Credit Cubs' Hendry for getting this one right
Jim Hendry is the first to admit that 2009 did not go as planned, and for that he takes full responsibility.
But you have to give him credit for one move that's already a victory.
And that's the dumping of the lunatic a k a (alien known as) Milton Bradley.
This doesn't excuse the original contract or signing of Bradley, but convincing someone to take this clown from the Cubs could be one of the all-time great moves by a Chicago general manager.
Setting aside the fact that they might somehow get something useful out of Carlos Silva, or that they gained $6 million in the deal, just the reality that they got Bradley out of Chicago is something of a miracle.
And the Mariners already are finding out why that's the case.
The goof has been tossed out of two spring-training games, no doubt because all minor-league umpires are racist.
And Wednesday he told The Associated Press, "You need people like me so you can point your finger and go, 'There goes the bad guy.' ''
Well, it's true that Bradley's a bad guy and a royal pain in the rosin bag, so he'll get no argument here, but then he added, "(I) never say anything bad about anybody."
No, never.
He certainly hasn't ripped Cubs fans three times in the last year. He didn't blast the organization that handed him $30 million. He didn't blame umpires for his troubles half a dozen times in last 15 months. He didn't go off on Lou Piniella twice. He didn't trash Wrigley Field, Chicago media, Chicago restaurants, the city of Chicago and basically anyone who doesn't bow to him and tell him what a sweetheart he is on a daily basis.
Yeah, Milton Bradley never says anything bad about anyone.
The season hasn't even begun and Bradley's in true self-destruct mode and blaming others for his woes, which can't be a surprise to anyone except perhaps Mariners management.
Hey, they would hardly be the first to make that mistake. You look at Bradley and the guy's a hitting machine, so you think you're going to be the first to settle him down and make him comfortable and dream of the production he can provide.
Course, they'll be the eighth team in the last 10 years to find out it's impossible to help the eternal grouch find happiness.
It's not in him, and no team full of mental-health professionals will be able to do so, let alone a manager and his coaches.
Now, toss in the possibility that it's a season in which he does not hit - classic Cubs misfortune that he chose last year for that - and you've got the perfect storm for a wretched season of Bradley misery.
But Bradley, hardly delusional at all, says he will not change, that he's just perfect the way he is and it's worked nicely for him for 31 years.
If you consider being asked to leave every club he has ever been on, booed in nearly every stadium he has called home, and changing teams just about every season, despite the fact that he's a terrific hitter, then, yes, it has worked quite well for Milton Bradley.
Thing is, he really is a good hitter when he's not focused on all the imaginary people whose fault it is that he's unhappy.
He gets another chance this year to show how good he is, and it wouldn't be surprising if he has an excellent offensive season. Except for last year - go figure - the man has always hit and you'd expect him to bounce back and hit a ton.
It also wouldn't be shocking if by the time September rolls around - good offensive season or not - the Mariners are wondering how they could have possibly made such a ridiculous mistake.
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