When Ballplayers Wig Out
Being a baseball play by play announcer isn't easy. In addition to the preparation you must do (if you are any good, that is), the long series on the road, bus trips (if you are in less than MLB) you have to deal with judgmental fans and media. And apparently, now ballplayers.Following the game between the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals, Rangers' DH Milton Bradley attempted to rush the broadcast booth to "discuss" the comments of Royals broadcaster Ryan LeFebvre.
Now, I've watched several Royals broadcasts and I can tell you that there are few play by play guys as milquetoast as Ryan Lefebvre. He's your basic small market, meat and potatoes, call the action and do little else kind of guy. That plays well in KC and works for him. I can hardly imagine LeFebvre, a guy whose dad was a big league manager, every stepping outside the lines and going off on a player. There are guys out there who do that, but I'm fairly certain he's not one of them.
This makes Bradley's visceral reaction to a discussion that was primarily about Josh Hamilton even more weird. Maybe LeFebrve said something innocent that resonated the wrong way with the mercurial Bradley. However, big leaguers have much better ways of dealing with it then charging the press box like a character from Bull Durham. Team communication directors are constantly talking to broadcast teams about player issues.
Players have also been known to phone the press box and vent their displeasure at broadcasts (right Chip and Stoney?)
I've even had parent issues in the past. Once, I made a humorous remark about a couple of brothers and the parents took it the wrong way. I got yelled at pretty good for that one, even though what I said was meant to be funny. I guess there is little humor when it comes to your precious snowflakes.
In the end, Bradley continues to paint himself with the brush of being a nut case (or Carl Everett Lite as I like to call him). If you don't like what you see on TV, Milton, just shut it off. Please.



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