Ex-Indians tormenting their former team has been a painful theme for the Tribe this season.
If it hasn’t been volatile Texas Rangers outfielder Milton Bradley hitting home runs and taunting the Indians and manager Eric Wedge, it’s been Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips doing the same. They are not alone.
Here’s a list of  some of the more notable former Cleveland players that have become Tribe tormentors and their stats against the Indians:
• Milton Bradley, OF, Texas Rangers: .522 (12-for-23), 4 2Bs, 4 HRs, 12 RBIs, 1.217 slugging percentage, 7 games) — No ex-Indian has burned his former mates like Bradley, rubbing it in the Indians’ face the whole way. Bradley, an All-Star this year, didn’t like Wedge when he was in Cleveland, and he’s done his best to make life miserable for his former manager.
• Brandon Phillips, 2B Cincinnati Reds: .375 (9-for-24), 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 2 SBs, 6 games) — B-Phil clashed with Wedge and the Indians for failing to make adjustments to his big swing. It appears the flashy Phillips didn’t need to, and he’s proven it to the Tribe deep thinkers on more than one occasion this season.
• Ramon Vazquez, INF, Texas Rangers: .400 (8-for-20), 3 2Bs, 1 3B, 5 RBIs, 6 games — In one of the more dubious moves made by the manager and front office, the Indians kept this guy over Phillips as their utility infielder, then watched Phillips blossom and Vazquez burn them after they traded him to Texas.
• Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, San Diego Padres: .462 (6-for-13), 3 2Bs, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 3 games) — This promising prospect was behind Casey Blake and (gulp) Andy Marte in the pecking order before he was dealt to the Padres for deposed second baseman Josh Barfield. Kouzmanoff has gotten even with the Indians, while Blake is gone in a trade to the Dodgers, Marte is batting under .200 and Barfield is on the disabled list after opening the year in the minors.
• Jim Thome, DH, Chicago White Sox: .233 (10-for-43), 6 HRs, 11 RBIs, 11 games) — Thome, who is still Cleveland’s all-time home run hitter despite skipping town five years ago, hasn’t hit for average against his old mates, but he’s made an impact and then some with six of his 25 homers through Friday coming against the Indians.
• Jody Gerut, OF, San Diego Padres: .417 (5-for-12), 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 games) — The Indians gave up on the former rookie of the year candidate after he blew out his knee, but he’s returned from the scrap pile to earn plenty of playing time in San Diego, and had a big series against the Indians at Progressive Field in the middle of June.
• Jeremy Guthrie, SP, Baltimore Orioles (1-0, 1.29 ERA, 7 IP, 1 ER) — Once the most prized pitching prospect in the Indians’ organization, Guthrie inked a franchise-record signing bonus then never panned out in Cleveland, where he made a handful of appearances before being placed on waivers. He resurfaced with the Orioles last year, earning a spot in the rotation, then became the club’s ace this season and showed the Indians what they were missing during a brilliant start at Progressive Field less than a week ago.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. 

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