Bradley recently did an interview with ESPN's Colleen Dominguez. He told her that he felt like a prisoner in his own home when he was in Chicago. Also that he received hate mail with no postage mark on it. When asked if this mail came from inside the organization, Bradley told her that he hoped not but maybe it could've.

Hendry told ESPNChiacgo.com, ""That's absolutely ridiculous," Hendry said. "That couldn't be farther from the truth. I think it's time maybe Milton looked at himself in the mirror. It is what it is. He didn't swing the bat; he didn't get the job done. His production was the only negative, or lack of."

On the "bright side" Bradley had nothing bad to say about Hendry. Bradley thanks Hendry for the generous waste of money that was spent on him.

Bradley hit .257 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI after signing a hefty $30 million deal. This off season he was traded to the Mariners for Carlos Silva and cash.

Hendry wants to move past Bradley once and for all.

"We've done our best to move on," Hendry said. "We thought we helped Milton move on, too, by putting him in another place, and that's how we approached it. It's just time to go about our business."

Ryan Dempster took the time to defend us Cubs fans.

"The fans, they pay for their ticket to come in [to the ballpark]," Dempster said. "They have every right to boo if they feel you're not giving 100 percent or not your best effort. They love their Cubs. Chicago fans are very forgiving."

Dempster also put it perfectly when asking if African-Americans have trouble in Chicago.

"Anytime you struggle, it can be tough no matter what the color of your skin is."

Bradley, it's time you move on from the supposed bad treatment from Cubs fans. Move on and try and succeed for once. Good luck in Seattle.

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He was asked if race played a role in the "city's hatred" for Bradley. The response he gave to ESPN was repulsive.

"I got the same mail Latroy [Hawkins] probably got; the same mail Jacque [Jones] got," he told Colleen Dominguez on ESPN.

News flash Milton: Cubs fans everywhere didn't hate you because you were black. We hated you because you got paid an enormous sum of money and you sucked. You sucked beyond the acceptable level of sucking.

When you are making around $10 million a year and batting .257 with only 12 home runs and 40 RBI, you are more than deserving of the bad treatment you get. You can't even blame injuries on his poor performance; he played 124 games last season. 

Bradley told Dominguez that Cubs fans expect miracles out of their players. If that doesn't happen, you get booed and hate mail. Not true.

Look at the players who have played for the Cubs. The mediocre ones.

Mark DeRosa wasn't making miracles happen on the field. He was a gritty ball player who got the job done. Something Bradley didn't do.

Ronny Cedeno is another good example. He hit .252 in the few years he had with the Cubs. He was awful, but he played a role. He wasn't paid a lot of money and the fans didn't expect much out of him.

Fans expected a lot out of you, Bradley, because of your salary and the great year you had with Texas. We didn't expect miracles.

Also, look at the names he threw out to Dominguez: He said the same mail that Jones and Hawkins got. Both names bring back awful memories and make me cringe.

With the Cubs, Jones actually wasn't bad the first season. No hate mail.

His second season was a different story.

In season number two, 2008, Jones hit a respectable .285 but only had five home runs and 66 RBI. Not good numbers for a major league ball player of the caliber he was supposed to be.

What about Hawkins?

In 2004, Hawkins posted a 5-4 record with a 2.63 ERA. Usually decent numbers for someone who is the middle reliever. Not the closer.

It gets worse.

During his career with the Cubs, Hawkins had 29 saves in 42 opportunities. That's 69 percent! When you are supposed to be the shut-down guy in the back of the pen and you save 69 percent of your saves, you deserve the bad treatment.

Bradley was traded for Carlos Silva in December. This is Bradley's eighth team in 11 years. Bradley claims he has moved around due to injuries. I beg to differ, sir.

In Oakland and Texas he caused trouble. He was thrown out of games and even tried charging the mound a few times.

Chicago was no different. He was suspended on Sept. 20 of last season for the final games of the year. (Best birthday present ever, if you ask me.)

One of the last quotes from Bradley on ESPNChicago.com says that Bradley hints that everyone who booed him was racist. I take offense to that.

I go to a very diverse high school on the south suburbs of Chicago. White people, like myself, are actually either the minority or on their way to being the minority in my school. I am the farthest from being racist.

Milton, please get over yourself and come to your senses. Chicago isn't racist. Chicago Cubs fans aren't racist. Chicago would welcome you back to visit. We won't take you back to play, though, because you just down-right suck.

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I can tell you one young kid who will for the Cubs.

Call me crazy, but Tom Gorzelanny is going to get the fifth starter spot on the Cubs' staff.

We know who the first four are. In no particular order: Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, and Wells will be the top four. The fifth is up for grabs.

Off-Speed

Gorzelanny has an off-speed pitch—something former Notre Dame standout Jeff Samardizja has not really developed yet.

An off-speed pitch is something that needs to be prevalent in any major league pitcher's repertoire for them to succeed. In the MLB, you can't blow people away with a fast ball. They will catch up to it.

Take Kyle Farnsworth for example. Remember him?

He was a hard-throwing nut case. He threw the ball hard and that was about it. He sort of had a slider and nothing else really. What happened to him? Never made it in the show.

Don't turn Samardizja into a Farnsworth. Keep the kid in the bullpen if you don't want to waste his talent in AAA, and let him develop his change-up and slider. Once he does that, then let him fight with Gorzelanny.

Last Season

Last season, Gorzelanny had seven starts and posted a 4-2 record. He was very good down the stretch.

Gorzelanny showed he can pitch effectively last season. He isn't amazing, but he is effective.

Gorzelanny struck out 40 batters in 38.1 innings pitched over his seven starts and 13 total appearances. Batters had a .262 average against him. Decently effective, if you ask me, and something I can live with.

Gorzelanny only walked 13 people over his 13 appearances for the North Side Crew. One walk a game is a better average than Carlos Zambrano (4.1 walks a game).

Conclusion

Let the kid prove me wrong. Slide him in that fifth starter role for the start of the season, and if he can't handle it, then take him out. I think Gorzelanny more than deserves it. Let the kid shine.

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Right now on the Cubs' depth chart, young gun Tyler Colvin is the starting center fielder. As of now, I don't see the Cubs taking a risk on the young guy by throwing him into the mix right away. At least I wouldn't.

For those of you who think Colvin is more than ready, do the names Felix Pie and Corey Patterson ring a bell? They were in the same exact position as Colvin. We all know how the two of them turned out. Let's not let Colvin turn out the same way. Give the kid some time. He's 24.

Let's look to the stats and contracts between Fukudome and Granderson.

Fukudome in 2009 was mediocre at best. That is being generous. He hit .259 with 11 home runs and 54 RBI in 146 games. Pretty amazing. Not.

Yes, his defense is very good in the outfield but that is not why he makes the big bucks.

Fukudome's contract is pretty ridiculous for the lack of production he provides. In 2009, Fukudome made $11.5 million. In 2010 Fukudome will make $13 million. In 2011 he will bring in $13.5 million and then become a free agent in 2012. For platoon numbers, Fukudome is not worth the big money he is making.

Let's take a look at Granderson.

In 2009, Granderson played 160 games. He did bat .249 but he had 30 home runs, 71 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. Besides his batting average, pretty good numbers.

In 2009 Granderson made $3.5 million. Granderson doesn't make above $10 million until 2012. The highest he makes is in 2013 if the club picks up his option. If not, free agent market.

Who could the Cubs give away?

If you look to the lack of talent in the Cubs farm system, they have a few names they could shell out. I could see the Cubs and the Tigers agreeing on a trade that includes Josh Vitters and a couple of pitchers. The Tigers SHOULD have a very keen interest in Vitters. Brandon Inge is always injured and when down, Vitters could fill that void.

Pitchers that could be included could be Samardzija, Cashner, and maybe someone like Caridad who showed promise or Gorzelanny who is still fairly young and talented.

If I were the Cubs and the Tigers, I would do a deal that looks something like this.

Josh Vitters, Tom Gorzelanny, and maybe Cashner or Samardzija for Granderson and a prospect from their system. Seems like a fair deal to me.

Jim Hendry, let's get it done.

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On Tuesday, Tom Ricketts officially took control of the Cubs and 25-percent of Comcast Sportsnet. The deal was valued at $845 million.

Family members Todd, Tom, Pete, and Laura will form a board of directors. The Tribune Company will hold a five-percent interest in the team and sit on the board. Tom Ricketts will be the chairman.

"My family and I are thrilled that this day has finally come and we thank [Major League Baseball] Commissioner Bud Selig and Major League Baseball owners for approving our ownership," Tom Ricketts said in a statement on cubs.com. "Now we will go to work building the championship tradition that all Cubs fans so richly deserve."

The Ricketts family will hold a formal news conference on Friday during a travel day for the Yankees and Phillies.

Past owners have included William Hulbert, the first president of the National League, who took over the then named Chicago White Stockings in 1876. Albert Spalding took over as the team's general manager after the 1876 season. Spalding, became the team owner after Hulbert's death in 1882.

Spalding was followed briefly by James Hart from 1902-05, and sold the team to Charles Murphy for $105,000. Murphy was the owner the last time the Cubs won a World Series in 1908.

Charles Weeghman purchased the team as part of a syndicate, which included chewing gum executive William Wrigley, who took control in 1919. He was succeeded by his son, Philip, in 1932, and by his son, William, in 1977. The Wrigley family ended its ownership of the Cubs in June 1981, when they sold the team to the Tribune Co.

Under the media company, the Cubs have had 17 managers, including current skipper Lou Piniella, and won the National League East twice (1984, '89), the Wild Card once (1998), and the Central Division three times (2003, '07, '08).

They have not reached the World Series since 1945, and have not won it all since 1908, as us Cubs fans and the rest of the sports world know as the longest "dry" streak in professional sports.

"I just hope they keep trying to win-that's the bottom line," third baseman Aramis Ramirez said on cubs.com. "I hope they keep adding the pieces they need."

The sale was approved by the MLB Owners unanimously on October sixth.

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Why?

Former Texas Rangers hitting "guru," Rudy Jamarillo is going to be the new Cubs swing coach in 2010.  Apparently, he has a good standing relationship with Bradley, so this can't hurt right?

Wrong.  I could care less about Jamarillo's relationship with Bradley.

If the Ricketts family wants to make 2010 like 2006, so be it.  I will boycott Cubs baseball until Bradley leaves.  Just like us fans did in 2006, I won't attend a game, nor will I watch this decrepit team on TV.

Hopefully the Ricketts family makes like the Tribune Company did the following year.  Firring team president at the time Andy McPhail and spending lots of money.  Only this time getting rid of Bradley.

I don't think Jamarillo could help Bradley.  Milton needs more help then just a swing.  He needs attitude help.

Teammate, Ryan Theriot said on the Waddle and Silvy show that the only time Bradley was happy was after he won a card game on the team plane.  Even after home runs, the man was unhappy.

Why keep an unhappy teammate?

Jim Hendry, if you keep this poor excuse for a ball player and a teammate, you deserve to leave the organization.  Fool me once with the signing of Bradley, shame on me.  Fool me twice by keeping him, SHAME ON YOU JIM HENDRY!

Not only was he a poor excuse for a teammate, he was a poor excuse for a ball player.  He underachieved.  He hit .257 with 40 RBIs and 12 home runs!  What a $10 million waste!

Dear Hendry.  PLEASE, for the sake of Cubs nation, get rid of Milton Bradley.  The time has come to rid the team of this "disease."

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Here is why.

Being a Cubs fan, you build character. You may not think so, but you do.

For example, life is pretty easy being a Yankees fan.

You have seen 26 world championships, many Hall of Fame ball players pass through your park (a brand sparkling new park), and your team has the highest payroll in the majors.

Yankees fans complain if they don't win a World Series. They raise hell if they don't make the playoffs.

Cubs fans on the other hand, have a harder life.

We haven't seen a world championship in 101 years. We haven't seen a pennant in 64 years. We haven't even won a world championship in our current ballpark.

Keep in mind, Wrigley Field is the second oldest in the majors. Our payroll is high but our production is low.

Cubs fans have quite a tough life.

Being a Cubs fan, you are taught what it means to be loyal.

Why do we keep going back after 101 years? Cubs fans are the most loyal fans in baseball. Plain and simple.

I always complain about being fed up with the Cubs yet, every year I am in the same exact seats cheering for the same baseball team. Why? Because I am loyal.

I hear different fans all the time saying things like, "I am officially done," or "I can't stand this anymore. I'm selling my season tickets."

Cubs fans keep coming back for more. Why? Jimmy Fallon says it perfect in "Fever Pitch." The Cubs will always be there. They will always be out on the field come April, waiting for us fans to come back and watch.

Being a Cubs fan is an addiction. You always want more. I want more and I want 2010 to be here already.

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I have been a Cubs fan for all my life and I think this is the most talent I've seen on a team in a long time. Can they produce? You tell me.

Jim Hendry needs to follow the ideas of the Florida Marlins after they won their World Series in 2003. He needs to do a fire sale. They need to rebuild, not just this team, the entire franchise from the ground up.

Start at the basics. Get rid of all your big salary players. Players like Soriano, Bradley, Zambrano, Fukudome, Ramirez, Lee, Dempster, Lilly, Gregg, Baker, Hoffpauir, Fontenot, and Miles all have to go. Just dump them.

The rebuilding time has come.

Guys like Ryan Theriot and Geovany Soto are guys you can build this franchise around. Also if Randy Wells matures into the stud he has shown signs of this year. The Cubs need to stop going out and spending big bucks on busts like Soriano and Bradley.

What were they thinking when they signed a 29-year-old Soriano to a seven year deal? Or how about Bradley to a three year deal? It sickens me to see this happen.

The young guys on this team are the guys they need to rebuild around. Maybe they don't mature. I'm willing to take the gamble that they will.

Imagine this starting lineup for 2010. Sam Fuld leading off and playing center field followed by Ryan Theriot at shortstop, Blanco or Scales at second, Jake Fox playing first base, Soto behind the plate, Vitters at third, Brandon Guyer and Tyler Colvin filling out the final two outfield spots. Maybe with Randy Wells as your number one stud guy.

I like that.

Jim Hendry please make happy for once and do something like this. The worst that can happen is they are still a bad team. I'm willing to take the gamble.

Why those young guys you ask?

Josh Vitters hit .316 this year in A ball. Yes it is only A ball but he is 20-years-old. He is a freak.

Brandon Guyer hit .347 with two home runs and 23 stolen bases in A ball this year.

Tyler Colvin is hitting .300 and 14 home runs with AA Tennessee this season. Enough said with him.

The rest of the guys we all know as Cubs fans.

Keep in mind that the team I named is without any other transactions. It would be nice if they went out and got one big name, veteran player to lead this young group. Someone like a MARK DEROSA or a Matt Holiday. Someone who has proven themselves in the MLB and someone who is capable of being a leader for a team of young guys.

Let the fire sale begin.

Jake Karmel

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That is the equivalent to a birthday gift for a Cubs fan. As a Cubs fan, I am so happy that Gregg is finally out. No more blown saves. Yes!

But what's next? Who takes Gregg's place at the closer role?

Many Cubs fans are thinking Carlos Marmol should be thrown into the closer role. I disagree.

Marmol has had a lot of control and pitching problems this season. Marmol isn't the lights out guy he was last season. This season Marmol has four blown saves. His save percentage is 50 percent. That is unacceptable!

Who else can we turn to? Marmol? No. Gregg? No. Marshall? No. Guzman? Maybe.

Guzman is the best choice out of everyone on the Cubs. In 52 innings, Guzman has walked only 15. Less than both Gregg and Marmol. In 52 innings, Guzman has given up only 36 hits.

He has a nasty slider like Marmol and a good fastball. He has the control to be the closer and knows about the poise. We won't know until he enters the closer role.

All three men have closer type stuff. They all have the talent to do it. It is just about executing.

The verdict is that Guzman should be the new closer for the Chicago Cubs.