Omar Minaya said Lastings Milledge is in the Mets’ plans, but then again, he can’t say anything else. Ripping Milledge just lessens his value. Signing Moises Alou sends the message Milledge isn’t ready, that he needs a full year in the minor leagues, something he didn’t get last year.
In hindsight, by force feeding Milledge last year out of need, they might have weakened their position in the trade market for him. They balked at deals for Barry Zito and Manny Ramirez, in part because of the request for Milledge in the package and might regret that now. Of course, in fairness, maybe the deals wouldn’t have been made because of other factors, put pulling Milledge off the table was a killer.
What to do now?
- Well, they could dump him for whatever they can get in the pitching market. With that comes the risk he becomes a big time player.
- They could start him on the major league level and let him sink or swim. Personally, I think Shawn Green gives them a more consistent player in right field. It is fashionable to say give right field to Endy Chavez, but while he showed flashes last season, will he do it in a full time role?
- They could leave him in the minor leagues and let him develop without pressure. Doing that would mean resisting the urge to bring him up if there is an injury or somebody is slumping.
11 Comments
I think you have endy and green in rt with lastings in aaa.
this way they can get him to focus on his needs: more patience at the plate, better grasp of defense, all out hustle every play all the time.
everyone says he has the tools and he has done some great things. his head needs to be nailed on straight. hopefully by telling him up front that he needs to work on x,y,z and putting him in the minors he will do what needs to be done for himself and the team.
Dave
To Dave …
I think you’re right, unless Milledge brings in a top flight pitcher. They aren’t going to win or lose next year based on what Milledge does, but how they pitch.
If a year in Triple-A can do it for him, that’s the way to go.
I’m surprised that so many people are down on Milledge in a purely baseball forecasting sense. I don’t really like him that much and I really don’t know what to make of the incident in the clubhouse with the ‘Know your place Rook’ sign but his performance was very promising. He was a very good player at the AAA level in his age 21 year. Also he was a patient hitter at AAA drawing a lot of walks and getting on base. I know he showed less patience at the major league level but that was in limited time and I believe that if he had good patience at AAA that will translate to good patience in the majors before long. I don’t know what to make of the situation with his attitude. I only know what I see on TV but that leaves a lot of questions.
To Taylor …
The veterans were letting him know his attitude wasn’t appreciated with the ``Know Your Place Rook’’ sign. It’s called paying your dues, and his attitude was one of entitlement. He showed promise at Triple-A, but erratic on the major league level.
i think its funny that with the signing of alou, the papers,radio etc. think that means the mets could or should move milledge. I think with the signing of alou,its even more of a reason to hold onto milledge. As much as i like the alou signing for one year,lets face it there is a better than average chance moises hits the disabled list at least once,opening the door for either johnson,chavez,or milledge to step in. Hopefully milledge cause i think chavez works better off the bench and playing part time.
Now if the mets have too good an offer for milledge,then i cant blame them for trading him. The farm system is not exactly stocked with tons of prospects,but outfield is maybe one of the strengths the system,arguably
To Dan …
I don’t think Alou means they should deal Milledge, but that they might be more willing to. If they can get a top flight pitcher, then go for it.
Yeah, Alou is likely to be a DL guy this summer, and in that case, go with Endy Chavez and let Milledge get his ABs in Triple-A.
John,
Let’s face it Milledge got off easy with just a sign. if this was an earlier team like the 70’s or 80’s they would have made the message a little louder than that. ;-]
Ok if milledge cleans his act up in AAA fine, but if he doesnt he will be damaged goods.
To Steve C. ...
You’re right. Remember Gregg Jefferies? His teammates were brutal to him. Maybe Milledge would have responded if the treatment was harsher.
By the way, all that talk about Cliff Floyd being a mentor was nonsense. He never took him aside and told him to shape up.
This is a vital year for Milledge. If he doesn’t show anything his trade value will decrease even more.
John – Lastings reminds me a bit of Soriano – the attitude, the swagger and look what happened to him. After a couple of years to sort himself out (or be sorted out by GMs) Frank Robinson gets a hold of him and Soriano hits the jackpot with Lou Pinella and the Cubs.
Is this the scenario for Lastings? How long will it take for him to grasp the reality of Major League Baseball?
To Joan …
I don’t know when MIlledge will get it. I don’t see the similarity between Milledge and Soriano, either in talent or attitude.
When I covered Soriano I always found him to have loads of potential with an engaging personality. I don’t think Milledge has the same potential, especially with power.
Soriano got a little full of himself this spring about playing left field, but it finally sunk in to him that if he shut up and hit home runs it would pay off. I didn’t think for a second he would stay in Washington, regardless of what he said.
I hope the Mets can get rid of this guy asap. His arrogance has been unbearable almost since the day he arrived. In his unproductive, short stay with the Mets it seems he alienated many players and simply does not “get it,” when it comes to being professional.
I don’t have many criticisms of Mets management these days, but I wonder how they have not been able to get this guy to see the light and teach him what it takes to be a major leaguer. Perhaps they have tried and the guy is too ignorant. His attitude seems better suitedd for the NBA.