'Not me' Bradley takes another swing at Cubs

Already occupying a dubious place in Cubs history, Milton Bradley now is trying to rewrite it.

The Cubs' former $30 million outfielder broke his self-imposed media silence on Chicago and the Cubs with a shot at the city during an interview with the New York Times.

''Two years ago, I played, and I was good,'' he told the Times. ''I go to Chicago, not good. I've been good my whole career. So, obviously, it was something with Chicago, not me.''

Bradley, now with the Seattle Mariners, had more to say.

''Just no communication. I never hit more than 22 homers in my career, and all of a sudden I get to Chicago, and they expect me to hit 30. It doesn't make sense. History tells you I'm not going to hit that many. Just a lot of things that try to make me a player I'm not.''

No one in the organization ever publicly (or privately, according to more than one team official) said they expected 30 home runs out of Bradley -- or even stressed his power.

The comments, published on the eve of the Cubs' exhibition opener Thursday, left several team officials shaking their heads in disbelief.

''I don't think that was the case. We never put any expectations on Milton,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''I don't really have anything else to add, but we never put any expectations on 30 homers or anything else. Getting off to a struggling start didn't help him. He tried to make up for it with one swing of the bat, and it snowballed.

''We were hoping he'd come in and hit fifth in our lineup and be productive, but that was it.''

Bradley, who hit .257 with 12 homers and 40 RBI, also seemed to be pointing the finger at others when he told the Times: ''Any time I've had a problem anywhere, it's because I've been disrespected. And I will not be disrespected by anyone.''

Bradley, who clashed with media and umpires last season, also publicly criticized fans and the organization by the end of last season.

In September, he called the environment around the team ''negative,'' said the negativity was why the team hadn't won in 100 years and the same day yelled at hitting coach Von Joshua after being asked to pinch-hit.

He was suspended the next day for the final 15 games of the season, further weakening a shaky trade market for him.

The Cubs eventually got the Mariners to take him -- and to include $9 million in the deal -- for underachieving pitcher Carlos Silva, who has $25 million left on the final two years of his contract.

''Look, that was last year,'' Piniella said. ''I wish him well, and at the same time, we want Silva to come in and do well here.''

CUBS RECAP

CUBS 9, A'S 3 - RECORD: 1-0

AT THE PLATE

New center fielder Marlon Byrd (left) went 2-for-2 with a home run in the fourth inning. Derrek Lee went 2-for-3 with an even longer home run. Outfield prospect Tyler Colvin went 3-for-3 with a homer and two doubles in place of Alfonso Soriano.

ON THE MOUND

Randy Wells

(1-0), whose game glasses still haven't arrived, might not bother with them after a six-up, six-down start that included two strikeouts. Starter candidate Sean Marshall threw two hitless innings.

ROSTER WATCH

Shortstop-in-waiting Starlin Castro drove a triple to the right-field gap in three at-bats and played a ''smooth'' short, manager Lou Piniella said. Outfielder Sam Fuld, considered more of a defensive-backup candidate, hit the longest of five home runs by the Cubs.

QUOTE

''Castro's smooth at shortstop. And that ball he drove to right-center field, he hit that ball like a big man. That ball jumped off the bat.'' -- Piniella

TODAY

Diamondbacks at Cubs, 2:05 p.m., Mesa, Ariz. No TV or radio.

- Full Cubs box score, Page 47