By Mark La Monica
Way up there in Section 8, Row M of the upper deck at Shea Stadium, the sound of the bat left no room for debate. Lastings Milledge just crushed a home run off Armando Benitez to tie the score at 6 in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Those around me rocket-blasted out of their seats, enraptured by the majestic blast and the fact the Mets had just tied it up. I think seven or eight people pulled their hamstrings from the self-catapulting.
Me, I slowly stood and clapped in appreciation of a young talent fulfilling his promise.
As Milledge, the Mets rookie with five games of major-league experience and three years of major-league hype, went out to his position in right field to start the 11th inning, he high-fived a bunch of fans in the front row along the right-field line. It was a great moment to watch. Boss friend Lil Jon pointed it out as he watched the events unfold through half-impressed, half-shocked eyes.
My first thought: That is awesome. (I like my athletes to be a little brash and shocking, especially when they've done something exciting for the fans and not something worthy of 30 seconds on "Celebrity Justice.")
My second thought: Oh, boy, someone is going to have a problem with that.
Predictably, it was Mets manager Willie Randolph. "It won't happen again," Randolph was quoted in Monday's newspapers.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure a few of us will have some conversations with the kid," Cliff Floyd told MLB.com.
Those conversations will probably center on respecting the game and such actions having consequences for himself or his teammates. Don't listen too intently, Lastings.
Respecting the game is an important concept and no one wants to do things that could adversely affect a teammate (well, maybe Barry Bonds' teammates are the exception).
But is high-fiving fans after a game-tying home run any different than taking a curtain call? It's the same fans acknowledging on-field heroics. When Milledge went out to his positions, fans were still chanting his name.
Is high-fiving fans after a game-tying home run any different than staring at the ball from the plate or doing something noticeable as you trot around the bases? Yes it is, provided you believe in the arcane "unwritten rules of baseball." A pitcher -- 104 percent of the time it's the same person who served up the blast -- views that as being shown up. Hey guess what, pitcher? Some 40,000 people already know what you did, so what's one more?
Randolph has a job to do and that is to manage his team, so he has to take some kind of stand to keep the clubhouse on an even keel. A veteran may not be happy with the rookie's display of exhuberance.
That's the veteran's problem!
Let Lastings Milledge be Lastings Milledge.
He's 21. In the major leagues. In New York. Living the dream he spent a life dreaming about. He just hit his first career home run. It tied the score in extra innings. It came off Giants closer Armando Benitez, an ex-Met and perpetual big-save-blower.
Those fans will remember that moment for the rest of their lives. And this is a fan's game anyway. Isn't that what the athletes always say anyway? Milledge just gave those Mets fans another reason to love their team and come back to Shea Stadium, pay $13 to park, buy concessions and souvenirs and make sure those big-salaried players remained big-salaried players.
Milledge has already tucked in the extra-large cross he wears on a lengthy necklace. That's an acceptable move, seeing how loose jewelry could cause an injury.
But there's no reason to put an electric-shock leash collar around Milledge's personal expression. Let the kid play freely. He's part of something here in New York, a renewed sense of hope and excitement for Mets fans.
True, there's no guarantee Milledge even will be in the big leagues once Xavier Nady returns from the 15-day DL after his emergency appendectomy, but he is an exciting player on an exciting team in an exciting city. Let him enjoy his moments when they come. If it gets way out of hand, then deal with it.
In the meantime, let Lastings Milledge be Lastings Milledge.
Comments (8)
I wonder what Willy would say to a guy like Manny, who my grandmother could beat out of the box on any hit ball, let alone a home run. For once we actually agree.
Hope all is well in dot-com land. Tell everyone I said hi.
Please.
Imagine if the Mets had Cliff Floyd on the 84/85/86 Mets team. I would argue Strawberry and Gooden would have turned out much differently if Floyd taught them a little about respect for the game. Wright didn't turn out too bad, did he. Lastings is a rookie, and he should be taught to respect the game now, before nobody can control him.
It's nice to see young exuberation. I love to envision a team of D Wright, J Reyes, L Milledge, C Beltran, M Pelfrey. As a great core to keep building around for the next 5-10 years. LETS GO METS.
In this age of overpaid corporate type baseball players and the dark era of steroids, its great to see a young exhuberant player who acknowledges the fans, who obviously love him. I love what he did and I think the fans he high fived will always remember that. This has nothing to do with disrespect and erything to do with youth and excitement, something the Mets haven't had in a long time, so don't rain on our parade and lets go Mets!
This topic is actually funny. This is a GAME! The fans pay dearly to attend the game and watch the players do their thing. People actually think a hi-five is disrespecting the game of baseball? Seriously folks, get a grip.
But while we're on the topic, riddle me this...why would a batter hi-fiving a few fans on his way out to his position after the inning in which he hit a homerun was over be considered showing up the pitcher (personally, I think the ball leaving the ballpark managed to do that all by itself)but a pitcher pumping his fists, or yelling out, or jumping for joy after an inning-ending strikeout not be considered showing up the batter? Pure hypocrasy . I for one find it refreshing to see a player actually have the ability to inject the human aspect into the game.
Mark, I'm on the same page as you! Lastings Milledge has already been beaten down for several things, and he is only in the bigs for 5 games. This young man is exciting, talented, and happy to show the fans he is with them. Let's not forget it is the fan that counts here. That was a special HR, one run down, extra innings, one strike left, and Armando on the mound (who had never blown a save to his ex-team). That was a GREAT HR, even more so that it was his very first in MLB!
Too many people, players, announcers and writers are really playing up the "showboating" element. As you state, this is no different than an arm pump from a pitcher after a K, a dropped bat after a HR (a la Reggie Jackson) or a curtain call.
I was glad to see it, and do not apologize for it, Lastings.
Mets fans will luckily get to see many more-this kid is as advertised-another top young METS prospect.
And whatever you do, Omar, DO NOT TRADE HIM!
A high-five to Milledge for at "Last-ings" bringing Joy to Mudville !
This original post is well written and makes all the sense in the world. This game is about the fans. If the fans enjoyed the display, and now it over, so be it. I have no problem with what Lastings did. He's been warned and probably won't do it again, but if you were in that situation, there's a damn good chance you would've done something similar. Kudos to Lastings and his ability to produce early on. I hope he can keep it up and give us fans something to be excited about for the future of this franchise. Don't harp on this event as a negative thing, it was an extreme positive for Mets fans. This kid could be the future of the franchise with Reyes and Wright. Thank you Lastings for an exciting night of baseball.