Lou Piniella thinks Milton Bradley has a good chance to succeed in Seattle because of the calming presence of Mariners star Ken Griffey Jr.
"He'll keep Milton loose," Piniella told Seattle Times columnist Larry Stone. "I think that Junior would take on a challenge such as this."
Piniella also told Stone the Cubs' strategy was to "give Milton as much space as possible," though it didn't work.
"We were hoping things would work out when he came over, and it didn't," he said. "I think getting off to a slow start hurt him. I can surmise that he probably put too much pressure on himself, and things compounded on him."
Bradley started 1-for-24 and was booed at Wrigley Field early on after not running hard on a ground ball in his first home start. It went downhill from there.
Photo: Milton Bradley was traded by the Cubs to the Mariners on Friday for pitcher Carlos Silva. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
While all of the former teammates and bosses interviewed by Stone had nice things to say about Bradley, Mariners closer David Aardsma issued a not-so-subtle warning to the outfielder in an interview with the Sporting News.
"As long as he plays the right way, comes to spring training ready to work and ready to be part of the team that we have -- good guys (who) put their nose to the ground and bust their butts -- we'll take anybody," Aardsma said.
"It's good to have a power left-handed bat (in) Safeco (Field). His ability never has been the question. It's the locker room-type stuff. As long as we figure that out, awesome."
Look for the Mariners to put these two on opposite ends of the clubhouse.
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I'm sure Jr. want's to babysit a hothead/bi polar newbie in his golden years. Milton got issues, Jr can't fix them.
Best of luck Milt, thanks for wasting our time and money. All you had to do was PLAY!!!! How hard is that?
Fergie - Great points, except I think you're overvaluing Colvin. We'll see though.
BTW, my money is on Aardsma over Bradley by third round knockout.
The Cubs to sign Byrd? His “career year” in 2009 was with stats like Bradley had in 2008—sound familiar?
Or one of the following dreadful—and I mean terrible choices:
Sign avowed Cubs hater (and 2x previously released) Scott Podsednik?
Or sign flash in the pan Rick Ankiel?
Or trade for the Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner – their only claim to fame is they are Yankees? (Remember Pepitone and Mercer? They can’t carry their jock straps—and they were NOT good in Chicago!)
Why don't the Cubs re-sign Reed Johnson to a HEAVILY laden incentive-filled contract? They can easily platoon him with Fuld for a year awaiting the arrival of Colvin and get as much or more than Byrd would give them for less money.
Glaring need? What about 2B?? They want Theriot to play 2B in 2011 with Castro at SS. OK, why not sign Tejada for a year plus an option and move Theriot now? Castro might not be ready in 2011 and it would take pressure off the system in the event he is not ready.
Or, sign Hudson (my first choice) for a year plus an option and keep Theriot at SS?