LOS ANGELES -- Talented and temperamental Dodgers center
fielder Milton Bradley was suspended for four games Thursday for
his tantrum earlier this week after an ejection.
Dodgers manager Jim Tracy was suspended for one game. Bradley and Tracy also were fined undisclosed amounts by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president of on-field operations.
Bradley has filed an appeal of his suspension and is expected to be in the lineup Friday when the Dodgers play the Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark. Tracy cannot appeal his one-game suspension and must sit out Friday's game, leaving bench coach Jim Riggleman to handle the managerial duties.
Asked whether the penalty was excessive, Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta said, "I don't think that's for me to judge."
"I would just say, in general, Major League Baseball's made the decision. At this point, we need to adhere to it," he said on a conference call.
DePodesta also said he didn't know if Bradley's turbulent past had anything to do with the penalty.
Bradley is hitting .271 with seven home runs and 22 RBI for the
NL West leaders. He was suspended for his "reckless and inappropriate conduct."
Bradley was ejected by umpire Terry Craft, apparently over
balls-and-strikes, when he entered the batter's box in the sixth
inning of Tuesday night's 4-1 loss to Milwaukee.
Tracy restrained Bradley, who then took off his batting gloves
and left them near home plate with his bat and helmet.
When Bradley reached the top step of the dugout, he grabbed the
ball bag and tossed balls onto the field. He also threw a ball to
the warning track in left field.
While the ball boys picked up, fans in the left-field stands
threw debris onto the field, causing play to be held up for several
more minutes.
Umpire Joe West confiscated Bradley's bat, batting gloves and
helmet. On Wednesday, Bradley's belongings were returned to him.
Bradley, 26, has star potential, but also has shown a volatile
side. Cleveland traded him to his hometown Dodgers right before the
season began after Bradley had a run-in with Indians manager Eric Wedge.
Bradley hit .321 with 10 homers and 56 RBI and stole a
team-leading 17 bases last season, all while missing the final six
weeks because of a lower back injury.
Along with going on the disabled list four times in two seasons,
Bradley has had other problems. Last year, he had disputes with
Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca and Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi, and threw his helmet and bat in the direction of plate umpire Bruce Froemming.
"When we traded for Milton, I think we knew everything that
came along with it," DePodesta said. "We knew the past, we don't
necessarily think that everything's going to be completely
different because he came to a different place. That's fine. I
would take nine Milton Bradleys if I could get them.
"In the first 50 games we've had him, he's been nothing but a
model citizen and a good teammate. I've seen him make efforts to
avoid confrontation. I think Milton's making a concerted effort."
When asked if Bradley's behavior was acceptable, DePodesta
replied: "I don't want to comment on anybody's behavior that
night."
DePodesta said he didn't plan on speaking with Bradley about the suspension.
"Milton and I have had different conversations, not over
something like this," DePodesta said. "Milton doesn't need me to
tell him we'd rather have him playing."