This is going to be part of my notebook in Saturday's paper. Thought you might like a sneak preview:
Willie Randolph’s logic was a version of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In fact, the Mets manager actually said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it” when asked why he used the same lineup for the fourth straight game Friday night against the Braves.
Being the same meant Shawn Green (batting .333) and Jose Valentin (batting .091) both started against lefthander Mark Redman. Green was 6-for-6 with a walk lifetime against Redman coming in, which was news to Green but not to Randolph.
“Really?” Green asked when told of his 1.000 batting average. “I guess it can’t go up.”
Lastings Milledge, who turned 22 on Thursday, might have been a candidate to get his first start of the season, but Randolph quashed that notion.
“Green’s my rightfielder,” he said. “I usually don’t like young players sitting, but having said that, [Milledge] made the team because he had a great spring and he can help us win now any way I use him. I can’t be worried about ‘because he’s young I’ve got to play him.’ ”
Randolph compared Milledge’s situation to that of utilityman David Newhan. He admitted, though, that Milledge may have a tougher time adapting to limited duty.
“You can’t expect him to know how to handle coming off the bench,” he said. “He’s never done it. He’s 22 years old.”
Comments (8)
My goodness, the Braves are so pathetic. Reyes two triples, Mets turn two more double plays, doubles galore for the team, Oliver Perez was brilliant. The braves stink and the Phillies are even worse. Lets go Mets. This is the most impressive start I have ever seen. The "team" is playing like they deserve to be something great. Go Mets, lets make it 5.
What a bad day, Perez actually gave up a run, and Larry got two hits, one of them was off our good relief pitcher Smith.
He was not supposed to do that.
Lets hope tomorrow is a better day.
Mets really gave it to the Braves tonight, based on what I saw from those Atlanta flamers I would say that more of an ass whipping is coming.
How sweet it 'tis!
Oh yeah I forgot to add, GO METS! BEAT THEM BRAVES!
BEAT 'EM BAD!
anyone notice that reyes has seven rbi? The guy is getting mvp talk already and some say he might have been the mvp last year but all the mets cancelled each other out. This may be reyes time if he goes wire to wire. he is amazing.
BRAVES STINK!!!!!!!!!!!!
LET'S GO METS!!!!!!!!!
I'm loving it. I'm a native NY'er living in Atlanta and they have talk so much trash up until last night. They are so upset, the local paper shut down the blog to keep METS fans from giving them the crap they so rightly deserve. Anyway cant wait to see them METS again 2day doing what they do best, excersising that demon they cal Turner Field.
If the mets go 54-27 on the road this year. That would be incredible. Heck I'll even factor in a 4 game losing streak. That would bring the mets to 50-31 on the ROAD. Atlanta was real lucky and did not impress me. But it can be said, that in a short series a real inferior team can get lucky a la the Cardinals in the NLCS. Mets must win those fluke games.