The Party line about Milledge

[MSUlaxer27]

Listening to the game on the radio tonight...Howie Rose just brought up the reason why Milledge isn't starting tonight...due to being late to the ballpark. The tone of it though was basically parroting the company line that the Mets were lucky to get rid of him. I'm happy with Church's play so far but do we really expect him to bat anywhere near .342 for the season? Just discouraging...Milledge may have acted immaturely at times but he was no Gregg Jefferies. I worry that we may have given up on Milledge to early...not suggesting Milledge will ever put up the numbers Kevin Mitchell did, but the Milledge trade reminds me of unloading Kevin Mitchell way too early as well.

[NY16CATCHER]

Listening to the game on the radio tonight...Howie Rose just brought up the reason why Milledge isn't starting tonight...due to being late to the ballpark. The tone of it though was basically parroting the company line that the Mets were lucky to get rid of him. I'm happy with Church's play so far but do we really expect him to bat anywhere near .342 for the season? Just discouraging...Milledge may have acted immaturely at times but he was no Gregg Jefferies. I worry that we may have given up on Milledge to early...not suggesting Milledge will ever put up the numbers Kevin Mitchell did, but the Milledge trade reminds me of unloading Kevin Mitchell way too early as well.

It was time for Lastings to go. I think it reached the point of no return with the clubhouse when Wagner put the sign in his locker "Know your place Rook". The Mets had REPEATEDLY spoken to him regarding disciplinary matters and it was clear he either didn't care or didn't understand. With the glut of talent in the outfield already, and with FMart on the way, the opportunity to move him for a very underrated player in Church, and for Schneider (a great defensive catcher and a position the Mets needed to secure someone for) was an opportunity too good to pass up. Honestly, the Mets made out like theives on this deal.

Sometimes the "party line" is reality, this case a prime example of it.

[whoisonit]

... the Mets made out like theives on this deal.

You're so correct.
This was a move I really was curious about. I think Milledge could be an elite player and I just didn't know enough about these two to have an opinion on them. For sure, when the trade was made I had to look up their stats and check out their bios. I'm sure alot of fans were like me, thinking, well was this just a case of dumping Milledge ? Now it's clear that it wasn't.
I like and appreciate Church & Schneider more and more each game. Miniya looks good with this one.

Most Met fans wish Lastings well. It seemed like the Mets would be an ideal enviroment for this young, immature boy to learn and grow. Not so. Is he unreachable ? Or is Randolph a poor communicator whose failure to reach Millidge at that crucial stage has doomed his career.

This is a trade that takes time to judge.

So far advantage Mets, big time.

[MSUlaxer27]

I wasn't debating the trade per se. In an extremely small sample, it has worked out for us so far. Church is on an extreme hot streak and Milledge is on an extreme cold one...but those things tend to even out (Church is a career .272 hitter - Milledge is batting .271 now). Maybe it was time for him to go...I was more questioning, did we give up to soon on him (but your posts suggest we did not). Rose brought it up twice about him not starting due to lateness, once when who ever replaced him first came up to bat and once when Milledge pinch hit. Their tone just sounded somewhat vindictive...

[NY16CATCHER]

I wasn't debating the trade per se. In an extremely small sample, it has worked out for us so far. Church is on an extreme hot streak and Milledge is on an extreme cold one...but those things tend to even out (Church is a career .272 hitter - Milledge is batting .271 now). Maybe it was time for him to go...I was more questioning, did we give up to soon on him (but your posts suggest we did not). Rose brought it up twice about him not starting due to lateness, once when who ever replaced him first came up to bat and once when Milledge pinch hit. Their tone just sounded somewhat vindictive...

I don't think Lastings made too many friends when he was in NY. The attitude was a mile wide. He blew off alot of media types, etc., especially those he felt "disrespected" him or wrote or said anything remotely negative about him. I know for a fact he stood up SNY on live shots at least 2 times with no explanation.

[whoisonit]

Their tone just sounded somewhat vindictive...

If I undestand you correctly, you're more interested in this aspect than the trade itself. You've made an interesting observation.

I didn't hear Rose, so I'll take your word for it. I did hear Darlings post game praising about Schnieder's pitch calling & pitcher handling (last night ?, Wednesday ?). It was comming across so strongly as an indictment of LoDuca that even Darling caught himself and said 'this is not to say I'm criticising LoDuca'. It came across to me as a 'bash LoDuca subtlely' corporate talking point.
It reminded me of the early weeks of the '06 season when Mex kept harping on LoDuca's positive impact on the pitching staff because he called often for the inside pitch. Quote "something that's been lacking here for the past few years". If that's not bashing Piazza, I don't know what is.

I felt the same about Darling's comments as I did about Hernandez's 2 years ago. Surprised at the underlying criticism behind very public comments.

Maybe you're on to something.

[NJMetfan4life]

With the trade, It helped both sides. Millidge can play everyday now, and the Mets got Church and Schinder, help where they needed it.

[MSUlaxer27]

If I undestand you correctly, you're more interested in this aspect than the trade itself. You've made an interesting observation.

I didn't hear Rose, so I'll take your word for it. I did hear Darlings post game praising about Schnieder's pitch calling & pitcher handling (last night ?, Wednesday ?). It was comming across so strongly as an indictment of LoDuca that even Darling caught himself and said 'this is not to say I'm criticising LoDuca'. It came across to me as a 'bash LoDuca subtlely' corporate talking point.
It reminded me of the early weeks of the '06 season when Mex kept harping on LoDuca's positive impact on the pitching staff because he called often for the inside pitch. Quote "something that's been lacking here for the past few years". If that's not bashing Piazza, I don't know what is.

I felt the same about Darling's comments as I did about Hernandez's 2 years ago. Surprised at the underlying criticism behind very public comments.

Maybe you're on to something.

Yes. Exactly. I don't expect Mets announcers to come on and bash trades the organization makes( I don't remember anybody talking poorly about the Kazmir/Zambrano trade) especially in the case of Darling, Mex etal. when their Salaries are paid by the Mets (Rose less so, but still he is a Met announcer).

It was the tone of the comment almost as if he was in the Met organization and had to defend it. Many Met fans weren't happy with the trade when it happened and of course we will still need to see how it pans out.

Even if Milledge turns into a flat out allstar, if Church and Schnieder play a meaningful role in getting us to the World Series than I'd say it benefits the Mets. If Milledge turns into the second coming of Willie Mays and we don't make the playoffs...probably not. But then again, hindsight is 20/20.

[whoisonit]

Yes. Exactly. I don't expect Mets announcers to come on and bash trades the organization makes( I don't remember anybody talking poorly about the Kazmir/Zambrano trade) especially in the case of Darling, Mex etal. when their Salaries are paid by the Mets (Rose less so, but still he is a Met announcer).

It was the tone of the comment almost as if he was in the Met organization and had to defend it.

I very much understand what you're point is. The organisation seems to have embraced this type of 'bad mouthing' philosophy. You'll often notice that most every pitcher who does well after being traded has 'rumors' of having an attitude problem.

Then too, I recall smear campaigns against Dykstra, Davey & Mitchell after they were gone as well. And of course there was the 'health' issues with Vlad Guerrero & the brutal A-Rod 24+1 campaign.

As for Mil, Church & Schnieder; If these guys are pivitol in getting a WS trophy, it won't matter if Mil is the 2nd comming of former Met great Mays. As anyone who was around for '86 can attest, better to have one in the books because the next one might not come around for a generation.