NO MORE GAMES FOR MILTON BRADLEY.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

Melting Milton Bradley, about to vanish before our eyes.

There seems to be something about volatile outfielders and stretch drives that make for complete self-destruction.

In the final week of the season, with things going so well for the Dodgers, Bradley totally fell apart Tuesday night. Had another childish brain cramp. Embarrassed himself, his teammates and his organization.

It should be the end of his season. The end of his career with the Dodgers.

A night the Dodgers came up with a stunning five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the bullpen-challenged Rockies 5-4 and reduce their magic number to three was marred by Bradley's mindless tirade in the eighth inning.

It was the kind of emotional outburst that goes beyond reason, beyond defending.

A charging Bradley, who had left four runners on base and struck out twice, hesitated to make a basket catch in right field in the eighth on pinch hitter Mark Sweeney's sinking liner, dropping it for a two-run error.

Then one very stupid fan threw a plastic beer bottle in his direction, the bottle landing at least 20 feet from Bradley. And he snapped.

After Colorado's Brad Hawpe singled in another run, Bradley walked over, picked up the bottle and proceeded to destroy all the good will he had established during the second half of the season.

He walked with purpose toward the crowd near the right-field foul pole, emptying the bottle on the grass as he approached and screaming at the fans.

``He wanted to someone to step up and say who threw the bottle at (him),'' said fan Steve Hecht of Torrance.

When no one fessed up, he angrily slammed the bottle on the concrete steps. It did not hit a fan, but some remaining beer sprayed a few.

By now, second baseman Alex Cora and center fielder Steve Finley approached, as well as second-base umpire Jim Joyce.

Joyce said something to Bradley, who apparently cursed at him and Joyce ejected him.

Now Bradley stormed off, still unable to calm himself, dropping glove and cap along the way. He removed his jersey as he walked off the field. When he got to the dugout, he stopped at the top step to yell at some booing fans, a man out of control, caught within his fury.

He dressed quickly and exploded out of the clubhouse with such force, the clubhouse door hit the back of a security guard's leg.

``Don't talk to me,'' Bradley said to a reporter, still in a rage. ``Leave me the (expletive) alone.''

He was escorted to the stadium elevator by team vice president Lon Rosen and presumably presented with a pacifier.

And perhaps today, his walking papers.

The Dodgers have no room for an unstable player who confronts fans, no matter how stupid the fan. The fan who threw the bottle later was identified and escorted away by security.

Bradley arrived to the Dodgers with a history of angry outbursts. It was the main reason the Indians made him available just before the season began.

He lived up to his reputation early. He was ejected three times by July 2, including one memorable ejection where he littered the playing field with baseballs.

After that the Long Beach native vowed he would not get ejected from a game again. He became more accessible to media. Seemed to have calmed down. Had the appearance of a player who had turned his career around.

At least until his logic-defying tirade Tuesday.

Last Saturday, outfielder Jose Guillen, who had his own volatile history, was suspended for the rest of the season by the Angels for throwing his helmet in the direction of manager Mike Scioscia in the dugout after being removed for a pinch runner.

Bradley's meltdown deserves no less. With this the last year left on his contract, they can cut him lose.

``I was hoping he could hold his cool,'' said his mother, Charlena Rector.

His team is trying to advance to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. All focus should be on the betterment of the team, not on a raging outfielder.

``We tried to calm him down, but we couldn't,'' Finley said. ``It's unfortunate. There's no excuse for it on either side.''

Manager Jim Tracy said the Dodgers would not address the situation until investigating it further. General manager Paul DePodesta was not made available for comment.

No one was happy about a man with so much talent, trying so hard to throw it away.

Bradley has 19 home runs and 67 RBI. His bat will be missed, but not his immaturity.

The team should have been talking about its remarkable comeback Tuesday, not its out-of-control outfielder. It shouldn't have to again.

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Photo:

Milton Bradley walks toward fans in right field, where a plastic bottle was thrown at him.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer