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Doctor Recommends Knee Surgery for Dodgers' Bradley
A day after accusing Dodgers teammate Jeff Kent of not being able to deal with African-Americans, outfielder Milton Bradley learned Wednesday that his injured left knee will likely require season-ending surgery.
General manager Paul DePodesta said Bradley had an 80 percent tear of the patella tendon and issues with his left anterior cruciate ligament as well.
Bradley, injured when he hit first base awkwardly Monday in the first inning of a 5-2 loss at Florida, was examined by team physician Dr. Frank Jobe and had an MRI.
"Dr. Jobe has recommended surgery to repair the tendon," DePodesta said shortly before the Dodgers played the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. "Needless to say, he's out for the foreseeable future."
Bradley, hitting .290 with 13 homers and 38 RBI in 75 games this season, will get a second opinion later this week in Cincinnati from Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Reds' medical director.
DePodesta said the 27-year-old switch hitter had been scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday, but canceled it when the swelling in his knee went down. Bradley was scheduled to play Tuesday night against the Rockies, but was scratched when his knee swelled up.
Bradley accused Kent of a lack of leadership and an inability to deal with black people in a 15-minute session with reporters at his locker before an 8-3 victory over the Rockies.
Bradley was upset over what Kent said to him after he failed to score from first base on a double by Kent in Saturday's 11-6 victory over the Florida Marlins. Bradley initiated a 25-minute closed-door meeting with manager Jim Tracy after that game.
Bradley met with DePodesta and team owner Frank McCourt on Tuesday night and again Wednesday afternoon.
"I think we'll keep those conversations private," DePodesta said.
Bradley has had issues with his temper in the past, being suspended for the final five games last season when he slammed a plastic bottle at the feet of a fan in the box seats in the right field corner at Dodger Stadium after someone threw it on the field. Nobody was injured.
Bradley had anger management counseling during the offseason, and had kept his temper in control this year. He did the same Tuesday, although his comments were scathing.
Tracy said he was disappointed that Bradley was as candid as he was with the media.
"We're not sitting here talking about it today if it had remained (in the clubhouse)," Tracy said. "It was made public. A lot of information and feelings were expressed."
Tracy said he had told Bradley to "keep it in-house."
Kent, a former NL MVP who feuded with Barry Bonds in San Francisco, defended himself following Bradley's accusations.
Bradley said he's had problems with Kent all season, but Tracy said the players "had a tremendous conversation, from what I heard," last week in Atlanta.
DePodesta said if Bradley does need surgery, he almost certainly won't play again this season. DePodesta also said he hopes Bradley will be a member of the team next year. Bradley is eligible for salary arbitration this winter.
"I hope so. I think we all hope so," DePodesta said.
The 37-year-old Kent, a five-time All-Star and baseball's career leader in home runs by a second baseman, is under contract for one more year.
DePodesta said the entire team has been addressed since Bradley made his remarks.
"A lot's been made about these two individuals," DePodesta said. "What this is really about to me is our team, our organization."
When asked if Bradley and Kent could coexist, Tracy said: "Anything's possible. Over time, yes."
The Dodgers won their first NL West championship in nine years last season, but made several changes during the offseason. When asked if that had an impact on team chemistry, Tracy replied: "Is it exactly the same type of clubhouse we had a year ago? No. (But) there's been a number of clubhouses who did nothing but fight all year long, and they won."
The Dodgers entered Wednesday night's game with a 57-68 record, but trailed first-place San Diego by only five games.
Source: AP
General manager Paul DePodesta said Bradley had an 80 percent tear of the patella tendon and issues with his left anterior cruciate ligament as well.
Bradley, injured when he hit first base awkwardly Monday in the first inning of a 5-2 loss at Florida, was examined by team physician Dr. Frank Jobe and had an MRI.
"Dr. Jobe has recommended surgery to repair the tendon," DePodesta said shortly before the Dodgers played the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. "Needless to say, he's out for the foreseeable future."
Bradley, hitting .290 with 13 homers and 38 RBI in 75 games this season, will get a second opinion later this week in Cincinnati from Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Reds' medical director.
DePodesta said the 27-year-old switch hitter had been scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday, but canceled it when the swelling in his knee went down. Bradley was scheduled to play Tuesday night against the Rockies, but was scratched when his knee swelled up.
Bradley accused Kent of a lack of leadership and an inability to deal with black people in a 15-minute session with reporters at his locker before an 8-3 victory over the Rockies.
Bradley was upset over what Kent said to him after he failed to score from first base on a double by Kent in Saturday's 11-6 victory over the Florida Marlins. Bradley initiated a 25-minute closed-door meeting with manager Jim Tracy after that game.
Bradley met with DePodesta and team owner Frank McCourt on Tuesday night and again Wednesday afternoon.
"I think we'll keep those conversations private," DePodesta said.
Bradley has had issues with his temper in the past, being suspended for the final five games last season when he slammed a plastic bottle at the feet of a fan in the box seats in the right field corner at Dodger Stadium after someone threw it on the field. Nobody was injured.
Bradley had anger management counseling during the offseason, and had kept his temper in control this year. He did the same Tuesday, although his comments were scathing.
Tracy said he was disappointed that Bradley was as candid as he was with the media.
"We're not sitting here talking about it today if it had remained (in the clubhouse)," Tracy said. "It was made public. A lot of information and feelings were expressed."
Tracy said he had told Bradley to "keep it in-house."
Kent, a former NL MVP who feuded with Barry Bonds in San Francisco, defended himself following Bradley's accusations.
Bradley said he's had problems with Kent all season, but Tracy said the players "had a tremendous conversation, from what I heard," last week in Atlanta.
DePodesta said if Bradley does need surgery, he almost certainly won't play again this season. DePodesta also said he hopes Bradley will be a member of the team next year. Bradley is eligible for salary arbitration this winter.
"I hope so. I think we all hope so," DePodesta said.
The 37-year-old Kent, a five-time All-Star and baseball's career leader in home runs by a second baseman, is under contract for one more year.
DePodesta said the entire team has been addressed since Bradley made his remarks.
"A lot's been made about these two individuals," DePodesta said. "What this is really about to me is our team, our organization."
When asked if Bradley and Kent could coexist, Tracy said: "Anything's possible. Over time, yes."
The Dodgers won their first NL West championship in nine years last season, but made several changes during the offseason. When asked if that had an impact on team chemistry, Tracy replied: "Is it exactly the same type of clubhouse we had a year ago? No. (But) there's been a number of clubhouses who did nothing but fight all year long, and they won."
The Dodgers entered Wednesday night's game with a 57-68 record, but trailed first-place San Diego by only five games.
Source: AP
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