Bradley Baited into Knee Injury

Milton Bradley’s past behavior has finally caught up to him in bizarre fashion. In Sunday’s game against the Rockies, the Padres outfielder again found himself in a tempermental rage, though time is appears it was a result of a gang-up taunting effort from the homeplate and first base umpires. While Bradley’s behavior on the field during his career is nothing to be proud of, he doesn’t need his nor deserves to have his buttons pushed by the umpiring crew during a crucial game with playoff implications. But according to the Padres, that is exactly what happened when Bradley was accused of flipping his bat at homeplate umpire Brian Runge after a called strike three. Runge didn’t see it, so he asked Bradley about when he came up again in the eight inning and suggested that first-base umpire Mike Winters says he flipped the bat at Runge. Bradley stroked a single, then asked Winters about when he got to first base. Winters then perpetuated the incident by continuing to bait Bradley, who expectedly lost his temper and then injured his knee as manager Bud Black tried to restrain him. So now the Padres face a playoff run without their starting outfielder because of umpires placing themselves above the game, yet again. In fact, it appears that Padres brass is getting involved too. CEO Sandy Adderson said this: “We’re not going to sit by and see an umpire bait a player” He added that if the commissioner’s office concludes the situation was handled appropriately, “I’ll be shocked.” Around here we’re beyond being shocked about the bahavior of MLB umpires this season.