Mets five-tool outfielder welcomes the spotlight in Queens.
He’s got the bat speed and bat wiggle of Gary Sheffield. He has a rifle arm that has already shot down Ryan Freel and Craig Counsell. He has speed, and maybe most of all he has star power. Lastings Milledge was meant for New York.
If it wasn’t for false allegations of sexual misconduct, Milledge may have been the top overall choice in the 2003 amateur draft, but his past, along with his price tag allowed Milledge to drop to the Mets at pick number twelve.
Milledge is not your typical 22-year-old outfielder who just got called up to the big leagues. You don’t see an overwhelmed starry-eyed youngster who is satisfied by just being on the ball club. You don’t see a player who is unsure of himself. Lastings Milledge knows he belongs in New York, and expects to succeed.
Milledge’s style is the reason he is a big hit with the fans, but not with the media. They said he is immature and that he is cocky. Even his own manager went out of his way to put down Milledge after he was being praised for two outfield assists in the same week during his first major league stint in 2006. Willie Randolph told Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and Mike Francesa, on his weekly radio spot, that Milledge didn’t have a good arm, and that his throws were lucky, after the two radio hosts had said how impressive Milledge was. It’s hard to understand why Randolph would insult his own rookie, even if he really believed Milledge’s arm was below average, or why the New York media tries to tarnish his image. But Milledge doesn’t flinch. No matter what is said about him, you won’t find any childish quotes from him in the newspaper after somebody gets on his nerves, unlike Met veterans Paul Lo Duca and Billy Wagner. Milledge is more grown up than anybody is willing to give him credit for.
Milledge wears #44 in honor of Hank Aaron. And who better for the next great outfielder to emulate than the best home run hitter of all time? Milledge sets the bar high for himself, and is not afraid of a little pressure.
Before he can worry about putting up Aaron-like numbers, he has to worry about performing when he is called on by Randolph, and to prove he deserves playing time over Shawn Green or newly acquired Marlon Anderson.
During the first week after the All-Star break when he was called up, the Mets took 3 of 4 from Cincinnati, and Milledge played a big role in the Mets quick start to the second half. He scored the go-ahead run in the first game that turned out to be the game-winning run when he slid behind Reds catcher David Ross and slapped the plate while evading Ross’ tag. He homered off of Mike Stanton in a Mets loss in the second game of the series, and hit the game winning single in the bottom of the 8th to drive home Shawn Green and give Tom Glavine his 298th career victory in game three. In the final game of the series Milledge hit a two RBI double in an early Mets rally that helped them to a 5-2 win over Cincinnati.
If there's one thing that was learned from these four games, it's that Lastings Milledge sure knows how to make an entrance.
There's no question that Milledge revels in the New York spotlight. He is ready to take over New York. Is New York ready for him?
Milledge Hits, then Hits Bench
