Bradley Adds Much Needed Toughness to the A's
HIGHLY-TOUTED PROSPECT DUE TO FIZZLE IN L.A.
The A's made a deal today for Milton Bradley that speaks volumes about the tenacity and gamesmanship of the talented, but not quite driven teams of the past six years
Bradley is a player of high regard around the majors, if only, the guys' on-base percentage could be separated from his yapping mouth.
This is not a slight to Milton Bradley, who has worn out his welcome in both Cleveland and Los Angeles by pubicly antagonizing his managers and by creating violent antics on the field, the A's sorely need someone to light their fire.
The A's are lauded as a free-spirited and laid back atmosphere to work for. This is great if you're a player who wants to have a great time while others win the World Series.
It's not clear if A's G.M. Billy Beane recognized that fact and tried to rectify it by acquiring a volatile player like Bradley or he couldn't pass up a great deal?
It may have been a little of both, except that the Dodgers had little wiggle room by reiterating that Bradley was not welcome back next season.
Ned Colletti, the new G.M. of the Dodgers probably felt acquiring a young stud like Texas League Player of the Year, Andre Ethier, was too good to be true. In the end, it just might be.
It would seem that Ethier is this year's proverbial red herring of minor league star whom the A's tout and then quickly trade when the false buzz reaches its zenith.
Remember all the blue chip prospects that Beane has traded for proven Major Leaguers who then languish in anonymity with their new clubs?
Mark Teahen who was traded to Kansas City a few years back closely resembles the rise of Ethier. He came out of nowhere as the next great A's rookie, except he played third and was blocked by Eric Chavez already at the hot corner.
Beane traded Teahen to the Royals in the Carlos Beltran deal that eventually brought Octavio Dotel to Oakland. Today, Teahen is nowhere near the player that the A's had advertised him to the rest of baseball. He hit a weak .246 with seven homers last year.
The A's won't have to wait for the first signs of eruption from Bradley because it would happen. For one, Bradley's career has been sprinkled with a problem with authority. He won't have that problem in Oakland because manager Ken Macha has little authority in the clubhouse. It's designed that way. If he dares to take a swipe at Beane, history as shown, he'll be on the first plane to Kansas City or Tampa Bay to languish.
The other player acquired by the A's in the Bradley deal shouldn't be overlooked. Infielder Antonio Perez might mean the end of Marco Scutaro in Oakland. Perez his .297 last year in 268 at-bats with the Dodgers. His glovework may not be as good as Scutaro's, but Ron Washington can fix that.
Make no mistake, Beane has struck again with an excellent deal that will add an aggressive dimension to the typical country club atmosphere that too often permeates the A's clubhouse.
The A's made a deal today for Milton Bradley that speaks volumes about the tenacity and gamesmanship of the talented, but not quite driven teams of the past six years
Bradley is a player of high regard around the majors, if only, the guys' on-base percentage could be separated from his yapping mouth.
This is not a slight to Milton Bradley, who has worn out his welcome in both Cleveland and Los Angeles by pubicly antagonizing his managers and by creating violent antics on the field, the A's sorely need someone to light their fire.
The A's are lauded as a free-spirited and laid back atmosphere to work for. This is great if you're a player who wants to have a great time while others win the World Series.
It's not clear if A's G.M. Billy Beane recognized that fact and tried to rectify it by acquiring a volatile player like Bradley or he couldn't pass up a great deal?
It may have been a little of both, except that the Dodgers had little wiggle room by reiterating that Bradley was not welcome back next season.
Ned Colletti, the new G.M. of the Dodgers probably felt acquiring a young stud like Texas League Player of the Year, Andre Ethier, was too good to be true. In the end, it just might be.
It would seem that Ethier is this year's proverbial red herring of minor league star whom the A's tout and then quickly trade when the false buzz reaches its zenith.
Remember all the blue chip prospects that Beane has traded for proven Major Leaguers who then languish in anonymity with their new clubs?
Mark Teahen who was traded to Kansas City a few years back closely resembles the rise of Ethier. He came out of nowhere as the next great A's rookie, except he played third and was blocked by Eric Chavez already at the hot corner.
Beane traded Teahen to the Royals in the Carlos Beltran deal that eventually brought Octavio Dotel to Oakland. Today, Teahen is nowhere near the player that the A's had advertised him to the rest of baseball. He hit a weak .246 with seven homers last year.
The A's won't have to wait for the first signs of eruption from Bradley because it would happen. For one, Bradley's career has been sprinkled with a problem with authority. He won't have that problem in Oakland because manager Ken Macha has little authority in the clubhouse. It's designed that way. If he dares to take a swipe at Beane, history as shown, he'll be on the first plane to Kansas City or Tampa Bay to languish.
The other player acquired by the A's in the Bradley deal shouldn't be overlooked. Infielder Antonio Perez might mean the end of Marco Scutaro in Oakland. Perez his .297 last year in 268 at-bats with the Dodgers. His glovework may not be as good as Scutaro's, but Ron Washington can fix that.
Make no mistake, Beane has struck again with an excellent deal that will add an aggressive dimension to the typical country club atmosphere that too often permeates the A's clubhouse.
