Milton Bradley: Thriving in the Shadows
A look at the guy who bats behind Josh Hamilton.
Ah, Milton Bradley. Just saying the name conjures up images of board games and temper tantrums. And not just the ones your nine-year-old nephew has when you beat him at Battleship. For Milton Bradley the baseball player, temper tantrums and injuries were what he was best known for, at least until this season. Now Bradley is one of the best hitters in the American League and a probable All-Star selection. He’s in the top ten in most offensive categories, including being the top man in both slugging percentage (.628) and on-base percentage (.452). He also has 15 home runs and 48 RBIs.
Of course, the RBI number would be a lot bigger if a certain someone you may have heard of wasn’t batting in front of Bradley. Josh Hamilton, the SI cover boy who leads the AL with 19 home runs and 74 RBIs, has batted in the third spot, with Bradley fourth, all season. The duo has been the most productive in baseball, and have powered an offense that has scored the most runs in the AL.
The Rangers have played Bradley in the DH spot for most of the season, a smart move considering his history of leg injuries. Bradley has managed to play more than 100 games only twice in his career and has made 12 trips to the DL so far. In 2003 with the Cleveland Indians, Bradley played in 101 games and batted .321 with an OBP of .421. In 2004, he played in 141 games for the Dodgers, hitting 19 home runs and leading the team with 71 walks. Unfortunately, that season was also marked by an ugly incident with a fan and an umpire that led to Bradley being suspended for the rest of the regular season. The next season brought more injuries and only 75 games. The next year in Oakland, Bradley played in only 96 games. He had 14 home runs during that time and an OBP of .370. The next season only got worse on the injury front. Bradley went on the DL four seperate times in 2007, playing in only 61 games for the A’s and the Padres.
But now he has found a home in Texas, where a stacked lineup and an attention-getting superstar have taken the pressure off him. Now, at 30 years old, Bradley seems to be finally putting it all together. With his incredible control of the strike zone and above-average power, Bradley should continue to be near the top in slugging and OBP provided he stays healthy. Of course, he missed last night’s game with a strained quadriceps. Here’s hoping he stays healthy and happy. Stay tuned.
