The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT May 18, 2011

For the last year and a half, it was like the Fourth of July at Safeco Field.

Paying $15 million for a firework, just waiting for it to explode.

That never happened for Milton Bradley in a Seattle Mariners uniform.

WHEN THE Cubs opted to trade Bradley to the Mariners for Carlos Silva during the 2009-10 offseason, there was some mixed emotions.

The first - why did it take so long to deal Silva?

That other emotion - why for him?

It could be the first time I've ever seen a trade where neither team wins.

Bradley managed to play his way to a miserable first season in Seattle, where he was hurt and finished the season way below what was expected of a starting left fielder.

Seattle opted to bring him back this season, for reasons that I'm still wondering about.

Bradley has flamed out with eight different teams - each with even more epic results.

He was let go from the Cleveland Indians for an altercation with then-manager Eric Wedge.

It's amazing to think that once Wedge was hired by the Mariners, they couldn't just hug it out.

Bradley also called out the Cubs organization and ran into the crowd after a radio announcer while in Texas.

After designating him for assignment last week, the Mariners looked for any other team that wanted to take a chance on him.

With no interest, the Mariners finally released him on Monday.

CHANCES ARE this will be the final curtain for his career.

If Bradley couldn't make it as a Mariner, who else will risk taking a chance on him?

In a league where teams are looking for another bat to get over the top, Bradley's has gone away.

Maybe he could catch on with a softball team in a recreational league around Kootenai County.

I’m sure that either the “Brawlers” or the “Madness” could use someone in the Coeur d’Alene men’s league.

As far as the Mariners for the remainder of the season, it doesn’t matter who they put in left field — Michael Saunders, Carlos Peguero or Ryan Langerhans, who was also designated for assignment but wound up taking a demotion to AAA Tacoma instead of being released.

Then again, maybe this move was what the Mariners needed to kick-start a run toward the American League West championship.

No more distractions, ear plugs and late-game strikeouts, immediately followed by a manager having to carry him off the field screaming at the umpire.

There is one downside to his release.

With that recent stint wearing earplugs in Seattle — Milton didn’t get a chance to hear how bad he was playing.

Chances are, he knows it now.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].