Kuzul

Milton Bradley has asked the Seattle Mariners management for help in dealing with personal issues.  Rather unsurprisingly, that was the breaking news out of Seattle tonight.

Bradley met with manager Don Wakamatsu and GM Jack Zduriencik on Wednesday morning and told the pair “I need your help.”

Zduriencik says the team will do whatever it can to help Bradley.

Bradley told the Mariners management that his issues have put him in a position where he can’t compete the way he expects and that “It’s been a long time coming.”

Not to make light of a man’s unfortunate situation, but has there ever been a bigger understatement?

The guys career has been, to put it kindly, “colorful” up to this point. 

I think the fact that he once sustained a season ending injury while arguing with an umpire says just about everything one can say about his career track.

Simply put the man has burned more bridges than Sherman did on his way through Georgia.

Yet, prior to this season, someone in baseball gave him another chance to wipe the slate clean, to begin anew.  The Seattle Mariners, in perhaps the most stress-free of markets came a callin’ on the Chicago Cubs and tossed Milton one last lifeline.

GM Jack Zduriencik was certain things will work out with Bradley.

Of Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu, Zduriencik said, “He allows players to be who they are.”

The only thing the big love-fest was missing was a throng of nature loving hippies singing Kumbaya.

And how did our poor, misunderstood soul repay that utterly naive display of faith from the Mariners organization?

The season wasn’t even 10 games old and we saw Milton Bradley start 1-for-22, flip off the Texas crowd and have two closed-door meetings with Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu. Discussions were all over talk radio about how long the Mariners would wait before pulling the plug, as Jim Hendry and the Cubs did last September.

Bradley is constantly in the middle of some sort of tension, some sort of drama and that cannot be a coincidence. And it can’t always be someone else’s fault.

We’re talking about a man who gets to play baseball for a living yet projects himself as if he’s some poor schlepp struggling to make ends meet at some crumby job.

This guy takes his incredibly blessed life for granted, sports a misguided sense of entitlement and then has the audacity to act like it’s a burden to walk around with his level of talent.

If you dare question his actions he has an arsenal of accusations to toss your way. Any criticism clearly indicates you are racist, insensitive and just don’t have the capacity to understand the strife he feels on a daily basis. 

Remember, he’s saddled with this talent that he didn’t ask for.

Not to sound cruel, or indifferent to what could very well be some significant issues the man is going through, but this is the man that the world sees Milton Bradley as. He and his friends can regale us with tales of how he’s a perfectionist and he just cares so much that his temper gets the best of him.

His agents can remind us of his impoverished upbringing and talk about how he tries to give back to the community.  They can say it time and time again, “he’s really a good person at heart”, but it will more often than not fall on deaf ears.

Because that isn’t the Milton Bradley that we know. The best way to start proving to people what a good person you are is to start showing it.

Hopefully this isn’t the beginning of some sort of Oliver Stone worthy, paranoia fueled diatribe by the mercurial outfielder where he fails to take responsibility for the world he has carved out for himself.

If Bradley truly is looking inside himself for answers and is serious about seeking help, it will be a profound moment for the guy. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether he is sincere.

One cannot discount the positive impact this kind if introspection could have on his life.  The shame will be if he is not  ready to be honest and this week winds up as just another odd chapter in the strange and twisted tale best describes his career to date.

I wish him the best of luck in dealing with the demons that are plaguing him, asking of him only one thing. 

As you work your way through these troubled times, look in the mirror with open and honest eyes. 

Then come back to us a different man than the Milton Bradley we now know.

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I’m in love with a man whom I’ve never met. My knowledge of his life is minimal, and he doesn’t even know I exist. Yet he’s affected my life in ways few have, and I preach his praises to any congregation that will listen.

I am, of course, referring to Chone Figgins.

For the better part of five years, Mr. Figgins has been the cornerstone of my fantasy baseball dynasty (and I do mean dynasty, as “Beall’s Bleacher Bums” have taken home the league crown in four straight seasons). Unfortunately, a glance at the back of his baseball card wouldn’t concur with this statement. Not that he’s had a bad career; quite the contrary. But lifetime averages of .291 BA, .365 OBP, 5 HR, 59 RBI, 100 R and 48 SB would hardly qualify consideration of “fantasy foundation” status. So when others question the validity of my affection for Figgins (which is often), I counter with this simple argument: position flexibility. To elaborate, Chone Figgins has the versatility to be penciled into six positions on the diamond.

For fantasy intentions, that declaration is not technically accurate, as most leagues have three umbrella “OF” slots rather than individual (LF, CF, RF) positions. Yet, keeping this constraint in mind, the ability to maneuver a player into 2nd, 3rd, SS, OF or Utility is a wildly underrated asset to possess in fantasy baseball. Anyone who has participated in a fantasy league understands the disgust and dismay of a vacant 2nd baseman spot while three outfielders waste away on the bench. But with the help of my man Figgins, this dilemma is alleviated.

Think I’m making much ado about nothing? Reconsider this premise amigo, for one of the hidden secrets to fantasy success is not so much dependent on how your players perform; rather, it’s how often they perform. Referring back to the scenario above, starting a less-than-filled lineup in fantasy is a recipe for disaster. As I researched through past final standings in rotisserie leagues, there was strong correlation between the top teams and high player at-bat/game totals. To summarize, the more at-bats your team gets, the better chance you have of accumulating statistics. A simply theory in principle, yet one that somehow alludes a majority of fantasy users.

Which brings us back to Figgins. An uber-utility man, Figgins was a late-season call-up for Angels’ 2002 World Series run, mostly serving as pinch-runner. In ’03 he opened his career roving center, transitioned to 3rd in ’04, split time in between 2nd, 3rd, and OF in ’05, returned to center in ’06, before finally finding a (somewhat) permanent home at 3rd from ’07 to ’09. In today’s day and age of ultimate ego in professional sports, few athletes have the humility to disregard their personal interests for the betterment of the team. You may think position rotation is inconsequential, but for many in the sport, baseball is all about routine, and the uncertainty of where one will be placed can add unnecessary anxiety. The fact that Figgins did this for years was relatively lost upon the baseball world, save for Angel fans and Figgins fantasy owners.

Figgins hasn’t been the only one to man multiple positions. Last season, Ben Zobrist burst onto the AL East scene by compiling a .297 BA, .405 OBP, 27 HR, 91 RBI, 90 R line while playing seven positions for Tampa Bay. Mark DeRosa was featured at five different areas of the field while splitting time with Cleveland and St. Louis in ’09. The newest addition to this list is Martin Prado , who is hitting .354 with 16 Runs in 2010 and has the capability to play 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.

Staying true to my Figgins philosophy, I was able to select Zobrist in my league’s draft this season. Tragically, Figgins himself was robbed from my grasps a selection too soon, and the Bleacher Bums will be without his services for the first time since I hit puberty. So to mark this end of an era, I bid this ode to you Chone. Farewell my friend. Farewell.

Start ’em: Jay Bruce, Reds. Although the Reds’ right-fielder struggled to the start the season (6 for 41 at the plate), Bruce has been on a tear since, hitting .348 with 4 HRs and 14 Runs since April 18.

Sit ’em: Joe Mauer , Twins. The reigning AL MVP might miss a few weeks rather than a few games while nursing a bruised left heel. Mauer was batting .345 with a .406 OBP and 13 RBI before being relegated to the bench. In a related note, we hear all the time about the “Madden cover curse” but how about the misfortune that has befallen those who have graced the front of “MLB: The Show?” In ’07, David Wright appears as the pitchman, only for the Mets to suffer a late-season collapse of epic proportions, losing 12 of their last 17. Dustin Pedroia ‘s batting average is 30 points lower to his previous season after his image is plastered in the front of the ’09 edition. And now Mauer’s foot injury. In the words of my friend John, “Not saying, just saying.”

Fantasy Flashback: This segment will spotlight a player who would’ve been a fantasy force had rotisserie leagues existed in that particular period. Today we salute 1894 Billy Hamilton . Billy had quite the campaign for the Philadelphia Phillies , hitting .404 with an absurd .523 OBP, while stealing 98 bases and scoring 192 times. Granted, the stolen base and run totals are slightly diminished when you learn Hamilton averaged nearly 7 at-bats a game, as well competing in a time when the sport was segregated. However, according to the ever-reliable Wikipedia, Hamilton is one of 5 men in baseball history to hit a leadoff AND walk-off home run in the same game. So he’s got that going for him.

Waiver Wire Watch: Fausto Carmona , Indians. After two seasons riddled with injuries and control issues, Carmona appears to have regained his 2007 form (in which he won 19 games). Carmona is 3-1 with a 4.05 ERA (which can be contributed to a 6 IP/6 ER performance against MIN) in 2010, and is owned by only 33-percent of those in fantasy leagues. While he’s not a big K producer, Carmona will eat up plenty of innings while posting a moderately low ERA.

Rookie Review: Justin Smoak, Rangers. Lost in the Jason Heyward-mania has been the call-up of Smoak, a unanimous top-10 prospect heading into the 2010 season. Appearing at three levels in ’09, Smoak combined to hit .290 with a .410 OBP. A switch-hitter, Smoak should benefit from playing in hitter-friendly Arlington, and despite a slow start, is 5 for his last 19 with 2 HRs.

This week in Jonathon Broxton: Broxton’s line so far in the 2010 campaign: 1-0, 1 SV, 14 Ks with a 0.00 ERA. You may inquire why Broxton merits his own section. My rebuttal: 1) The man fires a 100mph fastball 2) He rocks the muttonchops 3) Dude’s playing baseball despite pushing three bills and 4) Swaggers out from the bullpen to Black Sabbath. Need I say more?

Trade Talk: Today’s trade discussion centers on dealing floundering early-round selections. Patience is a virtue, and fantasy baseball sure puts this truth to the test. The natural reaction to an underperforming player is to ship his rotten carcass from your team as soon as possible. But don’t let a slow start sour your affection. More importantly, don’t get suckered into giving away a 2nd or 3rd rounder for 10 cents on the dollar. There’ll always be that guy in your league offering you someone like Jose Lopez for your slumping 1st-round selection. Remember that it’s a 6-month season and keep the faith in your draft picks. (That being said, anyone who wants to take David Ortiz off my hands is more than welcome. Apparently “Big Papi” is Spanish for “under the Mendoza line.”)

Big League Chew Player of the Week goes to: David Freese, Cardinals. Since April 28, Freese is 13-for-23 (.565) at the plate, with 3 HRs and 14 RBI. Hard to debate that anyone is “hotter” in baseball than “Freese” right now. Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week.

Spit Your Tobacco at: Javier Vasquez, Yankees. After 5 starts, Vasquez has logged 23 innings and racked up a 9.78 ERA. On the bright side, Vasquez still isn’t as despised as Carl Pavano . Yet.

That’s it for this week. Enjoy St. Louis at Philly, the Yanks invading Fenway, and the Brewers and Dodgers battling for National League inferiority. Class dismissed.

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After watching the Mariners blow game after game, it came as no surprise their hitting was amiss again Sunday.  Doug Fister’s great showing was all for nothing, and Ichiro’s stolen home run forgotten.

What is not forgotten is that as we enter May 3rd of this young season, the Mariners are batting .236 as a team. Let me repeat that: the batting average of the Mariners is at less than a clip of one in every four. This from a team which sports the player with the best average of the last decade (Ichiro), a lifetime .290 free-agent pickup (Figgins), and the fifth-best home run hitter of all time in Ken Griffey, Jr.  This, to go along with only a team-average .311 on-base percentage, just does not cut it.

What’s the answer? The Mariners could go many routes to try and rectify their problems as they did this past offseason. A possible solution is trading one of their top pitchers for some hitting, or trying to bring along Michael Saunders or one of their other minor league prospects. Both of these choices are acceptable within the confines of the Mariners’ outlook.  I have a more basic and easier solution: free agency.

Jermaine Dye, Joe Crede, Elijah Dukes, Gary Sheffield, heck, even Barry Bonds is available. Yes, that Barry Bonds. I know I am among the one percent of people who would actually take a 44-year-old steroid junkie but consider this.

He would be their best player.

At the least he would be able to help mend their dismal .311 OBP.  Elijah Dukes and Jermaine Dye would be great choices for solidifying the fourth outfielder position and would also be great fits for the Mariners’ clubhouse. If they can get the Mariners’ voodoo to work upon Milton Bradley, they can get it to work on anyone.

In the offseason, Jack Zduriencik did what he planned to do: get better defensively and fill all his holes in the lineup.  I give him full respect and admiration for signing Felix Hernandez’ big deal, his gutsy ability to trade away Carlos Silva for Milton Bradley, and then his turn around to pick up Cliff Lee and Brandon League for the lost talent in Brandon Marrow. The problem is like with Russell Branyan last year, he pinned his batting hopes on an unproven or over the hill player. 

This year it happened to be the first basemen again, with Casey Kotchman. Kotchman actually leads the Mariners in home runs and RBIs, which is not saying much considering the team has only hit five home runs and driven in 82 RBIs over the course of the first 25 games.  His average stands at a pathetic .226, and he has failed to hit in the clutch numerous times. Kotchman is a great utility or backup player; however, he is not at the level of being a starter. It is as simple as that. 

The Mariners are a significantly better team than they were when lead by Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre only two years ago. They have good chemistry and are actually trying to win games. That is why it is time for them to reach out for the likes of one of these free agents. My choice is Joe Crede, allowing Lopez to go to shortstop, and putting Wilson in a utility position just to give a little more pop from the infield. Right now it is anyone’s guess what Jack Z. will do, but Mariner faithful can just hope the bats will come alive soon.

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Four runs. That’s how many The Mariners managed to push across the plate in a three-game series that saw them get swept by the rival Texas Rangers. The lack of offense wasted not only a spectacular Seattle debut by Cliff Lee, but also another gem by surprise of the year thus far, Doug Fister.

Not that this is the first time this year that Seattle’s offense has let down a spectacular pitching performance. In fact, it seems to be an everyday occurrence at this point in the season.

Ichiro and Franklin Gutierrez are the only two in the lineup making any kind of consistent contact, hitting .320, and .317 respectively. After that, the next highest average on the team is .243, by light-hitting shortstop Jack Wilson. As a team, they have just nine home runs all together, and have gone one week since their last long ball.

Newcomers Milton Bradley and Chone Figgins have got off to horribly slow starts. Bradley hitting just .224 with 2 home runs, and Figgins at a dismal .209 clip. Mike Sweeney and Ken Griffey Jr. just look old out there. It pains me to say this about my hero, but Griffey simply does not have it any more. His bat is slow, and his knees are gone. It’s sad, but it’s true.

Seattle has the pitching to make a run, and a deep run at that. However they cannot do it without run support. So the question is how do they fix this?

I don’t want to sound like I’m panicking, I know it’s early, but they must act fast. If they wait till the trade deadline to do something, I fear it’ll be too late.

First, release Mike Sweeney and Eric Byrnes. I know everybody loves Sweeney, and Byrnes is a hard-nosed guy, but they simply are not getting it done. Go after Jermaine Dye or Carlos Delgado to fill the DH slot. Everybody knows they can still hit, and a shift to the DH role will keep them fresh.

Second, Figgins must get on track. If he can get on and they can put some offense in the middle of the lineup, they will score runs. I have faith that he will get his knocks, but it’s got to come soon.

Third, they got to relax. When you’re in a slump, you tend to try and force it, try and make something happen rather than just letting it come. It’s obvious to me that a lot of the Mariners hitters are doing this right now. They have to relax, remember what got them there, and above all else, have fun. It’s a game. Go play it.

The Mariners have the ability to go a long way this year. They must address the offensive problems however if they expect to climb to the top of the tough AL West. Pitching alone will not be enough. It’s time to move, no time to waste. Free agents, trades, minor leagues, it doesn’t matter, something must be done.

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Buster Olney of ESPN spoke with the agent for Seattle Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee last night about the southpaw’s future plans, and apparently signing a contract extension with the M’s is not in it.

“We’re five months away from free agency,” said Braunecker, “so I think that’s the most likely scenario at this point.”

“We’ve not really had any significant discussions with Seattle. I wouldn’t anticipate a deal [with the Mariners].”

This is great news for the Yankees because they are likely to have to replace Andy Pettitte, Javier Vazquez, or both in next year’s rotation. If Lee is on the free-agent market, that gives the Yanks a very strong option to plug into their rotation.

This was not a forgone conclusion, either, as the trend in baseball lately has been to extend big-name pitchers before they hit free agency. We’ve seen it with Roy Halladay, Johan Santana, and Josh Beckett. The fact that it appears that Lee will hit the open market should have the Yankees front office salivating.

Related Stories

• March 31, 2010: Josh Beckett Close to Resigning with Red Sox (3)
• Nov. 2, 2009: Game 5 of the World Series: Open Tread (1)
• Oct. 30, 2009: Great News! Blanton, Not Lee, To Start Game 4 (0)
• Oct. 28, 2009: Cliff Lee’s Stats Against the Yankees (0)

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Finally. Or maybe that should read, “Final-Lee?”

The Seattle Mariners made a huge trade in the offseason to acquire the services of former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, and tonight, a month into the season, he will make his first appearance on the mound.

Lee got off on the wrong foot this year. Literally. Literal-Lee. A couple of weeks prior to spring training, he needed a minor surgery on his foot and would miss the start of the exhibition season.

Spring training was no kinder to Lee, as he took the brunt of a collision with Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder, and strained his abdomen. He continued to pitch in the game, only to get into more trouble.

Lee’s foot and midsection injuries forced a pitch to sail over the head of Snyder in his next at-bat. The wild throw was later ruled to be intentional, resulting in a five-game suspension to start the season.

However, the injury was more of an issue than the impending suspension, and would land him on the disabled list to start the season. During the rehab process, which included an experimental, platelet-rich injection to the abdomen area, Lee’s appeal of his suspension was found to be legitimate, and MLB dropped the suspension.

His foot also seemed to heal completely. “Complete-Lee” appears to be a great descriptive for his current condition.

Lee described his injury as a “non-issue,” saying, “It has been more than a month since he felt discomfort.”

The Mariners were very cautious because this is the third time he has been sidelined with the same type of injury. The first two times, he missed significant playing time, and was not very productive immediately following the healing process.

The M’s know they most likely (“like-Lee”) have his services for just this season, so they wanted him at a hundred percent so he could contribute at his normal, stellar capacity.

Lee is healthy now. Lee is motivated. Lee is focused.

In his Triple-A start last Sunday, he allowed just three hits (including one on a bunt and one where a fly ball was lost in the sun), while striking out four and walking none.

Lee said he is anxious to “get back and help the team up in Seattle and try to have fun and let it all hang out.”

The rest of the AL West Division may be a little bit worried at this point. Seattle is just a half-game back in the standings, and they just got a whole lot better with one of their two Aces ready to take aim at division rival Texas tonight.

The balance of power in the division has shifted toward the Mariners, simply because they can now start relying on both of their Aces to carry them the rest of the year. The pennant is there for the taking, and there are five reasons Cliff Lee will be leading (“Lee”-ding”) the way.

Begin Slideshow

Turning the Tide

Less than three weeks ago, the Seattle Mariners were in a proverbial free fall. The Mariners dropped consecutive series at Oakland and Texas to start the season and lost the home opener to Oakland to open a nine-game home stand.

Sitting at 2-6, the Seattle Mariners were down, but not out. Many fans wondered, however, if the Mariners’ 2010 season had died in early April.

Now three weeks later, the Seattle Mariners have proverbially gotten back on their feet. Since the 2-6 start, the Mariners have won series against Oakland, Detroit, and Kansas City and completed a three-game sweep against the Baltimore Orioles. Despite falling victim to a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, the Mariners now sit on an 11-11 record near the end of April.

Had you talked to any Mariners fan after the home-opening loss against Oakland, in which the Mariners offense managed to produce just two hits, they would been ecstatic at the potential of an 11-11 record. After all, the prospects at that time were far worse.

After the home opener, Cliff Lee was both injured and facing a pending suspension, Ichiro Suzuki and Chone Figgins were a combined 14-for-59 (.237), and cleanup hitter Milton Bradley was a preposterous 1-for-22 on the season (.045).

Since that loss to Oakland, however, the Mariners’ fortunes have changed. Lee progressed through rehab in time to make an April return, Ichiro is 22-for-55 (.400) over the last 13 games, and Bradley is 10-for-31 (.323) over the last 15 games, slugging .452 in that stretch.

Of course, several other players have factored into the Mariners’ success. The starting pitching has been markedly better, surprisingly led by Doug Fister, and Franklin Gutierrez and Casey Kotchman have been phenomenal so far this season.

The Upcoming Series and Its Implications for the Seattle Mariners 

Having reversed a downward spiral from the first few weeks, the Seattle Mariners now enter what could turn out to be the most important series of the 2010 series.

At 11-11, the Mariners sit a half game back of co-division leaders Texas and Oakland. This weekend, the Mariners have a chance to jump the Texas Rangers, and with a little help, they could jump the Oakland Athletics as well. It’s worth noting that the A’s have cooled off substantially over the past few weeks, dropping seven of their last 10 games.

Aside from division standings, this game also marks the season debut of heralded free agent acquisition and former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee. As previously mentioned, Lee’s 2010 season has faced numerous obstacles, but he is prepared to make his season debut tonight in the pitcher-friendly confines of Safeco Field.

The Mariners have their best arms guiding them in the upcoming series. Lee takes the mound tonight, Felix Hernandez is on the hill tomorrow, and Fister, who is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA over his last three starts, is scheduled to pitch on Sunday.

The Texas Rangers, meanwhile, have recently faced a series of obstacles. Within the past week the Rangers optioned 1B Chris Davis to Triple-A Oklahoma City, placed All-Star OF Nelson Cruz, who was top-five in the American League in home runs, runs batted in, and slugging percentage, on the disabled list, and watched RP Neftali Feliz throw four innings to earn a 13.50 ERA, a loss, and a blown save.

On a positive note for the Rangers, All-Star 2B Ian Kinsler returns from the disabled list this weekend. He returns from an ankle sprain suffered in spring training, however, and skeptics have questioned whether he is ready to play at full strength.

With a division up for grabs, a division rival in town, and the debut of the much-anticipated Lee-Hernandez pitching duo, the upcoming series against the Texas Rangers may provide a glimpse into the Mariners’ 2010 chance of success.

Yes, it is only one series, but this series has implications that could stick with the Seattle Mariners for the rest of the season—for better or worse.

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