Milledge is struggling

[spidernat]

My fear is that this won't be true, and that we'll find out that players come here to devolve under inadequate coaching, and players leave to become better players.

Let me tell you something, that would be totally messed up. I'll try to remain positive and pray that's not the case because if it is we're in deep doodoo.

Of course sometimes they find a way to defy gravity with a little enhancement so maybe Church can too

[LetsGoNats]

Oh, how about the number of times he's loafed?   A few weeks back, he loafed in on a single and turned it into a double.  He apologized to his teammates and promised it would never happen again.   Last night, when Lee hits the ball, he just decides not to catch it.  I don't care if there is only a one in a million chance to get the guy out at the plate, the game is not over until the runner on third reaches the plate & the ump calls him safe.  This isn't an physical or mental error, which anybody can make.  This is a guy being lazy and/or giving up.  Not qualities I find endearing in a baseball player.  To me, there is no difference in what he did and a guy not running out a ground ball.  Hence, he is a punk in my book until he proves otherwise.   

You'll observe that Willie Harris got the start in center last night, and performed well.  Not sure if it's related to Milledge's dogging it or not, but it may be.

[Minty Fresh]

I haven't written off Milledge either. I hope he starts hitting homers and stealing bases and getting good reads on balls but it doesn't look good for him. 

Yet you said....

It might be a little early to call him a bust but there's no way this guy is going to be a long-term outfielder for us.  He is just a terrible overall baseball player. He has no instincts in the field and he has no clue what he is doing at the plate.   

Contradictory.  How long have you followed baseball?

[sportsfan882]

Yet you said....

Contradictory.  How long have you followed baseball?

I've watched more baseball than most could have dreamed about in my young life. That's besides the point though.  I don't envision Milledge as being our long-term answer in one of the OF spots but I hope he proves me wrong.

[ronnynat]

I've watched more baseball than most could have dreamed about in my young life. That's besides the point though.  I don't envision Milledge as being our long-term answer in one of the OF spots but I hope he proves me wrong.

That's how I feel about Chico. Hopes and expectations are two totally different things.

[Minty Fresh]

I've watched more baseball than most could have dreamed about in my young life. That's besides the point though.

And yet you still haven't learned that baseball is a 162 game season and that ALL players - including HoFers - go through rough patches every year.  Some go through season-long slumps. 

Not claiming that Milledge is a HoFer here, but the kid is just 23.  He's just learning things now.  With guys who are Milledge's age (like Zimmerman as well) you look for little positive things that show what he's capable of as gets older and more experienced.  The Mets had him high on their prosepct list and Obviously the Nats FO and Manny Acta all agree that the kid's something special.  I think I'll take their word for it over a person who has, "watched more baseball than most could have dreamed about in my young life."

[sportsfan882]

Lastings' average has now dipped to .252 and he has gone 36 games without a Homer.

Maybe playing in NY will get him going..

[eagleskins]

Church is laughing at Milledge. 

[GburgNatsFan]

We traded Church and Schneider for Milledge and one less spot on our DL.

Church is laughing at Milledge. 

[tomterp]

Milledge hurt his shoulder throwing from deep center field yesterday.   He was grimacing and trying to loosen it up, but his facial expressions looked like he hurt it significantly.

[MrMadison]

Milledge hurt his shoulder throwing from deep center field yesterday.   He was grimacing and trying to loosen it up, but his facial expressions looked like he hurt it significantly.

that's.....not good.

not good at all.

hopefully that wasn't something that was nagging at him beforehand, and he just aggravated it.

[tomterp]

that's.....not good.

not good at all.

hopefully that wasn't something that was nagging at him beforehand, and he just aggravated it.

I was thinking bad thoughts (labrum)

[GburgNatsFan]

Perfect. Just perfect.

I was thinking bad thoughts (labrum)

[ronnynat]

He seemed fine after that happened. I was definitely worried at first, too.

[sportsfan882]

Nice 2-run double tonight for Lastings! Hopefully it gets his bat rolling.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

He still had some awful at bats.  I don't know that the double will lead to anything.

[Air Zimmerman]

Nice 2-run double tonight for Lastings! Hopefully it gets his bat rolling.

ya, i'm sure it was relieving for him to finally come through vs his former team!

[hammondsnats]

He still had some awful at bats.  I don't know that the double will lead to anything.

walked once.  struck out in two plate appearance but still worked the counts and fouled off a lot of pitches.  all players get in funks, but at least he's still finding ways here and there to get on base.  i think he'll end up the season with a .279 clip, 10-18 homers, 70+ rbis, 23+ stolen bases.

remember.  23 - years - old!!!!!!!!!!

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

It sounded as if he got some love from the Shea crowd (such as it was)

ya, i'm sure it was relieving for him to finally come through vs his former team!

[shoeshineboy]

walked once.  struck out in two plate appearance but still worked the counts and fouled off a lot of pitches.  all players get in funks, but at least he's still finding ways here and there to get on base.  i think he'll end up the season with a .279 clip, 10-18 homers, 70+ rbis, 23+ stolen bases.

remember.  23 - years - old!!!!!!!!!!

Yup, almost a year younger than Zimmerman and with less than a season's worth of career big league at bats. He's actually been pretty productive. It is interesting that Zimmerman gets the excuse from many that there is no protection for him (even though that should never excuse one from being the worst in OBP), yet in the same lineup allegedly devoid of protection, Milledge is dumped on even though he has been one of the more productive batters considering his relative inexperience.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

walked once.  struck out in two plate appearance but still worked the counts and fouled off a lot of pitches.  all players get in funks, but at least he's still finding ways here and there to get on base.  i think he'll end up the season with a .279 clip, 10-18 homers, 70+ rbis, 23+ stolen bases.

remember.  23 - years - old!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, I think he'll get better over time, it's just that I don't think the double is indicative of a hot streak on the near horizon.  He might have worked counts, but he's done that pretty well so far this year, and I give him credit for that.  His problem has been an inability to do much with mistake pitches, and I saw too much of that tonight despite the double.  There were a couple of hangers that I was chagrined that he couldn't really tag.

But I love the bad speed and ability to work counts, and I agree that we should be patient and see where he goes over the course of this year and into next.

[sportsfan882]

Bump. Milledge is regressing rapidly and everyone knows it. I guess people are going to continue to milk his hot first week of the season for everything they can get just like what people did with Bergmann's 1 start against Atlanta last year.

[MrMadison]

Bump. Milledge is regressing rapidly and everyone knows it. I guess people are going to continue to milk his hot first week of the season for everything they can get just like what people did with Bergmann's 1 start against Atlanta last year.

ok, fine. Milledge is a bust.he sucks and at age 23 in his first full season he is as good as he'll ever be in his career. cut him right this very second.

I give up. You win sportsfan.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Kill his parents, too...

ok, fine. Milledge is a bust.he sucks and at age 23 in his first full season he is as good as he'll ever be in his career. cut him right this very second.

I give up on preaching patience.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Kill his parents, too...

I got dibs on his horse.