Sounds like Lastings Milledge is fired up to face his former team because, according to SI.com, the veterans "didn't like the way he played the game." Here's the bottom line with Milledge. The Mets, and especially manager WiIlie Randolph, bent over backwards to help MIlledge succeed. If he didn't like being treated like a rookie, if he didn't like showing up on time, if he didn't like having to edit his offensive rap lyrics, that's his problem. Don't blame for the Mets for it.
I thought Milledge made some real progress in his first two seasons, and last year, I was very impressed with how he handled himself. Clearly, he grew up a little bit, and realized it was better to draw attention with his performance on the field rather than off it. Milledge is only 22, just a kid, and he's going to make mistakes. But somebody on the Nationals should get in his face and tell him to stop talking about his former team. It can only end badly for him.
The Mets head down to Roger Dean Stadium today for a 1p.m. matchup with the Cardinals. Sounds like Scott Spiezio won't be in the lineup. If you're looking for reasons to go with Mike Pelfrey as the No. 5 starter this year, click here and here.
Comments (10)
The Mets gave up too soon on Milledge and will come to rue the day that they traded him. That being said, of course he is hurt and a little bitter. After doing everything that was asked of you, giving 150% on the field, constantly dealing with thinly veiled racial epithets in the media, shaving your cornrows to satisfy these same thinly veiled racists, and just overall being a model citizen and a spark for a team that choked, would you not be bitter? It's like he's being made a scapegoat for the Mets failures last year in his view. If many of the rest of the team played as hard as he did, things may have ended differently. With all he did to improve his image, it was STILL not enough to avoid being traded for a bag o' balls journeyman players. Of course he is insulted. I am a Mets fan, but I will NEVER understand this trade. I wish Milledge all the best and will continue to root for him. I totally agree with him speaking out on this. He deserves his say.
the reason Milledge got traded is because he'll never be a corner outfielder, he'll always be a tweener, he'll never hit for the power that the scouts projected him to hit when he was that highly rated prospect down in the A ball. Also, for this year at least, he wasn't close to ready to play right field everyday for a contender, CF he's fine at, but we have one of those. He's just not a corner outfielder, and the Mets got back two parts that help us win now. That's the bottom line. When we start winning, you'll realize all of this, how these guys aren't "journey men" or whatever. Get over it.
Trading Kazmir was a head scratcher, trading Milledge was not. Lastings does not have the power that he was touted to have, he does not have the speed he was touted to have, he played very poor outfield. When Beltran was out he made CF look like the Polo Grounds. The only impressive things I saw from LM were his bat speed and arm. All this plus his attitude and unprofessional behavior was more then enough reason to ship him out for a great defense catcher/leader and a solid OFer. When the Mets shopped LM to every team this offseason and go virtually no takers they learned a lot about his value and that was more then enough reason to move on and close the chapter on him...
Willie did not bend over backward to help him succeed. Whenever he got called up Randolph would play him one day (batting him 8th a lot) then he would bench him the next two days. He would use him as a platoon player against lefties, and sometimes as a pinch-hitter.
If you are platooning with Endy Chavez, what is the organization trying to tell you?
Randolph completely mishandled the Milledge situation. If you are going to have your best prospect on your roster, play him every day. Sitting on the bench will only hurt his progression.
350 at bats in two years.
In Willie's defense LM was hurt for the majority of the first half last year. Otheriwse he would have been used A LOT more. When he finally came back and got the call Willie started him in 23 of the first 27 games. He didn't start platooning until Alou came back. At that time Green was playing really well so a platoon with Green made the most sense. I think he played LM plenty and he gave him every opportunity to shine...and for the most LM did.
Excellent posts, 'MJ' and Pete!!!!
This trade along with the giveaway of Bannister 2yrs. ago is by for the worst trades of the Minaya era! To trade one of the organization's top prospect, a prospect they've committed time in developing for what translated into a hitting-challenged catcher and a career platoon OF made little if any sense. It made even littler sense when it was reported that the Nat's were about to release Schneider right before Minaya engaged the Nats. The ONLY players on the Nat's who would've been equivalent in talent and value to Milledge were either Cordero, Rauch or Maxwell. If Minaya couldn't secure one these 3 players he should've just held on to Milledge. It shows poor judgment to give up on a player who is at the mere age of 22! 22! A young player who was never given the opportunity to play a full season with 500Ab's. A player who would've acted as security for the Geritol-taking, oft-injured, 41yr. old LF and pain-threshold-challenged CF who would think nothing of sitting out a couple of weeks due to a paper cut. To the 'Einstein' who pointed out that Milledge couldn't 'play RF for a championship team' he wouldn't have fared no worst and would probably fared better than S. Green who last year due to slowed foot speed prevented him getting to balls 5 feet in front, in back, to his left or right of him.
Please let this be the last player our 'famed' closer runs out of town! It's getting pretty old with the 'good 'ole boys, veterans' way of thinking. 'GM' Wagner was the first to raise issue with Milledge posting a sign 'ROOK KNOW YOUR PLACE' on Milledge' locker stall. Wagner who has as many championships as Milledge = 0! Zlich! Nada! If Wagner was instrumental in running me out of town I would've crushed his head with a bat! Wagner should really do himself a favor and concentrate on doing the job he was hired for, a job he's not especially good at and not play clubhouse politician!!!!!
There's no sense blaming the 'manager' for the Milledge fiasco as 'ranDUMB' is a certifiable retard and clueless. I also think it makes good economic (baseball) business sense to have the team more closely reflect the diversity of this Metropolis known as Gotham. The Mets don't have one starting African-American player on the 24-man roster. If it wasn't for pinch-hitter M. Anderson the Mets wouldn't have any African-American players on the team. Does this reflect NYC? Is this some kind of time capsule where we've gone back prior to '47 when J. Robinson broke the color lines? Or could it we're in Utah? This is no knock on the dominantly-laten Latin make up of the team as I'm of the belief that Latin players are now the best in the game. But certainly Milledge who would not have been considered a utility player or token player just for the sake of having African-American representation on the team. It would've been good for the team and the city of NY.
I will always be a fan of Lastings Milledge and look forward to seeing him reach his vast potential! The Mets made the same (presumed) mistake in the '70's giving away a little known OF named Amos Otis who went on to have good career with the Royals. Making a couple of All-Star teams.
Hey Sean, how many black players are starting on other teams? Don't the Yanks also play in Gothem? How many black starters are on the Yankees???? Or really how many black players are on the Yankees roster at all??? LaTroy Hawkins and Derek Jeter are the only ones with African blood in them... the Mets have Marlon Anderson and Damion Easley... Before you go knocking the Mets for this, look around the league first.
Your point is irrelevent. My post was made on a Mets blog about the Mets team. Not any other team here in NY or around the league which I have no interest in. Additionally, the point I was making which evidently was lost after reading your reply was not just the representation of African-American players on the METS (read: METS!) but the representation of African-American stars, starters, standouts. The bottom line is prior to the '03 draft when the Mets made Milledge the 12th overall pick in the draft there hasn't been a homeground African-American star(s) since Gooden and Strawberry back in '83. Which was 'only' 25yrs. ago.
Point taken and understood.... my point, which apparently you failed to understand, was that how can the Mets have any major African American players or prospects when the league itself is lacking them? If there aren't that many in the game, the chances of the Mets having them is very slim. Combine that with the fact the we have a strong Latin based front office that recruits heavily in Latin America and you have your answer right there. What I want to know is why does it matter so much to you what color, race, creed Mets players are? To me their all Orange and Blue, not white, black, tan, yellow etc... Maybe somebody should try to put less emphasis on the color of the athlete and more on the skill level.
A visit from a Nats fan.
We are really excited to have Lastings Milledge. If you read his comments through the lens of our more relaxed coverage (and ton of blogs), his comments wouldn't seem nearly as bitter as they seem when reading NY paper articles.
He is excited, and confident. We have a young team, but with some veterans to talk him through some stuff without the same hard glare. Don't get me wrong- we have a solid following on the web talking about the team constantly every day of the year on numerous sites. We just have two main papers, and one is way out in front of the other. It isn't nearly as cutthroat.
In any case, we have Elijah Dukes to worry about. He has been pretty entertaining so far, including a funny driving range video. he would be eaten up in 10 seconds in NY. I know- I grew up in NJ the most rabid Mets fan, but the chance to raise my 3 kids in N. VA and be on the ground floor for a team I can actually bring them to see without an insane trip like to Shea was too much to pass up.
Anyway- Enjoy your playoff year, all. I will be rooting for you (as will my Mom, still in NJ). Just get your mind off the Milledge trade, and enjoy Schneider and Church. We will try to pick off the Phils, Braves and Fish to get to .500 this year. Then we'll talk in 2009 and 2010.