Mr. Head Case

Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley was arrested yesterday in Los Angeles for allegedly making criminal threats against an unidentified woman. The charge is a felony.
I must say, I'm shocked! Shocked I tell ya!
Actually, sad to say, I'm not shocked in the least.
Anyone who has followed Bradley's career knows that the guy is a loose cannon with some serious anger management issues. He's had a multitude of run-ins with media, teammates, opponents, umpires and now, allegedly a woman.
Bradley needs some serious help, immediately before he does more than just make criminal threats. Perhaps he needs to get away from baseball for a while until he is able to control himself but at the age of 32 you wonder if he is able to change. His character issues are a reason why he's been on eight different teams in 11-years including five teams in the last four seasons.
Bradley has had issues dating back to his second season in professional baseball with the Vermont Expos of the NY-Penn League. I was announcing minor league games then and Bradley had a run in with Hudson Valley, the team I was broadcasting for. I remember speaking with Expos announcer George Commo, on the air, and said, "Bradley isn't very popular with the Renegades players." Commo responded, "He's not very popular with his own teammates either." George is pretty candid.
The bottom line is Bradley is his own worst enemy. He probably would have had a much better career to date had he just went about his business and not worried about things he can't control. Just play ball.
In the past I would have rooted for Bradley. Everyone likes a story of somebody overcoming adversity. But this guy has had a million chances and he's still a screw up. I could care less now about Bradley but I don't want him to hurt someone else or himself. I just have a feeling the Milton Bradley story could have a bad ending. I hope I'm wrong on that.
Meanwhile, I've wondered if Bradley's name has been the original source of his emotional problems. Do you think as a kid he was teased about his name? His parents naming him after a board game company may not have been the brightest idea. How many fights do you think he got into when razzed about his name? Any other first name besides Milton probably would have been better. Perhaps Bradley had a strike against him when his first name was put on the birth certificate.