Milton Bradley's Vindication: Umpire Mike Winters Suspended

Very appropriate. Winters crossed the line and was extremely unprofessional. MLB,NFL,NBA,NHL officials have to be above that.

Reply

Again it goes to the issue of who runs baseball or any sport. The League or the players

Reply

Bradley's career figures to be severely affected by the knee injury he suffered as a result of Winters' reprehensible conduct. He should sue Winters for a bundle and Winters should not be allowed back on a big league ballfield.

Reply

Hothead or not, this umpire was clearly in the doy! for doing this.
This is almost akin to entering a lions cage and whacking it with a bat, and then having the nerve to expect the lion NOT to retaliate.

Just as bad as the people who baby along others with disorders are the ones who take full advantage in exploiting them for their own retarded pleasure.

Would you call someone you knew who suffered from manic depression and goad them into killing themselves, only to assume everyone should be proud of your accomplishment?

Not unless you were a sick clown yourself, you wouldnt.
And the fact that this guy basically has a paid responsibility to say all of six words, SIX WORDS, and nothing else, smears his credibility.

BALL.STRIKE.FAIR.FOUL.SAFE.OUT.

There you go, chief.

Im not absolving Milton of this, he did lose it, but just as much as the media mooks have been playing the "keep your cool!" card, they also make mention that this is almost a playoff atmosphere, yet somehow act hypocritically that at the same time, this said high pressure enviornment doesnt mean anything.

Perhaps the ONE moment when the tension is so amped, you can cut the Petco Park air with a knife.

Helton knows whats up, and if he spoke, more than likely Winters wouldnt have a job AT ALL, so im certain the Umps assocation is glad Todd is being quiet.

Reply

We're forgetting one thing here. How far should Bud Black have gone to get between Bradley and the ump. You give your own player a WWF smack down just to save a bat so you can win????? The ump could just cost Bradley a few at bats. BLACK caused him the rest of the season and maybe a big part of itf not all of a career. Fortunately, by law, Bradley can still sue the ump for being the instigator of the fight, since MLB did the right thing and showed they agree with Bradley. That goes along way in a case like this in court. But again, BLACK should be tossed by the Padres for being such an idiot. You don't wrestle your player to the ground while a coach is arguing the case.Jerk.

Reply

MLB should step in here and change the umpiring schedule. This crew should not umpire San Diego's season ending 4 game series with Milwaukee. There is no way they can be fair. They have a grudge against San Diego. This will also affect the Cubs. This crew will decide every questionable play and pitch in Milwaukee's favor. Probably a few plays and pitches that are not questionable, also.

Reply

Let's get a grip on reality. The ump crossed the line, but Bradley through his own actions caused the injury to himself. He is also hugely responsible and should be disciplined. We mollycoddle these freakin primadonnas to death. Players are allowed to do anything they like to umpires (like spit on them) with no real threat to their careers because they are "a star player". This is just another example of the decline of our society when morons hoist people like bradley up and display them as heros. He is a Hot Head that has no place in professional sports. The professional sports leagues should all clean up their acts. When players (or coaches or referees/umpires) display this type of behaviour, issue a permanent ban on that person for all major league sports. Let the a-holes go sling burgers at McD's or bag groceries or better yet collect garbage so at the end of the day they can throw themselves in the back of the truck where they belong.

Reply

Once again,we are left pondering the question about who governs baseball?? Bud Selig does what the owners tell him to do.This is a disgrace and a dirty shame.

Reply

Who governs baseball anymore.Bud Selig talks a good game but does what the collective owners tell him to do.Shame,shame and more shame.

Reply

I am agreement with evrything but the decision to leave Milton Bradley unpunished. The knee injury he suffered is not punishment. It is a result of an action he should not have taken. What if Winters had simply admitted that he was the one who told Runge that Bradley had thrown his bat in the umpire's direction? What would Bradley have done? There is a very good chance that he would not have said " It's okay ,Blue. How's about we go to TGIFriday's for a beer. I'm buying." What we fail to see is that Bradley was also looking for the confrontation. His intentions were not going to be harmless. He has yet, in his storied career, attempted to do the right thing. I am convinced that it was not going to start here.
It is a shame that the result of this confrontation resulted in the suspension of an umpire, and the injury of a player. Maybe the boundaries of player and official have been irreparably contorted. One is supposed to play the game, the other is to control the game. Somewhere, along the way, the roles have exchanged/taken/given, and the players have the control, and the umpires have the spotlight. Someone should step in, but I hear that Barry Bonds is the commissioner, and Bud Selig is doing road trips.

Reply

I have known Mike Winters since 1969 and have known to be a level-headed person. That being said, we all human and sometimes act in ways we wish we hadn't. If I know Mike he will accept responsibility for his actions and the consequences that go with them, but he is not 100% guilty. When will Milton Bradley accept responsibility for his actions? He is an adult after all. If MLB fails to take the appropriate action against Milton Bradley, they will be sending a message to the players that it is okay to charge umpires if you don't like hearing what is said to you.

Reply

Umpire may have said something to provoke Bradley... but 90% of baseball players would have reactly more calmly. Milton, you may not have instigated this situation, but you definitely could have prevented this outcome by being level headed.

Guys, vote on Bradley's pictures where he goes crazy lol

http://www.spock.com/Milton-Bradley-%28baseball%29/pictures/vote/137599

Reply

Why is it "vindication" for the Board Game that the Ump was suspended? I watched the event like everyone else. I thought I saw the Board Game(TBG) go out of control and his coach had to throw him to the ground, tearing his ACL. Thereby, letting his team and the city down. Thank God he will be out early next year and probably will not be brought back to the Padres. TBG is basically a gang banger and cares not at all about the team, team mates or the city. We are well rid of him. Go Padres.

Reply

I've known Mike Winters for several years and consider him to be a friend and a professional. Mike is very passionate about the game of baseball and being a Mlb umpire. In 17 years he has done an excellent job and as a fan I consider him a great ump. He calls great balls and strikes and calls a fair game. I believe he was baited by Bradley as much as the other way around. It's sad to see Winters being the scapegoat here, when we all know that the real problem is Bradley. These instant millionaires can say anything they want to these umps and they sit and take it. Winters probably went over the line this time, but I think everyone deserves a mulligan once in a while. I hope to see Winters in the postseason!

Reply

Winters deserved an ass whipping. Like a poster on the NFL board asked, I'd like to know what would happen if a ref told Peyton Manning to "F*ck off, you f*cking piece of sh*t!" ,when questioned about a call. HE has no excuse, he is unprofessional, and if he had any real guts he would wait til the game is over and call a player out in the parking lot. The reason he won't? 'Cause his panties are on too tight and he knows he would end up in the hospital. No excuse for his behaviour.

Reply