Mike's Mets

Sunday, June 4, 2006
By Mike Steffanos

We had some interesting discussion here yesterday regarding some things that have been written about Lastings Milledge. While referring specifically to writings by the Daily News' Bob Raissman and NY Baseball Central's Mike McGann, if you have been following Milledge since the Mets drafted him in the first round of the 2003 amateur players draft, you've been reading stuff like this between the lines of most of what is written about him. With McGann in particular, the main difference is that he came out and said in clear words what others writers hinted at.

Some took what I wrote as a criticism of McGann. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The reason that I like reading Mike McGann's stuff, and choose to link to a lot of it, is because I respect bluntness and coming out and saying what you mean. I'm sure there are a lot of reasons why writers in the mainstream press can't be as straightforward in what they right, but nevertheless, reading strongly voiced opinions, whether you agree with them or not, is something that should be honored. If yesterday convinced you that McGann is a gifted writer with something to say, and made you want to read more of his stuff, then that's a very good thing. Same with Gerard Cosloy at Can't Stop The Bleeding.

I still think Bob Raissman was smoking crack when he wrote his original diatribe against the Mets broadcasters for their unwillingness to honor Milledge's first major-league game by dragging out every negative thing that was ever written or said about the kid on the telecast, but God has chosen to smite Gary Cohen with appendicitis for dropping the ball in that regard. I hope that Keith Hernandez has taken notice and will contact Bob to find out what is expected from him in the future.

McGann might be right in the long run. Milledge might be carrying more baggage than ability, I don't know. I'm still with Can't Stop The Bleeding's Gerard Cosloy, that being a hot dog and coming across as somewhat full of himself doesn't necessarily make Milledge an irretrievably bad person. For all of Willie Randolph's flaws as a manager, one thing I think he is strong at is getting his players to act as pros, and I think he'll be a good influence on Milledge. Scott Kazmir seems to have overcome his "character issues".

NY Baseball Central
Can't Stop The Bleeding

Bergen Record: Score one for Milledge
Steve Popper quotes Lastings Milledge on scoring the winning run as a pinch runner in game 2 last night:

They told me, even if it's barely in the outfield, you're going to go. We were going to force them to make a play, make the throw with the conditions.

The day hadn't been going good for me. I hope I can take this into [today] as something good.

Surfing the Mets: Henry Owens
In the "Blog Edition" of his weekly Minor League Report, Adam Rubin updates us on the status of Henry Owens, the hard-throwing Mets reliever who is coming back from being sidelined by a small tear in one of his elbow ligaments.

Rubin also mentions that Mike DiFelice, who spent some time with the Mets last year when Piazza was hurt, has been sent to Binghamton to take on a "Crash Davis" mentor role for Mike Pelfrey.

Daily News: Tom Glavine
T.J. Quinn pens a long proflile of Tom Glavine, covering the taxi accident, the struggles early in his Mets tenure, and his second thoughts about leaving the Braves.

NY Sportsday: Cohen has appendicitis
Joe McDonald reports that Mets announcer Gary Cohen has joined Xavier Nady on the DL with appendicitis.

More Mets Stories:
SportsSpyder Mets
Pro Sports Daily Mets