Lastings Milledge's recent comments have Mike Silva telling many Mets fans "I told you so".
Good Bye and Good Riddance.
I have to admit feeling vindicated after hearing the quotes of Lastings Milledge throughout last week. Hearing him talk about how horrible New York was almost brought a tear to my eye.
I quickly came to my senses and realized that Milledge was just validating what we at Gotham have been saying since the December deal. Mark Healey and I were lambasted by the “maniacal” fringes of the fan base for even insinuating that the deal that sent Milledge to Washington was a good move. Not only did we insinuate this on Nov 30th we stated it loud and clear: Lastings Milledge would never amount to anything in New York.
Today I am going to amend my statement so “10,000 maniacs” can put this topic to bed: Milledge will never live up to his potential here, in Washington, or anywhere else he lands throughout his career.
This is not because of any shortcomings in talent, but because of a misguided ego and attitude.
I originally wrote back on February 25th, 2007, for a now defunct website, that the Mets should sell Lastings Milledge because he was “like a tech stock in the late nineties just before the bubble burst”. Throughout the internet, people laughed at this assertion calling me everything from ignorant to a racist. I simply stated the facts by citing many of the maturity issues that, in my opinion, plagued Milledge from the start of his career. I even gave an “un-named source” that coached Milledge in the farm system and felt he “lacked the baseball intelligence to be successful”. Not even that sufficed the masses. Fortunately for the Mets, they did heed the advice and sold Milledge minutes before the” bubble bursted” and landed two pieces that should help in 2008.
We are now subjected to Lastings providing us revisionist history. He talks about having a “horrible time” in New York and how the veterans “felt he didn’t respect the game”. If showing up late to work your first month on the job, aggravating the opposition with showboat antics, and putting up a general unlikeable persona in the clubhouse isn’t disrespecting the game then what is? He had the city begging him to be the third piece of the Reyes/Wright home grown foundation. Injuries to key players like Xavier Nady, Shawn Green, and Moises Alou allowed him the opportunity to play more than a rookie should on a team with championship aspirations. David Wright and Jose Reyes burst onto the scene and produced right away when called up from the minors. All we kept hearing about Lastings was his “learning curve”. The lowest point happening in July of 2006 as the “star” melted before Fenway Park’s “Green Monster”.
Perhaps I am being harsh on Milledge. He did, in limited time, put up ok numbers. I just don’t understand his bitterness coupled with the love of him from the fan base. I am glad that David Wright correctly responded by labeling him the “bitter traded guy” and Billy Wagner is also right in stating that Milledge should “open his ears and close his mouth”. Milledge claims he didn’t have clubhouse support but Cliff Floyd, a man whose job was threatened by him, tried to take him under his wings. Suffice to say he failed.
If that isn’t support, then what is?
It’s about time someone spoke the truth about what Lastings Milledge is all about. Instead of worrying about the past, someone like Milledge should be excited about the future. The last thing he should be talking about is the New York Mets. Of course that would stand true for someone that had their priorities straight during a critical time in their career. Clearly, that is not that case in this situation.
So while the rest of you create your photoshopped memorials to Milledge, I will focus on how Ryan Church and Brian Schneider will complement this roster. I will focus on a real outfield prospect, Fernando Martinez, who hopefully will respect the game and produce on the field versus with his mouth.
For me, unlike many these days, there will be no positive lasting impression of Milledge.
Lastings Milledge's recent comments have Mike Silva telling many Mets fans "I told you so". 
