In a somewhat surprising turn of events, the Cubs won a game on Friday. It was exciting, thanks to some good hitting by both teams and some lousy pitching by Carlos Marmol. What most people will remember about the game won’t be the score, or the wild Marmol, or Geo420’s home run. Not even the (mostly) quality pitching of Randy Wells and Jose Contreras. It will be the shot fired across Milton Bradley’s bow.

After another poor at bat, Bradley reportedly blew up in the dugout before being sent to the clubhouse by Lou Piniella. Lou didn’t just dismiss Bradley, he had some very angry words for him. Bradley was seen leaving the parking lot before the game ended. Lou sent him home.

Is the End or the Beginning?

Bradley’s reputation for getting angry with himself for failing seems to be a realistic assessment. His outbursts have come in the midst of several others by the Cubs in 2009, including Big Z’s epic meltdown.

While the whole lot of them have worn Lou out, he snapped on Bradley today. Milton has done enough strange stuff to drive a manager crazy, and I’m just about done supporting the guy. Not done yet, but I’m getting close.

I’m gradually allowing myself to consume and speculate on innuendo about Bradley. Frankly, I’m surprised his first few months have been so eventful. A lot of folks saw this coming. While I’m still not convinced he’s a bad guy, I’m starting to realize he’s not a good guy. If his outbursts have reached the point of being sent home by a manager who has been rather placid lately, well, I think that speaks for itself.

It’s a Tough Business

Lou may come to regret this decision, privately or publicly. Bradley may respond well to being disciplined in this manner. Crazier things have happened.  Bradley’s a good baseball player, but he’s under-performing. Can Jake Fox and Micah Hoffpauir replace Bradley’s production and defense on a regular basis?

Still, the Cubs could release Bradley and try and swing some type of Fox-Hoffpauir-Other rotation in right. Baseball can be a stone-cold business, and the math could actually favor the Cubs. Even though the Cubs would eat serious cash (I’m thinking at least $10 million), it would eliminate the incentives for playing time built into Bradley’s contract. Incentives like a third year and a larger pile of cash, for example.

I believe Lou’s actions today were not about the team, and not about making someone an example. I believe he is truly fed-up with Milton Bradley. Given Bradley’s sensitive nature, Lou would likely resist any urge to single him out in any way, especially publicly, and so severely.

We all know what happens when you end up in Lou’s doghouse. Just ask Chad Gaudin and Scott Eyre. Or maybe Lou just has it out for pitchers and he’ll warm-up to Bradley again. But I’m seriously starting to doubt it.