I don't know about "without the talent." Bradley ripped it up last year in 2/3rds of a season, and he finally looked like he actually put all that talent to good use. He looks more like Carl Everett without the work ethic; Everett for all his craziness and insanity usually plays hard. His teamates don't respect him because he's completely bonkers, but I never heard Everett not play hard or stay in the gym. Bradley doesn't run out pop flies and doesn't keep himself in shape (hence all his injury problems). What a shame.

David,

Tried to send you an email, but it bounced, saying your box is full. Nothing vital, so I'll reproduce it here (nothing private, either), but thought you'd want to know about the mailbox issue.

Not sure if anyone pointed this out to you, but you're included in the Baseball Digest over at Kinja.com.

Kinja is some kind of new "RSS aggregator for people who don't know what an RSS feed is," according to co-founder Nick Denton. Basically, it lets you check the RSS feeds (and better snippets on the posts) from anywhere you can get to the 'net. Kind of cool.

Anyway, the reason I bring it up to YOU is because they have "Editor's Digests" (digests are users lists of blogs and their feeds) on a variety of topics, including baseball, and your blog is an "editor's choice," apparently.

Good on you. ;)

Loved the April Fools entries, by the way.

He's got loads of talent. It's sort of odd that a thing, seemingly as small as this, can break the camel's back. And is it me or are the Indians throwing all their leverage out the door? Saying they're definitely trading a player by weeks end puts you in a bind.

Someone's certainly going to get a great deal on a great, but troubled, player.

It's a lot easier to do the right thing when you're not expected to win, you know? Think the Sox, Yanks, or Cubs would be so strict?

Brian,

Yes, speaking of the Sox, I think Guillen would be.

Sure it's easy to criticize a ballplayer and call him a "Baseball Jerk." But did you ever stop to think about it from Bradley's point of view? The guy has gone through his whole life having people on the street CHALLENGE HIM TO PARCHEESI GAMES!

Plus, he's on my fantasy team.

I don't know about the wisdom of dumping Milton. I really don't think he's done anything that bad. He has emotional problems (well-documented), the Indians (or whoever gets him) would do well to get him in therapy. I think he is worth the risk for 9/10ths of the teams in baseball. What's often overlooked is that he is an excellent centerfielder.

Apparently (according to sources at brewerfan.net) the Wisconsin State Journal reported the Brewers turned down an offer of Bradley for Junior Spivey. That was a very stupid move on the Brewers part, imo.

What do you guys think?

If the BrewCrew really turned down a Spivey-for-Bradley trade, then they are nuts. Not only is Bradley earning less money, he's more likely to have a higher value come the trading deadline (I know my hometown Cards may well be looking for a good OF sometime during the first half of the season).

The Brewers are a joke.

It kills me that the Brewers, Pirates, and Reds all are in brand-spanking-new stadiums (the newest ones in the division), all paid for by taxpayers, and they will have a combined payroll of under $100M in 2004. Absolutely ridiculous.

Jim, there's a train of thought quite opposite of your. Not sure I agree with it, but it goes something like this:

The Indians have a wealth of outfielders. Before Wednesday, Sizemore and Crisp were likely being sent to the minors - with Crisp a likely trade bait (or leadoff hitter) and Sizemore likely to come up mid-summer. Granted, the talent is still unproven, but generally agreed to be there. Oh, and don't forget about Lundquist who is injured.

Now, when IS the right time to deal Bradley? Wait until July? By then the other teams have waited you out... or dropped out of contention... and it's a buyer's market flooded with other teams.

By bluntly stating that he'll be traded within 72 hours, the Indians in effect have told any and all teams to give them their best deal NOW - or lose the opportunity forever. It's a seller's market, since virtually every single team - including your Pittsburghs and San Diegos and Mets (all of whom have supposedly put a good offer out there) - still have hopes of contending.

Again, I'm not sure I agree with this. Then again, I'm not sure I disagree either. I do know this though: the Indians have clearly communicated to every ballplayer on their team the type of integrity that is demanded of them. "Groin stain" - or not - is one thing. But having words with your manager on the field, walking out early and leaving yor SUV in the parking lot is quite another. Clearly, the days of coddling someone like Albert Belle are long behind the Tribe.

As a paying fan I expect a player to do his best. I don't know what Bradley's problem is, but for him to act as if he doesn't care is a slap in the face to those Indians fans at the stadium.