How did you not see this coming, Jim Hendry?
When Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella asked you to sign a left-handed batter with some power, the choices were whittled down to Raul Ibañez and Milton Bradley.
In 2008, Bradley batted .328 with 22 dingers and 77 RBI, compared to Ibañez’s .293 average, 23 long balls and 110 RBI.
The production between the two was fairly similar, but Hendry and Piniella decided to take a shot on “Meltdown.”
His enigmatic reputation as a hothead was not a secret, and the front office of the Cubs was willing to try the experiment like so many teams before them.
Bradley knew what he was getting himself into, as well.
The days of the “loveable losers” are long gone, and Cubs fans expect their team to win every time they take the field.
So, when the fans got on “Meltdown’s” back after an extremely unproductive season, it came as no surprise when he publicly bashed the organization in the Daily Herald, a publication in a Chicago suburb.
“And you understand why they haven’t won in 100 years here,” Bradley said.
Hendry suspended Bradley for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, Ibañez is batting .275 with 32 HR and 88 RBI.
Way to go, Jim.
