Fresh Start

Bradley's new teammates haven't judged him on his past. "I've played with tons of guys who had bad reputations and turned out to be great teammates once they got in the right environment," says Shawn Green, who relocated from the outfield to first base to accommodate Bradley. "He's been respectful and humble. He's become one of the guys."

Manager Jim Tracy's style differs from Wedge's; he prefers to handle disciplinary issues one-on-one and will not call out a player in front of his club or in print. "I don't look to have a lot of conversations with him in the heat of battle," Tracy says.

Bradley is thrilled to be closer to his Long Beach home and to his mother, Charlena Rector, who was diagnosed last November with breast cancer, had a lump removed and recently completed a course of chemotherapy. Rector says her son is a mama's boy who still keeps a bedroom at home and a closet filled with clothes and shoes. As a kid Bradley was a Dodgers fan, and he reveres the team's tradition. "Being a Dodger is like having a bubble around you. Everything else just bounces off," he says.

As Bradley talked last week, Tommy Lasorda, the avuncular former manager who is now the club's senior vice president, caught his eye from across the room, ambled over and interrupted, shaking his hand vigorously. " Milton Bradley," he boomed, "keep that smile on your face! You're a Dodger now, and don't you forget it!" Without uttering a word, Bradley received the benediction, nodded and smiled.