It may be over-analyzed, over-rated, and over-blown, but the fact still remains that Petco Park seems to have it in for the home team. In 42 games and 1506 at-bats, San Diego has mustered a meager .231 team batting average. What’s worse is they haven’t been doing much better on the road with a .251 average as visitors. Enter Milton Bradley, the much needed catalyst to a team striving for success in the postseason.

Bradley could be the guy considering he has experience in pressure situations and a .292 average thus far this season. However, with four stints on the DL and a total of 19 game and 65 at-bats, that average may be misleading. In his career, Bradley has hit .271.

The four DL assignments this year for the 29-year-old Bradley were the result of four different injuries. From April 23 to May 10, Bradley was shelved with a strained left hamstring. Just 14 days later he was on the DL once again retroactive to May 15 with a strained hamstring. The third stint began on June 3 with a calf injury. And finally, on July 1 the Padres placed him on the DL retroactive to June 21 with a strained left oblique.

Nevertheless, Bradley feels he’s ready. “I’m feeling fine,” said Bradley. “Just excited to get out there and contribute and help the team. (The oblique) is feeling fine. I swung from both sides yesterday and no problems so I’m not too concerned about it.”

With his obvious health issues, Bradley’s contribution to the team may be short-lived. In his two seasons with the Oakland Athletics, Bradley was sidelined five times. In his career, he has appeared on the DL 12 times.

If he stays healthy, he feels he can make a difference with this offense. “I know with me healthy there’s a whole lot I can do out there,” said Bradley. “I’m not expecting miracles the first day but give it some time.”

Bradley also feels he’s capable of taking on the infamous Petco Park. “I’ve played here before,” said Bradley. “It’s a nice ballpark you can see. I’m not concerned with all the Petco Park talk…A lot of stuff is just contagious, and infectious,” said Bradley. “I’ll go out there and provide some energy. A new body, new life sometimes sparks things. I’ve been told I’m the type of player that brings excitement and people pick up off of that. Hopefully I can provide that here.”

Excitement may be an understatement. Bradley has a reputation for volatility. In 2005, he accused Dodgers teammate Jeff Kent of a lack of leadership and an inability to deal with black players. In 2004, Bradley was suspended by the league for an incident involving a bottle-hurling fan in which Bradley slammed the water bottle at the feet of the plastic-pitching perpetrator.

While his reputation may precede him, Bradley believes he is misunderstood. “Anybody that’s ever been around me and knows me has nothing bad to say about me. Anybody that does have something bad to say about me has probably never met me, never spent five minutes with me. That’s what I take from that. I can sit here and watch whoever on TV and say that’s a bad guy or whatever, but until you get to know him then you don’t know what the motivation behind ‘it’ was. Believe me, anything I do is motivation. There’s a method to it. There’s a reason.”

Antics on and off the field may be an issue, but what’s more important is his ability to jell with his new teammates. Bradley doesn’t see this as an issue.

“I’ve played with four or five of these guys before,” said Bradley, “and was in an All-Star game way back in the day, ’98, with Marcus (Giles) in Charleston, South Carolina (South Atlantic League All-Star Game). I competed against a lot of these guys. There’re a lot of veterans to keep you on your toes, keep your focus.

“I don’t have too much to say but when I do it’s meaningful. I just quietly observe.”

His predictions for the future? “Everything seems to always work the first year or so. So hopefully this can be a long lasting relationship.”

Notes:

• Bradley played in 96 games last season and 75 the previous year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• Bradley missed 59 games in 2006, 85 in 2005 and 61 in 2003. He was batting .263 with a home run and three RBIs in 11 games this year.

• Bradley, who agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with Oakland in the offseason, will be a free agent at the end of the year.