainly some kind of divine intervention that the Mariners play the Cubs this year in interleague play; if only the game were at Wrigley. ¶