Lastings Milledge

I think his manager needs to get a life. Players who inject enthusiasm into the game ought to be valued and encouraged rather than supressed.

I agree with jemaz. That kid wasn't showing anybody up. He was entertaining the fans and that is what it is all about.

I don't think I agree with ClvDad and Jemaz for once. We don't know the "whole story" and where do you draw that celebration line. Maybe baseball HR's celebrations will turn into the touchdown or dunk equivilents. Before you know it a player will be on top of the dugout after a homer doing a little "bump-n-grind". It is a snowball effect.
That would make me puke. Sorry for the "old school" but give me a curtain call with a tip of the hat anyday.

The devils advocate might suggest that maybe Lastings was asked by management beforehand to maintain his cool, or, past history of his excitable personality resulted in sub-par play later in a game and management wanted to nip it in the bud right off the bat.

Who knows. But I think historically a rookies celebrations are usually berated by someone. As a fan we might think it's excitable, as an older teammate or manager I might see it in a different light.

Just goes aginst baseball tradition, especially coming from a rookie who is expected to "know his role and shut his hole".

Plus such actions tend to "show up" the other team (at least that's how it is perceived) and often the next guy up gets drilled. So your little display puts the next guy at risk.

I think it was Lombardi you told a player after scoring a touchdown to behave like he'd done it before. Milledge seems like a good kid and great talent but that rah rah stuff is just not typically accepted at the MLB level. I'm not passing judgment, that's just how it is viewed I think.

As alluded to above regarding other sports, i don't think baseball wants nor promotes the individual display. I mean what next, a guy screaming gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal.

He was obviously over excited, no one can blame a 20 yr old kid. He is a very nice young man also. But there are unwritten rules in the game about showing up other teams and pitchers. He just has to learn them so that there will never be celebrations on top of the dugout.

There is a bit of history with Lastings --- a high-spiking incident, the oversized gold cross, some punctuality concerns at ST --- that would suggest that he/his ego needs to be kept on a bit of a tight leash. From what I've seen on the NY fan sites, he's being instructed in the ways of the big leagues by his teammates; we'll see if the lessons take.

It's like any other player --- if you like him or he's on your team, he's colorful. If you don't like him or he's the opponent...it's the word you use to describe him that's colorful!

What is he 20? He was playing for my sons summer team in 2003. He's doing very well. Can we cut him some slack till he's uh 22 or 23?

The fans stuck their hands out, so he gave them some high fives, it was because of a bottom of the 10th, 2 outs, 2 strikes homerun. Geese, all of you guys are way too harsh, the fans wanted some high fives, he gave them some. I think he was being polite, and how would that be showing the other team up? Do football players not have a touchdown dance? He didn't even do a curtain call when the fans requested one.

The fans seemingly liked what he did. But I guess he'll have to learn that, "...When in Rome, do as the Romans do." The traditions in baseball run deep and what he did was definitely unorthodox as far as baseball goes.

He's young, hopefully he'll learn.

I saw it.Personally,I wouldnt have done it,but when you hit your first ML HR and it happens in extras thats awesome!

As far as issues with Lastings, I haven't heard of them. He is a hard nosed aggressive player, and many coaches like that about him. When competing against us, he killed us, but did it with class and played very hard. I respect the kid. Now, he'll have to learn the MLB ways and the veterans (Floyd, Delgado) will defintely teach him.

The whole scene reminded me of Happy Gilmore. I hope that this doesn't happen again and that it doesn't encourage other players to behave similarly. It's not something that is done in baseball. I've listened to commentators who have commended him for his excitement. One in particular, who is very opinionated and tight laced. I've always respected him for his tough approach to following the rules however, his support of this action disappoints me and makes me wonder if say, John Rocker had done this would it have been okay then?

There are no issues---just a young players exuberance and fans great reaction---you need to be a NY baseball fan to understand how they idolize players especially a kid with the talent of Lastings--they have been waiting for him

What Lastings did should have been smiled at by Randolph and and then he could have been told how the organization wants him to act after he hits home runs. I found his joyful reaction and inclusion of the fans endearing and in no way an attempt to show anyone up. Don't we want life and excitement in our MLB players?

Lastings has always been one of our favorites. He has had some tough situations to overcome, but he is a great kid!

In Jupiter his last high school year he struggled badly. I saw him standing next to the fence and said how’s it going Lastings. He smiled, but you could see the pressure he was facing. Lastings was playing for the draft rather than enjoying the game he loves.

I told him, you’re not having any fun… Forget about all the scouts and what will happen and just go have fun playing the game. Easy for me to say!

Well… It’s great to now see Lastings having fun in the Big Leagues. In our reports I compared him to my favorite all time player. Not sure he will ever have Willie Mays instincts, but he does have Willie Mays kind of tools. I hope the Mets love him. They’re going to be shocked with how far this kid can hit a baseball, how fast he can run and how strong his arm is. I hope he reaches his potential as a super star in the game! I’m just happy to see him having a good time! He’s a real likeable kid!

Still remember Lastings sending his RF throw about 15 rows up at the PG World, showcasing that arm. I think he will get there.

It seems with all the bad press MLB is getting on HGH, steroids, who is on and who is not, the Lastings Milledge occurence was small potatoes.

I'd rather see him do what he did, that loaf around the field and not hustle. He was spoken to, I doubt he even realized that it might be considered offensive to opposing players.

Personally, I think its worse when guys like Milton Bradley make their spectacles after a homerun.

HackettBaseballHackettBaseball

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Still remember Lastings sending his RF throw about 15 rows up at the PG World, showcasing that arm. I think he will get there.

I agree. Much ado about nothing now.

Little guy but he does have some HUGE skills.

The next time someone shows emotion on the field I believe he should be banned for life!

Or...we could have a bunch of robots playing instead of humans.

The kid did NOTHING wrong...high fived the fans on his way out to RF between innings. Heaven forbid baseball actually give the fans what they want and let them have some fun at the ballpark.

I'm not a Mets fan but give the kid a break. First ML HR and in that situation. It was a pretty special moment. He apologized after saying that he wasn't trying to show anyone up and that he wouldn't do it again.

I got to watch him when he played for the Capital City Bombers (A) here in Columbia and he was something special on and off the field. He always took the extra time before and after games to sign autographs for the kids. He seemed like a real good kid and was spectacular playing CF.

As a Phillies fan [read that as an ARDENT non-Mets fan!! ] I liek what I see in the kid, including his obvious love of playing. I liek to see myself as kinda old school, not enough people/players with the proper respect for the traditions of the game. That being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with some youthful exuberance in the face of success at a clutch moment - I'd take him in a heartbeat and tell him to high five all he wants!!

I don't see what's wrong with doing it. If Pedro or Beltran did it, nothing would have been said. But what about Milledge getting thrown out at the plate. Ahem, does Lastings Milledge rhyme with Timo Perez?

As far as baseball skills are concerned, Timo Perez couldn't hold Lastings jock...Whether running, throwing, hitting, hitting for power and fielding.

Give him time at the top and you'll see.