February 15: Wright vs. Milledge
-
- February
- 15
David Wright has been in the area for a couple of weeks now, “because I want to get acclimated to things.” He said it is something he’s always done and plans to do throughout his career.
On the other hand, Lastings Milledge, whose image needs an overhaul, is nowhere to be found. In fairness, he doesn’t have to be here until next week, but one would think considering his acclimation problems last summer, he’d make the effort to show up early.
Just an observation.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, February 15th, 2007 at 3:42 pm by John Delcos.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Share and Enjoy: 
| 
| 
Advertisement
John,
Why do you have such an undeniable hard-on for this kind of snarky observation about Milledge? Did he really hurt your feelings so badly that one time in the locker room? Come on man, you do great work but you just can't let it alone with Milledge. Editorializing like this, which so often gets passed off as reporting, which it is not, is the kind of bullsh*t that leads fans to boo a kid with tremendous ability and a sterling future when he doesn't post an OPS of .900 in his first 150ABs.
Be a man and let it go, John.
Sincerely,
A fan of yours and the Mets
For everyone who complains that Wright gets too much pub compared to other Mets, this is why…He does things the way most of us as fans would hope players who play for our favorite team would. He has a good time, but understands what it means to play in the MLB and for the Mets.
Hi John –
Sounds like a continuation of last year – David Wright is doing all the right things, Milledge is pushing the envelope, and Wagner is in La-La land.
John,
I agree you keep bringing up the bad stuff about Milledge trying to make him look real bad. He doesnt have to be in camp this early, wheres Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Endy Chavez, and all the other position players. Please stop trying to make Lastings look like he is some kind of bad guy cause its just not right. If you have a personal grudge against him let it be known.
thanks for your time.
It's unfair to compare those two. And unfair to hold that against Milledge.
Is Jose Reyes there?
He doesn't have to be in camp for another week, so he's in the wrong. It's just that Wright came in so increidbly early. Milledge can't control that. He CAN control being there on time and not only am I confident he will be, but I wouldn't doubt him coming atleast a little early.
John
I have to agree with Lister and others who think you are being unduly harsh to Milledge. This is exactly the type of stuff that leads fans to think he has an attitude problem. There are quite a few players who did not report early, even some that are on the bubble. Why are you not posting about them?
You are perpetuating the stereotype of Milledge being aloof, arrogant, and selfish. It is not fair to him. It's not fair to the fans. And its not fair to the team.
Some journalist work hard to come up with real stories that are unbiased and fair.
On the other hand, ex-Yankee reporters who have switched to the Mets, and work for barely respectable papers don't seem to hold to those same high standards. In fairness, they don't have to live up to those standards, but one would think, considering the switch from one NY team to another, it might be a good idea to at least appear somewhat un-biased.
Just an observation.
John,
Just want to echo the earlier complaints about your off-hand comment about Lastings. We know this is an informal blog and not an actual article, but that's sloppy journalism in any venue.
There's no need to make up a negative story (Lastings not being there) to equal out the obvious positive one (wright is).
Lastings Milledge
My kind of guy
If we should examine anything
it should be Shwan Green
You know
it's time to cut the Lawn
Its ashame
we lost a good man
like Evan MacLane
for Green
I also agree with the other guys like Lister
Pickles
To All …
I've always felt one of the best things about sports is the debate on issues. Most of you didn't agree with me on Milledge, but that's all right. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Thanks and keep it coming.
Nice snarky snipe at Milledge.
I'd love to see him in camp early, too, especially since he's a bubble candidate for the major league roster, plus he's from and lives in FL already. But absent any proof that Lastings is goofing off, not staying in top baseball shape, or has any illegitimate blowoff reason for staying away from camp at this very moment, I don't see any reason at all for even mentioning him.
I give you alot of credit John
for responding with class
Alot of us think that Lastings
is treated like trash
by alot of your fellow journalist
just my two cents
Pickles
I mean yeah thats what makes sports great but what "debate" is going on really?
That Milledge is a slacker? He's lazy?
I think the only thing it proves is that David Wright got there ALOT earlier than Lastings Milledge and the rest of the 40 man roster.
It doesn't even prove that Lastings Milledge is late, there's still time for him to come in early. Maybe he wanted to squeeze in one final weekend to be with friends/family to do whatever, come in Monday and still be early and that should be something that is comended.
Listen John, I love your blog, your articles and everything but this was just un neccesary and VERY unfair. The last thing he needs is more negativity.
Maybe Milledge WILL show up early, I mean, he still has time to do that no? He doesn't need to be there until next week right? I mean, what if he's working out a bunch at his home gym and he wanted to get a couple more days in there, I mean, who knows. Sure, make your assumptions, based on more assumptions. It's really kind of pathetic. How about you report what happens, not spit rumor.
John is completely right. David Wright is already a major league star (some would say superstar), and HE showed up early. Veterans like El Duque are there early.
If people were questioning my commitment to being the best player I could possibly be, I know for damn sure I'd get to camp as early as possible.
I think we NEED to challenge a young guy like Milledge to work hard. Some players need the extra effort, especially when they are young. It will only help them in the longterm.
I'm glad we have mentors like Willie Randolph to work with Lastings.
Brian eats doody
Time for my two cents…
I was not aware that Mr. Delcos had been "bashing" Milledge here on this site, so I can't comment on that.
Like he said, it was just "an observation". My man Jose is not in the same category as Milledge. Jose is assured of a starting job, and everyone knows he is the engine that makes the Mets go.
There are other position players who will be fighting for a spot on this team, even as a backup. Guys like Johnson and Newhan. They aren't in camp either to my knowledge.
Granted Milledge has made kind of a bad name for himself. For me, someone watching on the outside, the jury is still out. Maybe John knows something that we don't know. I've watched a lot of terrific players on the Mets over the years, but I've never seen anybody like Wright. Has there ever been a player with so much talent, dedication, and likeability—all rolled into one? I've never seen anyone quite like him. This kid is simply amazing, and, as Mets fans, we should feel lucky to have him.
Of course, you'd like to see Milledge show up early for camp, and I understand what Mr. Delcos is saying, but it may be unfair to use Wright as a yardstick.
Let's just wait and see….
Milledge could use the time there to try to win his teammates trust. The team really liked DWright when he was coming up. If Lastings was worried about how he was treated last year, showing up early would have (will be?) a good way to start. I really like lastings, and hope he beats out Green for that RF slot, but I hope he doesn't alienate himself in ST. And with the reporters (like Delcos here) pointing out things like this won't help the cause.
I don't believe there is anything wrong with what John posted. Yes, I know Reyes, Beltran, etc are not in camp either, but the point is that Lastings Milledge might have helped his shattered image by showing up a week early. I love Milledge and I hope he can get his act together and contribute real soon. He kind of reminds me of Strawberry. Anyhow, I digress, all I'm saying is that his absence is just one of many things that have become a pattern with Milledge. A pattern that you hate to see in someone so young and so talented. Anyway, John is a reporter and it his job to report and give his opinion on things. He is not the problem here, the problem is in the way Milledge continues to mar his own image. Nobody did it to him, he did it to himself. It looks like most of you choose to ignore his transgressions, which you are free to do, but if you do want to point a finger at anyone for Lastings image problem, look no further than Lastings Milledge.
John,
I for one think your observation is a good one but perhaps a few days premature.
I am however stunned by the righteous indignation of some posters here. Millege has lots to prove, and it would behoove him to show up early with humility and determination to demonstrate he deserves to be a major leaguer. There's still time for him to show up early and perhaps he will. Milledge is the author of his own bad reputation yet some posters attack the messengers rather than the source.
I too agree with John. Milledge has to show up and earn the position or will he wait for near october again to get the spot like he did last year? It's called priorities, if he has another priority keeping him away so be it. If he is just showing up to work on time and not early then he isnt a highly motivated player. Wright of all people didnt need to show up early but he did. what does that tell you ?
I think what some of you aren't getting is that it's the media largely perpetuating Lastings' "marred image". It's people like John, whose work I enjoy. You see, most young players as young and good as Lastings are immature. Maybe Lastings is a little more so. You and I don't know. We only know what is told to us. But responsible journalism would allow him to grow and mature within the clubhouse environment, with his teammates as the ones to put him in place, and not some journalists who have no idea what he is going through.
This post was irresponsible and very indicative of the bias that has built up against Lastings. What do you want from him John? Do you want him to mature overnight? Do you want him to not care that horrible things have been written about him since he was 16 years old, and maybe he shouldn't be a little bitter? He shouldn't have to overcome the negativity and unrealistic expectations that supposedly mature and high-browed journalists bestow upon him.
John, I ask you to re-examine your feelings about Lastings. And try to put yourself in his shoes.
Danny, it's not just John or the media saying Lastings has some character flaws that need to be worked with. He was expelled from his high school for "inappropriate behavior". He was forced into a juvenile arbitration program to avoid prosecution for sexual misconduct. When the draft came around, even more allegations surfaced. He dropped down to the Mets in the draft purely because of questions about his character. After his first home run as a Met, he showed the other team up by high-fiving the fans. Teammates in his own clubhouse reportedly have problems with his attitude. One of them placed a sign on his locker saying, "Know Your Place Rook". Milledge has also shown up late for games at the major league level. Not being at camp yet is just the latest example.
These questions about his character are not just a media creation. I also don't think sweeping all these issues under the rug will help him in the longterm (as a person or athlete). Ignoring it won't help the kid learn.
I already gave my opinion on this thread, but I had to say that Brian is right. The media would not have been doing their job if those things were not reported.
We as fans are not blind either, what about when he turned his back and walked away from Willie Randolph when he was tutoring him after a misplay on national TV? Was that media created play-acting or did we see it with our own eyes?
What about not being out on the field celebrating when Beltran hit that walk-off homerun and the whole bench emptied but him. How could you be a Met and not be jumping and filled with emotion like everyone else was?
Did the media create the fact that not one single team had any interest in Milledge in trade talks this offseason? That the most we could get for him was a long-reliever or we had to take on another teams bad contract. Was that scripted by the media as well? Or do most general managers have a mental image of a sign hanging in the back of the brain that reads "Beware Of Milledge"
Those of you who say he's a kid, ignore the problems, is that how you would raise your kid? Is that how your parents raised you? Since when did ignoring problems lead to good behavior or good character?
The fact is that there is so much more about adversity about Milledge that has not even been leaked out yet. Do you think the Mets are happy about all that has leaked out already? Believe me they are not. Despite their best efforts to keep his problems under wraps, they keep leaking out. And each time they do, his trade value gets lower and lower. The Mets would never report bad press about one of their own because it's self defeating. Everything that's out there is because of Milledge himself. Everything he did, he did openly for all of us to see. The reporters did their job and reported it all.
To even bring up Milledge's "sexual misconduct" shows you know nothing about this kid's past and just blindly follow whatever is in the print media.
He was 17 years old and had relations with his 15-year old girlfriend at the time.
Way to overreact guys, just like the school did and just like the girls parents did, who hated milledge and got him kicked out of school. I mean geez, its nice to know met fans have his back.
I mean seriously for anyone to bring that up as a knock on Milledge's character needs to go look in the mirror real long and hard.
"After his first home run as a Met, he showed the other team up by high-fiving the fans."
Do you realize how much spin and pretext is required for this sentence?
Only people who already have an axe to grind with Milledge are able to sneer at the enthusiasm he displayed. Will he do it again? Probably not. It's good that Cliff took him aside and told him, I imagine, to take it a little easier because you might annoy the opposition. But he was just ecstatic. He's a kid. He was, in fact, the youngest kid in the NL last year I believe. He had a great at bat and responded to the crowd. Give me a break. If Reyes had done this as a rookie, I promise you we would now only bring it up as something to smile about.
"Not being at camp yet is just the latest example."
Shut up. All this moral grandstanding makes me want to pour a beer on someone. Pitchers and catchers is today, Friday. Milledge is neither. Just shut up.
Brian –
Milledge was late for practice before a game in which he was not slated to start. He was not late for "games" as you wrote.
The stories that came out at the draft were a rehash of the old story. He was 16, the girl was 14. It's not like he was 19 and the girl was 14. It is not odd that a 16 yr old and 14 yr old "date".
As for the Hi-5's, had he not returned the fans affection, I have little doubt many would be annoyed that he failed to do so. Look at the tempest that was stirred up when Beltran nearly did not make a curtain call and Franco basically pushed him out of the dugout to do so.
Lastings is 21 years old. He does need to mature. Yes, the teammates posted the sign, but you know what, that happens frequently to rookies, Delgado even said so.
Let's play a different comparison game. Back a couple of years ago, there was a young player who was injury prone. He was sent to a doctor who advised that he change his running style. The player (a rookie at the time) refused to do so. Should that player have been bashed for that?
The player by the way is Jose Reyes.
Trying to compare Lastings to David is not fair to either player. David does his thing, Lastings does his own. They are two entirely different people. Each player is his own person.
That said, I do hope Lastings has matured this offseason, and makes the most of spring training to show what he can do.
I just think its sad how willing and able MET FANS are ready to hate on this kid. anything negative that Jon and the rest of the media print you guys run with. it probly makes some of you happy to see something negative on milledge, cuz it lets you jump up on soapboxes and speak to how milledge should behave.
he's one of our own. if we dont have his back, no one ever will.
Some posters here are talking about Millede's "Shattered Image" or "bad image" , the point is its these negative stories that make this image. Lastings is a young kid, give him a friggen break, what has he done to deserve this sattered image? High fiving fans after getting excited on a HR? I simple rookie mistake that willie took care of. getting a ticket on his locker saying "know your place rook" from teamates? Ill tell you now they do this kind of thing all the time to rookies in clubhouses all over the league, why was it only reported abotu lastings? It all started because millege had sex with an underage girl in HS WHILE he was underage too. The parets found out about it and were upset naturally but what young guys doesnt try to get him some lol. The negativity against lastings is comical. Just because hes not a pretty boy, howdy doody type like David Wright doesnt mean hes not going to give his all when hes on the field. Cut lastings some slack, you whining negative nancies, who call yourselves fans.
The most important thing is that the media should allow Milledge to mature without editorializing so much (a difficult task for the NY-based media, I know). His teammates will take care of his missteps. The media doesn't need to try him in the court of public opinion for his every action. I ask everyone to think about when they were young and brash and immature and not as self-aware. Again, just put yourself in his shoes. Try not to judge so harshly.
No one is saying that Lastings should not be put in his place, but we and the media are not the ones to do it. The ones to do it are his peers, the guys we cheer for.
Let's cheer for Lastings too. And not celebrate and revel in his missteps.
The biggest problem to me is making issues out of non issues.
Milledge not being a week early is NOT an issue. He has about 6 days to come in early and 7 days to be "on time".
Milledge gettin' freaky with a 14 year old while he was 16? NOT a problem. I did it, I'm pretty sure you guys did, you want articles written about you being such a bad person making you out as some sort of sexual predator?
Millegde showed up late to ONE game. Not gameS as some have put it.
It's bad because the kid isn't even given a chance. It's as if many Met fans WANT to see him fail and can't wait for him to fail. And the worse part are things like these that keep getting printed and written over and over and over again. If all we read is bad, what are we supposed to think? That he's a good guy? Fans keep getting reminded of how much of a supposed "bad guy" Milledge is and its not good. I know you don't owe the players anything but you have a responsibility John, as do your peers, to be fair to them. Even though it's the age of the internet and everything your STILL the gateway to the players and form our opinions of them.
How about a nice article about Lastings Milledge donating money to his High School over the winter for jersey, pants, gloves, cleats, and hats? I wanna read about that and not as a one sentence blurb either.
Delcos, you are entitled to your opinion, but it's not a debate when one guy starts off the "debate" with personal attacks. We don't know what Milledge is doing, but I bet he is working his butt off to get in shape for this season and getting in as many fielding reps as possible in the corner OF spots.
Can you as a journalist, as a man held to a higher standard than most bloggers wait as professionalism requires, until the start of camp for bashing Milledge for not being there early?
The only thing I see up for debate here is whether or not you have not conducted yourself up to the high standard of sports journalist. I don't think you have. A true journalist reserves his negative personal comments until the person/player actually does something wrong, not making personal attacks because the person hasn't shown up early!
That's like a teacher deriding a student for always being late, and talking trash to his/her other students before the bell has even rung. Until the bell rings, Mr. Delcos, kindly keep your personal attacks to yourself.
It is sad how race is involved
Lastings Millege is a great prospect
But fans would rather see talent dissolved
Cause they think Lastings is a thug
since he doesn't look David Wright
or act like the Media's Pug
I blame the media on this perception
Cause we have accepted the faults
of guys like Straw and Doc
Does Lasting have to buy you a frosty Malt
Pickles
Jon, I love your blog, but c'mon, man, comparing Lastings Milledge to David Wright is unfair. SO WHAT if Milledge isn't yet in camp? As you wrote yourself, he's not required to be there yet. When you go on vacation, do you report back to the newsroom a few days before you have to be there, just to make some kind of impression with sports editor?
Looks like you are getting a bit tag-teamed by us Met Fans John. Welcome to Queens! Don't worry, your initiations won't take too long, as long as you tell it real!
This "debate" is over a witch hunt perpetrated by certain persons in the media and the response of indignation to that witch hunt by net'ers. Misjudge your audience much?
Back in the day, no doubt, people would have burned Lastings at the stake for his contrived blasphemies at your beckon call. Fortunately today, people are not so easily fooled.
Oh, late for one practice: anyone here ever come in late for work?
Not a week plus early to camp? Give me a break….
To all those who wish to push Milledge's behavioral problems under the rug…
When the team's GM publicly admits Milledge has issues, perhaps you should pay closer attention to what Omar has said and stop being fan enablers…demand excellance and maturity expected of a soon-to-be 22 year old in the workplace.
Similar behavior in most other professions would result in firing or at the least, probation. His age is the equivalent of a college grad expected to act like a professional in the workplace.
For those unaware as well as deniers, Omar has publicly stated Milledge has clubhouse issues as well as problems with pre-game preparation.
He has also more recently stated that he believes Milledge is young and hence gets the benefit of a new beginning…but added that if Milledge doesn't change his ways, that will indeed be a problem.
To Black Magic Milledge,
The unfortunate thing is that you choose to make it a race issue. It's not a race issue, but a behavioral one.
As far as being late for work, he was reportedly late for spring training workouts last spring training multiple times. And if I'm not mistaken, he was late more than once during the season.
It's his attitude and response to his transgressions that is the problem. He makes light of them just as he did when he coasted around the bases and cost the Mets a run and Julio Franco and rbi. He needs to grow up and act like the adult he's supposed to be at the workplace.
There's reason his family follows him around in an RV.
He's brought his problems upon himself, and enablers such as yourself help keep the problems going. I read here the excuses people make about his sexual escapades with young teens as if that's OK. It's not OK. How many of the fathers here would want their 14 year old daughters sleeping with an a 16 or 17 year old Milledge?
Ha, what a tool you are.
please be a yankee fan.
E.L. – You are a pompous ass.
See? It's really easy to judge.
Wow. I didn't realize Rick Santorum had time to post about the Mets on Delcos' blog. I figured you would be too busy, you know, trying to legislate how people should live their lives and stuff.
But, seriously, thanks for clearing the air, E.L. We "enablers" simply didn't understand the issue until you set us straight with your brusque but ultimately lovably mature take on the world. Some people may say your intolerance of diffrering opinions, your hard-line demands for excellence on the baseball diamond, and your moral hectoring on message boards is laughable, but not me. The world needs more ethical vigilantes like you. And also, thanks for being so courageous to go straight to the top and take on such a seemingly unassailable figure like Lastings Milledge. I mean, it's like everyone gives him a pass for everything! I wish more people like you would go out of their way to criticize the young (but not young enough) man.
Now excuse me while I go tend to my 14 year old daughter and make sure she breaks up with her 16 year old boyfriend (unless he has a chance to make millions by signing in the first round of the amateur draft, in which case we might be able to get something out of him).
Thanks to you E.L. I feel compelled to change my previous statement of:
"Fortunately today, people are not so easily fooled."
To:
"Fortunately today, most people are not so easily fooled."
I once dated a 15 year old
When I was 17
Her daddy didnt ask me to fold
rather,
he as happy has a proud pop could be
since I was a good influence
and he generally liked me
I was a senior and she was a sophmore
we dated for 6 months
we are still friends after our tour
went to prom
thought we were in love
but our relationship was just a bomb
Pickles
I am in love with Pickels.
Make sure Pickles is of legal age though. Seriously.
Sorry if some of you disagree, but I'm a younger Mets fan who grew up with Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry as my heroes. Watching those two ENORMOUS talents waste their God given abilities, and then to watch what their lives have become, is just tragic.
The Mets organization and their teammates let those guys down. They did not help them get on the right path in life. The ignored all the early signs.
That makes me even more sensitive to issues like Lastings is having. It makes me think these things have to be nipped in the bud, while there is still time. They can't be ignored and swept under the rug, and people like Willie and Omar know that.
Are all of you on crack? Your starting to sound like idiot fans from other teams. You only see the good or want to hear the good, and God forbid someone has the audacity to say something, no matter how small or HOW TRUE it is if it goes against us.
This guy is bad news, if nobody signs him, who does he turn out to be, does anyone remember an OHIO STATE RUNNING BACK?
Now a beat writer who is actually around him, who actually talks to his teammates, writes something he will hopefully read and hopefully it will sink in. Maybe his teammates will actually talk to him. Grow up and get a life.
It's one thing to say Milledge has an attitude problem, but its a completely different tihng to compare Milledge to a complete psychopath who is out of his mind.
New rule, a Baseball player should NEVER EVER be compared to a football player. No matter how bad we may consider some baseball players to be or how much of "jerks" they are, none of them are criminals.
PVT compares Milledge to Clarett
and you ask us if we're on crack
This is the type of fan
I just don't get
Insults others when they turn their back
you say grow up and get a life
however, your opinion is
2 days and 5 dollars short
I respect Delco's opinion
He took this all in stride
Before sending your message
you should of typed abort
Insult on the internet
you big strong dude
It's time to face reality
I guess we disagree
The Public trashing of Lastings Millege
goes on for all to see
Pickles
E.L. and PVT:
Which one is dumb, and which one dumber?
To Dep and Danny nad Lister
Your responses are not very different than Lasting's.
Acting out doesn't resolve an issue…but sure exposes a lot of stuff that needs fixing.
For the record, I've been a diehard Mets fan for nearly 40 years and have been around the block more than a few times to recognize a problem when I see one. You can agree or disagree, but the issues don't go away when people opt to ignore them or sweep them under the rug.
As Mets fans, we want every player on our favorite team to succeed. Milledge won't if he continues on a self-sabatoging path. Mets brass recognize the problem, but some of you do not. I was thrilled at Milledge's arrival, but his lack of accountabilty turns me off. He's young and will hopefully mature, but he's not a teen anymore and needs to start acting like an adult rather than a pampered child.
To Black Magic Milledge,
Surely there are others posting here who are of minority group status of whatever sort and deal with bigotry or the potential for it on a daily basis. I am one of them. That being the case, I am surely sensitive to the plight of others in whatever group who experience it.
Milledge came to Shea with a lot of support. There will always be bigots in this world, just as there will always be those who interpret every slight against someone in their own group as being an act of bigotry even when it isn't. Milledge is the author of his own future, and how that goes is up to him. For me personally, I judge people on the content of their character and actions, and their openness to grow and become better people where need be.
E.L. is a poopy head!
EL,
a few other mets and their moments of shine:
Ramon Castro, pleaded no contest to sexual assault charges that he raped a woman in a hotel room. lastings has never been charged with sexual assault.
Mike Defilice, arrested and charged w assault for punching a car valet outside a club after being ejected for groping a woman, burning her ass with a lighter then punching her friend in the face. lastings has never been charged with assault.
Paul Lo Duca, bad gambling habits and cheating on his wife with a woman 1/2 his age.
lastings has no reportable gambling problem or has cheated on his wife (cheap one i know!)
no one really cares too much about Defilice so i cant say it for him but Castro and LoDuca are LOVED by everyone. image problems for them? NOT AT ALL. but lastings, oh no he's got an image problem. despite the boy was never charged with anything in his life.
think about it….
Dep,
I hear you and understand where you're coming from. I have, in fact, been very outspoken about the others elsewhere on the web in the past except for DeFelice which I was unaware…
The the topic here was about Milledge and I chimed in about that.
In today's Journal News I found this interesting:
"Randolph was pleased that David Wright and Jose Reyes were already in camp.
"They are part of the core foundation of our team," Randolph said. "It's nice they do not have to be told what to do."
Specifically about Milledge, Randolph said he didn't care as long as Milledge comes in on time.
Dep,
Let me add this. Lo Duca got a lot of bad press over what came to light last seson. I for one, think it hurt his image.
Regarding Castro, his signing and pleading no contest and accepting probtion did get a little mention but basically fell under the radar given he wasn't well known and Omar quietly signed him as backup catcher. I was comletely against signing this guy given the circumstances.
A lot of Milledge's issues that irk some fans directly relate to his actions on the field and in the clubhouse. I suspect that if he cleans up his actions in these areas, what transpired when he was a teen will be dead and buried. Top prospects are going to get scrutinized for their behavior on and off the field when they do things that are problematic. It happens to plenty others of whatever skin color, not just Milledge who happens to be African American.
El,
I'm not sweeping Lastings' past under the rug. I'm just tired of hearing something being made out of nothing. Like he's a bad boy for not being in camp a week early. I'm not trying to make this 'issue' go away because there is no issue.
It's funny how often people project their own unresolved issues onto somebody else so they don't have to look at their own negative side. As long as there's someone to blame/dispise they don't have to look at how much they really blame/dispise themselves for things they've done in the past.
You can go on scape-goating others to help sweep your own stuff under the rug, or you can take a good hard look at yourself and learn from those things that feel uncomfortable and grow from them. The second option is approximate to fogiveness. When you forgive yourself, all that need to blame/dispise others just melts away.
"There will always be bigots in this world, just as there will always be those who interpret every slight against someone in their own group as being an act of bigotry even when it isn’t."
I'm not interested in proving bigotry where none exists. I'm concerned that all people have the opportunity to be treated with fairness and respect. I don't think that taking cheap shots at Milledge is fair or respectful, and it tells me more about those doing the assaulting than it does about the victim of those assaults.
Thrilledge is in camp one day early!
Black Magic Milledge,
You're well up on your psychology, as am I, and if you were correct in your analysis of my underlying motivation and displacement propensities, I'd agree with you. But you're not. It makes me wonder if you're not perhaps projecting your own issues into the fold here. Your sidetrack into lecture about forgiveness is one such clue. I have not posted here long enough for you to get accurate guage on my dysfunctions nor determine my capacity to forgive. Milledge gets every ounce of my support if he's open to personal accountability. Apparently he is – and time will tell – but he's already making inroads by admitting things publicly about his lack of responsibility and maturity last season. He's not in denial and hopefully you're no longer either. I would think by now you've read his quotes. I, for one, would love for him to turn over new leaf and live his greatest potential and get out of his own way. The firestorm about his behavior turns out to be good given he seems to have gotten the message and hopefully now embarks upon new beginning.