IT'S TIME TO CUT BRADLEY.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

You give direction, lend an ear, coddle when needed. Show patience but be firm. Try to nurture but grant independence.

In the end, there is only so much that can be done, that should be done. Eventually they are responsible for their own actions, their own words and deeds.

When it goes bad, and continually goes bad, conclusions become unavoidable and decisions clear.

That's where the Dodgers are today, facing an obvious conclusion, no matter how conflicted or uncomfortable.

It is time for the Dodgers to make a stand and cut Milton Bradley.

Time to make it known they will no longer tolerate his unpredictable behavior. To make a statement that their recently proclaimed fondness for character is not just lip service. To admit to a mistake and move past it.

There should be no hiding behind a too-convenient knee injury. No vague comments of support. No condoning Bradley's failings by not speaking and acting against them.

It's sad, because Milton Bradley could have owned this town. He knew it, too. Wanted to, even.

He played with passion on a team in desperate need of it. Had enough talent that all things seemed possible at any moment. Had a flare for the spectacular than resonated with fans.

But Bradley's unpredictability as a player never translated off the field. He seemed the emotional man-child, earnest and so immensely likeable one moment, outrageous or enraged the next.

Now comes a report from the Daily Breeze that Bradley's anger issues exceed throwing a plastic bottle at the foot of a fan at Dodger Stadium or calling a black reporter an Uncle Tom during the postseason.

Three times this summer police have responded to domestic-violence calls at his Redondo Beach home, the newspaper reported, including one where he allegedly choked his pregnant wife, bloodied her lip and threw a cell phone against the wall.

No charges were filed against Bradley or his wife, but the police report is unnerving, particularly in light of his past public battles with anger.

During one argument over their relationship, the newspaper said his wife told police Bradley grabbed her right hand and pushed it against her mouth, causing her to hit herself. His wife, then four months pregnant, also was pushed against the wall with his forearm under her throat, choking her.

Bradley then left the home, and police said when they arrived, his wife was crying and her lip bleeding.

The Dodgers reacted to the report with statements from general manager Paul DePodesta and Bradley.

``Dodger owner Frank McCourt and I have made it crystal clear that character is an essential attribute for everyone within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization,'' DePodesta said. ``As we have already stated, Milton Bradley has health issues that we expect he will address.

``We are disappointed that he is facing challenges away from the ballpark, but we are confident he will confront these issues as well.''

The Dodgers' affection for character was made crystal clear last week.

Bradley's efforts to reign in his anger has supposedly been going on since last offseason, although he's admitted to little actual counseling but trying to overcome his heated emotions through willpower and support from the team.

``The events written about are very regrettable,'' Bradley said in his statement. ``Any problems reported have been exaggerated, but nonetheless, my wife and I have resolved all issues. The incidents reported will remain private and personal.''

Domestic problems should remain private. But domestic violence is something else, particularly with someone with Bradley's volatile history.

All this, of course, comes on the heels of Bradley's almost bizarre public rant against teammate Jeff Kent last week.

Bradley accused Kent of being a poor leader, complained Kent singled him out for not hustling and had problems dealing with blacks.

The most damning comments came after manager Jim Tracy asked him to stop publicly airing personal issues he had with Kent.

Whether Kent is or is not a good leader isn't something Bradley needed to make into an issue. Not hustling was the final straw for Bradley in Cleveland when he was benched by Indians manager Eric Wedge for not running out a popfly in an exhibition game.

Although Kent once got into a shoving match with then-teammate Barry Bonds, there's no evidence to suggest he is a racist, but rather someone who has trouble stomaching prima donnas.

Bradley also said: ``My being African-American is the most important thing in my life.''

The comment went almost unnoticed, although if Kent had said being white was the most important thing in his life, Bradley could have called him racist.

Really, you can't believe anything Bradley says right now. He's lost all credibility.

At the beginning of the season, when he seemed on the right track, you pulled for Bradley, hoped he could overcome his anger issue and find happiness on his home team, but it proved too foreign.

Bradley clearly has bigger concerns than his knee to overcome. The Dodgers have been more than patient. Now they clearly need to be decisive.