Dodgers’ Web Musings: The struggles of Milton Bradley, Frank McCourt, left field and more
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Milton Bradley the superb talent, Milton Bradley the charismatic, Milton Bradley the troubled.
Who can pretend to truly know what burns at the center of Bradley? Whatever hovers below the surface, too often he has allowed it to take him down a misbegotten path -- whether it be his temper or blowups with fans, managers, teammates, writers or the police.
Now comes his arrest for suspicion of making a felony threat to a woman in Encino.
On his blog, Paul Oberjuerge wonders if Bradley has finally squandered his last chance, while ESPNLA.com’s Jon Weisman takes an empathetic look at Bradley’s battles, while recognizing he is ultimately responsible for his actions. Writes Weisman: ‘Villains are villains, and let the hammer fall on them where it should, but there’s a reason that the most interesting villains are the complex ones. Because that’s reality.’
Also on the Web:
-- Yahoosports.com’s Steve Henson takes a look at the Dodgers’ offseason and sees a team counting heavily on its young veterans to rebound.
-- Frank McCourt has been avoiding the media for months. He cussed out The Times’ T.J. Simers when he asked for an interview at the fundraising dinner for scouts on Saturday, but he did stop later to give a video interview to Dodgers.com.
-- Baseballsavvy.com’s Howard Cole gives a nice review of Dennis Gilbert’s dinner for the scouts.
-- Memoriesofkevinmalone.com’s Chad Moriyama continues his look at how Dodgers have performed in the winter leagues, with a review of the Puerto Rican League.
-- MikeSciosciastragicillness.com’s Mike Petriello likes the addition of Marcus Thames as a right-handed, pinch-hitting specialist well enough, but has concerns if he’s going to be a regular platoon player.
-- Dodgerdugout.com’s Robert Timm is unconvinced a platoon will work in left, and wonders why Thames (pronounced like Timm!) and Jay Gibbons can’t be coached up defensively.
-- MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo lists Dodger Dee Gordon as the fourth-best shortstop prospect in baseball.
-- LADodgertalk.com’s Mark Timmons is convinced the Dodgers bullpen will be significantly improved this season.
-- VinScullyismyhomeboy.com’s Roberto Baly is disappointed Matt Kemp would sign to endorse those ‘Power Balance’ bracelets he calls a clear scam. Same for Andre Ethier.
-- MLBblogs.com writes ex-Dodger Takashi Saito has a clause in his contract with the Milwaukee Brewers that stipulates he cannot be offered arbitration, meaning a team the following year won’t have to surrender a first-round draft pick to sign him.
-- Steve Dilbeck