Bicker Isn’t Better

The public feud between Milton Bradley and Jeff Kent escalated Tuesday, with Bradley saying Kent has problems dealing with African Americans and Kent responding that the accusation is “absolutely pathetic.”

Moments after the clubhouse opened before the Dodgers’ 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium, a composed Bradley spoke at length about what he characterized as season-long friction with Kent.

Kent responded briefly, then Bradley addressed the issue again for the benefit of television cameras after taking batting practice. A short time later, Bradley was removed from the lineup because the injury to his left knee he suffered during Monday’s game had flared up.

In his initial comments, Bradley discussed the aftermath of a dispute that became public Saturday in Florida when Kent accused the center fielder of not hustling around the bases. A shouting match ensued and Bradley knocked over a chair in the clubhouse.

Bradley said his problems with Kent began in spring training and that he voiced complaints to Manager Jim Tracy about a month ago when Kent needled Bradley about the finger injury that kept him on the disabled list from May 30 to July 23.

Most offensive to Bradley -- one of two African Americans on the team -- have been comments he perceives as being directed at his race.

“There is a pattern to the things that have been said,” he said. “He doesn’t know how to deal with African American people. We all joke about race in here. But there are things said off the cuff that I don’t interpret as being funny. They are funny to him and [comedian] Jeff Foxworthy, but not to Milton Bradley.

“Me being African American is the most important thing in my life -- more important than baseball.”

After saying he wouldn’t respond to Bradley’s accusation, Kent said, “I take offense to that. That’s just absolutely pathetic if it comes from his mouth.

“If you think I have a problem with African Americans, talk to Dusty Baker or Dave Winfield or Joe Carter and all the other veteran players who taught me how to play.”

Baker, an African American and Kent’s manager in San Francisco for six seasons, said he might have been responsible for a highly publicized dugout shoving match in 2002 between Kent and Barry Bonds.

“I remember asking Jeff to do something like that,” Baker told the Chicago Tribune.

“I was just hoping that it wasn’t something that maybe I helped create. But if that’s what you need, it’s what you need. If I know Jeff, it’s not like Jeff to make it public.

“A real leader doesn’t really need to let everybody know he’s the leader. He needs to do it when he thinks it’s right, and that’s how Jeff is.”

Bradley said that in spring training owner Frank McCourt, General Manager Paul DePodesta and Tracy had told him he was the team leader. He also said Kent’s leadership is sorely lacking, pointing out that the 37-year-old second baseman had yet to arrive at Dodger Stadium although most of his teammates were already in the clubhouse.

“Everybody in here can see who isn’t here,” he said. “If you’re going to be a team leader, then you need to mingle with the team, associate with the team. You can’t have your locker in the corner of every clubhouse [when] we go on the road. You can’t put your headphones on and sit in the corner and read a motocross magazine.

“As far as I’m concerned, he has no clue about leadership. He’s in his own world. We’re all in this world.”

Tracy would like the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters in his lineup to get on the same page. He met with each player individually Sunday but acknowledged a rift still exists.

“As time goes on, I’m hopeful that additional things will be done to get them together,” he said. “Timing is a delicate issue. I want the subject matter on the table in a normal tone of voice and hope something good comes out of it. That’s how you handle it.

“As for an uprising in the clubhouse, let’s don’t make it sound like this is the first time in the history of the game it has happened. A number of them nobody ever finds out about.

“The important thing is, has it affected the team? Has it ruined the team? The answer to that is no.”

He downplayed Bradley’s suggestion that Kent has a problem with African American players. “I really don’t feel that Jeff approaching Milton has anything to do with race,” Tracy said. “I don’t think he is particular at all if he has something to say to somebody.

“They are two vicious competitors who want to win.”

Bradley, who took anger management classes during the off-season after losing his temper several times last season, said he wants to remain a Dodger. He also said he wants Kent to remain a Dodger.

“If they want me, most definitely [I want to stay],” he said. “Jeff Kent won’t have anything to do with my decision. It will have to do with my family and my comfort level.

“Jeff Kent is the best option around at second base. So why wouldn’t I want to be on a team with Jeff Kent? We don’t have to be friends.”

Still, forgetting the perceived slights from Kent won’t be easy for him.

“If somebody says to you, ‘you’re an idiot,’ and laughs and walks away,” Bradley said, “and comes back the next day and says ‘you’re an idiot’ and looks you in the eye, and comes to you again and says ‘you’re an idiot’ and stands there looking you in the face, pretty soon you’re going to take that seriously.

“So it’s not about the team this or the team that. He’s got a problem with something I’m doing.”

Kent seemed upset that the rift was being discussed for a third day in a row.

“The he-said, she-said, I won’t contribute to that,” he said. “He can go around and say all types of things. It comes from an incident he still doesn’t get, and that’s a shame.”