Pinella Tires Of Milton Bradley's Game
Manager sends slugger home after tantrum
By MARCUS RILEY
Updated 7:15 AM CST, Sat, Jun 27, 2009
This week, Lou Pinella said he still has fire, responding to suggestions that one of his famous blow-ups may be what's needed to shake his talented team out of the doldrums.
It didn't take long to witness the Lou we all know and fear, but it was one of his own player's temper tantrums that raised his ire.
Piniella told the mercurial slugger Milton Bradley to go home Friday afternoon after Bradley threw his helmet and went after a water cooler following a fly out in the top of the sixth inning of the Cubs game against the crosstown rival White Sox. Piniella told him to take his uniform off, and the two exchanged words in the tunnel leading up to the Cubs clubhouse.
"I don't like those things to happen, but I'm just tired of watching it," an agitated Piniella said after the Cubs' 5-4 victory. "This has been a common occurrence, and I've looked the other way a lot and I'm tired. I'm not into discipline, I'm really not. I'm going to put his name in the lineup tomorrow and that's it."
Piniella didn't get specific about whether he was tired of Bradley's antics in particular or those of his entire team. Pitchers Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster both went after the drink dispenser in the Cubs dugout at Wrigley Field earlier this season.
But Bradley, playing for his seventh team in nine-plus seasons, does have a long history of being volatile.
"It's something I promise you won't be happening again," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said.
Hendry didn't say exactly what that means. Banning Gatorade from the park altogether? Or punishment for Bradley?
Bradley was not in the clubhouse after the game. Hendry said he planned to talk about the incident with Piniella, and the two would meet with Bradley before Saturday's game.
Bradley has already been suspended for one game this season after arguing with umpire Larry Vanover when he was called out on strikes with the bases loaded April 16. It was his very first at-bat at Wrigley Field after signing a $30 million contract during the offseason. The umpire crew contended Bradley's hat made slight contact with Vanover.
Bradley has been clearly frustrated by his offensive struggles since coming to Chicago. After going 0 for 3 Friday, he's hitting .237 with five homers and 16 RBIs.
"We'll talk about it more tomorrow," Piniella said. "I'm not happy this thing happened, I'm really not. At the same time, it was time."
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago
First Published: Jun 27, 2009 7:04 AM CST
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