3
2013
Where Have You Gone, Lastings Milledge?
An article by 
A few days ago, my fav’rit Gal For All Seasons continued her new weekly series on a topic near and dear to her – what she likes to call post-traumatic Mets disorder – by discussing her survival of Lastings Milledge. For those of you who have tried to block out the Omar Minaya era or were never a card-carrying member of the Milledge People, allow me to refresh your memory on who Lastings Milledge was (technically, he still is Lastings Milledge, as far as I know).
Lastings Milledge was a flashy prospect for the Mets who had five-tool talent – a latter-day Darryl Strawberry, if you will. Although he didn’t possess Strawberry’s prodigious power (the type of power that would make you wait until after his at-bat to get your Shea Stadium souvenir cup soda), he was supposed to be the future in the Mets outfield. However, when Milledge first got called up to the Mets in 2006, he was more Throneberry than Strawberry.
Milledge batted .241 in 56 games for the division champs, with four homers, 22 RBIs and one stolen base. As a 21-year-old enjoying his first call-up to the big leagues, Milledge looked overmatched at times, taking awkward hacks at the plate. A .300 hitter in the minor leagues, Milledge barely cracked a .300 on-base percentage for the Mets in 2006, finishing the season at .310.
In 2007, Milledge made the team out of spring training, but was sent back down to the minors after playing in only three games in April. He didn’t make it back to the big show until July, but when he did, he finally showed some of the potential the Mets expected to see when they drafted him as the 12th overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft. From July 21 to August 15, Milledge played in 20 games, batting .389 (28-for-72) with nine extra-base hits, 12 RBIs, 14 runs scored and two stolen bases.
Milledge only played in 59 games for the Mets in 2007 (three more than he played in 2006), but improved in most offensive categories. He finished the season with a .272 batting average, .341 on-base percentage and .446 slugging percentage. Milledge belted seven homers, drove in 29 runs and stole three bases in 184 at-bats. Those numbers made it seem like Milledge was settling in for a long career in New York. But unfortunately, he did have one thing in common with Darryl Strawberry. He made the front office uncomfortable with his off-the-field habits.
Instead of settling in as the team’s starting rightfielder in 2008, Milledge was dealt to the Washington Nationals for rightfielder Ryan Church and catcher Brian Schneider. When Church wasn’t getting concussed, he was a decent offensive player. Schneider wasn’t a bad catcher, but his offensive production was a far cry from what Paul LoDuca gave the Mets in 2006 and 2007. Heck, Schneider wasn’t even Ramon Castro when it came to his hitting prowess.
As Church and Schneider settled in with their new team, Milledge had a career year in Washington. Milledge played in 138 games for the Nationals in 2008 and batted .268 with 24 doubles, 14 homers, 61 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. A slow start in 2009 earned Milledge a return trip to the minors and eventually got him traded to Pittsburgh. Milledge performed decently in the Steel City, but nagging injuries never allowed him to settle into the everyday lineup. In 1½ seasons as a Pirate, Milledge only collected 599 at-bats, but managed to hit .282 with 32 doubles, eight homers, 54 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. When the Pirates failed to offer Milledge a contract following the 2010 season, he signed a free agent deal with the Chicago White Sox. Milledge only played in two games with Chicago in 2011 and then couldn’t get another job with a major league team.
After realizing that his talents were not wanted stateside, Milledge packed his bags, dusted off his passport, and took his game to Japan on a one-year deal with the Yakult Swallows. Finally healthy, Milledge played in 125 games for the Swallows and batted .300 with 23 doubles, 21 homers, 65 RBIs, 73 runs scored and nine stolen bases. He also showed much-improved discipline at the plate, striking out 79 times in 546 plate appearances and drawing a career-high 57 walks. Milledge’s .865 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) would have been second on the 2012 Mets, after David Wright’s .883 OPS. And that’s where the point of this piece finally makes itself known.
Sandy Alderson has been in search of an outfielder since the season ended. So far Alderson has signed Andrew Brown and Marlon Byrd to minor league contracts, and he’s traded for outfielder Collin Cowgill. He’s also doing his best to romance Michael Bourn into a discounted deal with the Mets. But when Lastings Milledge’s contract with the Swallows expired following the 2012 campaign, Alderson didn’t even notice. As a result, Milledge chose to stay in Japan, signing a three-year, $4.4 million contract with a fourth year mutual option.
So now the Mets are still trying to figure out which combination of outfielders they’re going to use in 2013, while Milledge will be playing the prime years of his career (he won’t be 28 until April) overseas. The Mets didn’t want to give Scott Hairston $4 million per year because he wanted a two-year deal. But Yakult was able to keep Milledge away from the major leagues with $4.4 million over three years.
Lastings Milledge might have been a pain for the Mets front office five years ago, but now he’s only a pain for opposing pitchers in Japan. It’s too bad Sandy Alderson didn’t take notice when he had the chance.
About the Author: Ed Leyro
Ed Leyro was hatched in the Bronx, but spent most of his youth in Queens at Shea Stadium. Apparently, all that time spent at Mets games paid off as Ed met his wife (The Coop) for the first time at Citi Field during its inaugural season. Guess the 2009 season was good for something after all. In addition to his work at Mets Merized Online, Ed also owns, operates and is head janitor at Studious Metsimus, where he shares blogging duties with Joey Beartran. For those not in the know, Joey is a teddy bear dressed in a Mets hoodie. Clearly, Studious Metsimus is not your typical Mets blog.
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Yeah, you know how Japanese pitching and MLB pitching are amazingly equal…
But the Mets had no problem signing 35-year-old Marlon Byrd, who had a grand total of three extra-base hits in 153 plate appearances last year. At the very least, Alderson should have shown more interest in Milledge before he re-signed with Yakult.
i agree it’s surprising he didn’t given maybe he’s matured now and as i recall he hadn’t gotten that many MILB AB’s before he was called up to the Mets.
But other teams also passed on Milledge, i guess?
So? He’s just roster fodder for AAA and Spring Training. You kick the tires on him and see if he has anything left and all it costs you is a minor league salary. Milledge would cost well over a million.
Milledge would be a hall of famer if the highest level of baseball was Double-A.
Lastings Milledge might have been a pain for the Mets front office five years ago, but now he’s only a pain for opposing pitchers in Japan. It’s too bad Sandy Alderson didn’t take notice when he had the chance.
First of all I agree completely. The Byrd signing was bizarre on may levels considering the better alternatives that have come and gone this offseason. Milledge is just one, but there were many other even more MLB productive options we missed the boat on too.
This was not the first time either. There have been some huge bargains that have eluded us not only in the outfield but in the bullpen and bench options as well.
Here is what I’ve decuced. Alderson is a waiter. He procrastinates to a fault. He’s under this illusion that witing equals golden nuggets. Maybe it does and mabe it doesn’t but his offseason signings to date have been abysmal.
And ever one of them are followed up with a dozen posts talking about how great the signing is and the potential upside. They make these upbeat cases no matter how bad the player really is. When you bring up a better alternative, the auto-responders are ready with: How is so-and-so a difference maker?
The fan base has been potty trained very well.
FRANKIE, PRIMARILY ITS A CASE OF MUSICAL CHAIRS WHENEVER U ARE LIMITED TO DUMPSTER DIVING FOR “GET BY” PIECES; IF I WERE ALDERSON VIEWING THE AFOREMENTIONED VIDEO IN THIS OP-ED PIRCE I’D NOTE THERE WAS STILL TOO MUCH MUSTARD ON “THE DOG” TO BE PALATABLE AS U SEE HIM “STRIKING HIS POSE” UPON MAKING CONTACT. MORE OR LESS EQUIVILENT TO HIGH 5ing THE CROWD ON THE RAIL, NO? ESPECIALLY FOR A GARBAGE PAIL KID THAT STING HAS DETERIORATED INTO. TOO MUCH BAGGAGE FOR AN INCONSEQUENTIAL PICKUP CONSIDERING HIS CURRENT STANDING WITH NY PRESS CORPS AS A NYM BUST.
29 other teams took a pass too…
Perhaps Lastings wore out his welcome in MLB.
Perhaps 29 other teams were stupid because they didn’t sign Marlin Byrd? Perhaps 29 other teams have major leaguers to play for them. Perhaps this is the lamest defense of Mr Liarson’s hapless failed tenure as GM of the Bison/51s.
Couldnt you say 29 teams took a pass on Adrew Brown, Anthony Recker, Brandon Hicks, Landon Powell, Omar Quintanilla, Brian Bixler, Josh Rodriguez, Marlon Byrd, Jamie Hoffmann, Scott Atchison, Greg Burke, LaTroy Hawkins, Carlos Torres, Pedro Feliciano and Aaron Laffey??
Pretty sure nobody was busting the doors down for those guys.
Obviously there is a discrepency between the talent at pitching in Japan vs MLB, but he is a good defensive, fast, outfielder if healthy.
Even if his offensive numbers were to have been poorer for the Mets on a short(2year) deal, he would have more than made up for it with his glove & legs. Moreso then what we currently have, and he could have bridged a gap while we find a better alternative.
Milledge’s defense stunk in the majors. Period!
He’s not good defensively, nor does he have enough speed for that to be considered an asset. That’s why he’s in Japan in the first place.
One thing that I think should be noted regarding Milledge and his time in Japan…
Whatever attitude he may have had will have been tamed and gone after a year in Japan.
It MUST be otherwise he would not have been resigned by them.
That doesn’t mean I think we should have tried to get him but it does mean he has probably grown a bit from what we remember him as.
thanks but no thanks.
What I noticed was the Japanese dugout. It looks like a private owner’s box with charis and armrests and drink holders. Man I would love to be a bench player in Japan. I followed Lasting’s career from his troubles in high school to signing in Japan. Both the Mets and Milledge share equal blame. He hot dogged it when he got to the Mets and dissed the team and the Mets gave up on him way to early. The Mets mistake is that Reyes was his tutor , wrong. His mentor should have been an established player or the first or third base coach. Too many fans have a bad taste in their mouths about him. Not me, but he will be a What If for Met fans. All clubs have What Ifs. He is a fine ballplayer and he has found a home in Japan. I wish him well.
qctually in 2006, Cliff Floyd was assigned to be his tutor, i believe they placed LM’s locker next to his.
Milledge threw a fit about carrying Floyd’s bags on the road or some hogwash…( ala Dez Bryant)
Floyd said that David Wright had no problem carrying his bags during his 04 rookie season, why shouldnt he…
after losing floyd’s respect…the only one that showed any sorta sympathy to him was Julio Franco
folks pointed to Julio Franco not being used as a pinch-hitter in the first few weeks of 2007, then being released as a major loss of clubhouse leadership.
This is partially why the team kinda let their foot off the gas in august…
franco’s leadership was exactly the reason why the braves picked him right back up when he was released.
That 2007 season was missing Floyd, Pedro, Franco, Valentin and LoDuca for entire or huge chunks of the season.
but these are the dangers with doing a half-ass job of supporting a win-now quick-fix team.
If you are going to do that…you HAVE to go balls to the walls…
the wilpons idea of going all out is simply getting the biggest name…
in their eyes…if it doesnt make headlines…its not worth investing in..
Thanks for the correction. I know that everytime I saw the Mets and they shot into the dugout I would see Reyes and Milledge always together jawing and funning around. I guess this is where I got the impression Reyes looked after him.
I don’t think the Mets gave up on him too early. He was very immature and very self-absorbed, had a belief that he was God’s gift to baseball. The Nats, Pirates and White Sox also gave up on him.
Presumably he’s matured on and off the field in the years since. That they Mets didn’t pursue him this offseason is rather understandable. II suppose if he had value to the Mets or any of the 29 other big league teams since his 2012 success in Japan, he might have gotten some offers but doubtful it would have been for major league deal. The numbers he put up in Japan rarely correlate with what a hitter would do back in the states and it’s good bet any team looking into a potential 1-year deal are very cognizant of that. Staying in Japan then makes a whole lot of sense getting guaranteed money. I wish him well.
I wrote a piece for this site several months ago suggesting that the Mets bring Milledge back. Most of the reader feedback was negative. Now that Milledge has re-upped in Japan and the Mets are still seeking a righthanded hitter with some speed and power, I think they made a mistake not reaching out to him.
Unfortunatly Barr Met fans ave long memories and hold grudges…
I bet Isringhausen got much the same treatment when we took him back and yet he was one of the few guys that year Mets fans got behind and rooted for….
I did not realize he played in Japan….In fact I would encourage the MLB to put players with attitude and make them play a year in the Japan….
A guy like Valdespin could have his head screwed into place properly with a year there…
Wow that was some shot he hit in that video. That would have even cleared citifield! lol
Cowgill and Brown are the outfield of the future. Sandy Alderson is the greatest and would not do us wrong.
I could not keep that going and keep a straight face. With all these pen and paper baseball executives he has around him, no one could take a look at Milledge? He high fived fans and all but is that a reason to try to blackball him? He had an attitude but not as bad as Valdespin yet they’re still trying to find a place for Valdespin so why not Milledge. He’s actually what the Mets need and they wouldn’t have had to trade Harvey or Wheeler either.
Us Mets fans get to watch Balderson lie to us and pretend he’s going after Bourn when he’s clearly not what the Mets need except for his speed factor. If you’re going to sign a mistake contract, at least let it be someone who can hit a homerun or even a double. This no power team isn’t going to work.
Milledge, rightly or wrongly, burned too many bridges with the Mets. There was a lot of hype about him in print when he was in the minors and I think that got to his head.
That high fiving fans moment was strictly Bush League.
Baseball is a team sport and when one player, particularly a rookie, wants the spotlight on himself then you have a problem.
I hope he has a long a prosperous career in Japan where they have even less patience for that type of behaviour then in the States
Lastings was a mess above his shoulders. Billy Wagner tried to set him straight but even Wags knew it was Mission Impossible. Too much ego for any club to absorb when combined with too little talent. He could hit a fastball but he was awful against right handed sliders and curveballs. Also he couldn’t go back on hard hit flyballs so when he played in Washington he’d play so deep he’d give up on balls hit to short centerfield. Too often got late breaks on flyballs.
In 2010 while playing for the Pirates against the Cubs, Milledge thought he hit a homer to left field, especially since the fireworks went off. But the ball hit off the wall and he was tagged out after loping round the bases. See it here:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100506&content_id=9846888¬ebook_id=9858286&vkey=notebook_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit
It’s not even burning bridges. Milledge would still be playing in the U.S. if he turned is tools into real life skills. When he lost a step or two and didn’t make up for it with better eye, better routes and jumps in the field, and more efficient base-running, he became the 24th-28th man on every mlb roster. Good for him for finding a home in Japan rather than spending the next decade as a jorneyman in AAA waiting for the next GM to think that they’d be the one who finally got the former first rounder to perform.
I remember a game in 2008 when the Mets were hosting Washingon. It was pointed out how poorly Millege was positioning himself way too deep against certain hitters and of course, he was burned by a few short flies falling in just ahead of him. He had the talent but his own ego about doing everything his way was what destroyed it.
Baseball people still liked what they saw for it says something when one is traded fort he talent we got back from Washington and the Nationals then got back from Pittsburgh. And though not a power hitter, one would think there would be room enough on somebody’s roster for a guy who never batted below .268 in any of his four full major league seasons.
Nope, he seems to still be his own worst enemy.
So a guy who isn’t doing as well as kaz matsui did in Japan will be our savior in the outfield and it’s a huge mistake not to sign him? Really? Really????
Two things, no MLB team would have given him more than a milb deal.
Also, how do we know he even wanted to return? 4m+ for Milledge? Really?
I read today Scott Kazmir is trying to restart his career too….
Wait a minute, we’re now complaining about not paying Lastings Milledge a million bucks to play a poor centerfield in Las Vegas?
I get the romancing of former top prospects but Milledge isn’t the first former MLB’er who was mediocre in the states who found success in Japan, and good for him. Brown has a better shot of producing next year though, he’s a better hitter, fielder, and has more power than Milledge has show at any stage in his career.