Player Profile: Milton Bradley

Fantasy Impact:
Milton Bradley should be the regular right-fielder for the Oakland Athletics this year. He has good not great speed and likes to steal bases even though he isn't very good at it. He has good not quite great plate discipline. He may tend to hit on the low side in batting average but it shouldn't be so low that his counting stats don't make up for it. He has good power that he hasn't fully displayed yet.
Injuries have been a problem but nothing that should be a long term problem. We have yet to see the very best of Milton Bradley. If Bradley can stay on the field by avoiding injuries and suspensions he could put up a career year in Oakland. The Oakland lineup should provide plenty of baserunners to drive in and nice protection in the lineup.

2006 UPSIDE: .290avg / 25 homeruns / 5 stolen bases
Background:
Milton Bradley has battled issues with his attitude since he entered pro-ball in the Expos system. But I think its important to understand exactly what issues Bradley has as opposed to what attitudes he is percieved to have.

The robber had just burst into a Safeway supermarket, stuck his gun against Charlina Rector's head and snapped, "B----, gimme the money." Rector, the cashier, folded her arms and stared right back at him. "My momma didn't raise no b----," she said. "Get your own damn money." The man fumbled with the register, took the cash and scrammed.

Charlina Rector is Milton Bradley's mother and her attitude is exactly the attitude her son has which is take no shit from anyone. Read this article about Milton Bradley while he was with the Indians. Believe it or not Milton Bradley has mellowed. He really only has one huge problem remaining: if you poke him, he pokes back. Fans threw bottles at Milton Bradley and he threw them back. Jeff Kent called him for not being on the field and for his style of play. he responded by throwing a bottle (a plastic harmless bottle) back at the feet of fans. He responded to Jeff Kent by announcing things about Jeff Kent that coming from just about any other player would surprise no one. The Media in LA was determined to tear down the DePodesta Dodgers and Bradley was the center piece. If Bradley is left alone he'll prove himself a great baseball player and not too bad a guy.

Year	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2000	MON	42	154	20	34	8	1	2	15	14	32	2	1	.221	.288	.325	.613
2001	MON	67	220	19	49	16	3	1	19	19	62	7	4	.223	.288	.336	.624
2001	CLE	10	18	3	4	1	0	0	0	2	3	1	1	.222	.300	.278	.578
2002	CLE	98	325	48	81	18	3	9	38	32	58	6	3	.249	.317	.406	.723
2003	CLE	101	377	61	121	34	2	10	56	64	73	17	7	.321	.421	.501	.923
2004	LA	141	516	72	138	24	0	19	67	71	123	15	11	.267	.362	.424	.786
2005	LAD	75	283	49	82	14	1	13	38	25	47	6	1	.290	.350	.484	.835
Career		534	1893	272	509	115	10	54	233	227	398	54	28	.269	.350	.426	.776