It took a small amount of restraint on my part not to run with a headline of “TICKING TIMEBOMB UPDATE”, and perhaps that’s just as well, as Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu alleges newly acquired OF/DH Milton Bradley is being held to an impossible standard this exhibition season. As the Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker, explains Bradley was given the heave-ho by minor league umpire John Merry  in the 4th inning of last night’s 6-2 loss to the Reds.

“To me, it’s almost like a witch hunt,” Wakamatsu said. “I mean, it’s almost embarassing to me when egos get involved to the point where they don’t even give a guy a chance.”

Merry ejected Bradley for arguing a fourth-inning strikeout call on a full-count pitch that seemed high. Wakamatsu admitted that Bradley did say something to Merry as he walked back to the dugout — he couldn’t tell what — but added that the umpire’s trigger was too quick.

“Again, I think it’s pretty blatant that some guys have it out for him.”

Wakamatsu rarely gets this critical of an umpire — at least in public. This is the second time in a row that Bradley has been ejected by a AAA umpire. Last time, two nights ago, he didn’t even say anything, but was tossed for dropping his bat and peeling off his gloves, thinking there were three outs in the inning instead of two.

Tonight, he clearly said something. Guys do get tossed for that. But yeah, Bradley’s reputation probably isn’t helping