JR's SPORTS :60: Big Z & Uncle Milty!

By JERRY RILES

Stud pitcher Carlos Zambrano and just plain stud Milton Bradley.

No question these two players are the most fiery on this disappointing Cubs team this season.
Bradley was brought in to improve the outfield play and to solidify the left-handed spot in the team's batting order. Something the Cubs were missing from a year ago after they were swept by the L.A. Dodgers in three straight playoff contests.

The argument was the Cubs went down in the first round of the playoffs because they lacked hitting from the left-side of the plate.

GM Jim Hendry went out and acquired the volatile outfielder who was known for his outburst and violent temper. Hendry felt he could manage Bradley's demeanor and that he was one of the missing pieces the Cubs needed to go deep into the playoffs if not all the way to the World series and winning it.

Heck, he had already dealt with the fiery personality of big Carlos Zambrano who the organization signed to a hefty $90-plus-million-dollar deal. This was supposed to be an easy task.

Unfortunately, for Hendry and skipper Lou Piniella, the plan back fired and neither GM nor coach could handle the explosive nature of the two.

Big Z just a week ago scolded reporters about asking him if he wanted to stay in Chicago with the Cubs or be traded somewhere else. He sharply responded, "What kind of question is that? I'm done."
Zambrano abruptly left the post game press conference.

Hendry told Bradley to go home with 15 games remaining in the regular season after the struggling right-fielder responded to reporters' questions with "What else ya got, what else ya got, what else ya got?"

Hendry said Bradley was a detriment to the team and so he suspended him for the rest of the season. My question is, didn't the Cub brass figure this out before hand? Weren't they aware of his antics in the past? Did they think he was another Zambrano, and maybe did they think "Z" was another Milton?

I said the move was a great move, ONLY, if the Cubs and Lou could handle the two. The organization from top to bottom dropped the ball.

Both players appear to be ready for a new address. It is clear Zambrano is ready to take the money and run. It's unfortunate that neither player wants to play ball for the organization in an effort to bring home a World Series title. But you can't overlook Hendry and Piniella. They certainly cannot go blameless in this debacle.

The whole team has crumbled before our eyes. And it's a sad situation.

I say good riddance to the both of them because it's obvious they're more interested in the money that the game, but shame on the other two for not handling them in a proper fashion. Lou at times seemed uninterested. Then to call Bradley out in front of his teammates, chase him down into the locker-room on the road and call him a "piece of sh%!" and to take the uniform off and go home was just wrong.

How would Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox, Joe Girardi, or even Ozzie Guillen have handled the situation?

All the Cubs can do now is just agree with their fans and say, "wait till next year." It's only 101 years and counting.

(Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)