Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

by gianator on Nov 30, 2007 10:24 AM PST Comment 45 comments

According to SNY via Metsblog as well as WFAN, the Mets have traded Lastings Milledge to the Nationals for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church.

WOW! Nationals got him for nothing.

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Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

I just started the same thread, but I think you beat me by a minute. If Grant wants to delete one of the threads, you have squatter's rights!!

SIGN ANDRUW JONES!!

by rxmeister on Nov 30, 2007 10:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

What the hell kind of trade is this?! Seriously what the hell. The Nats just got away with murdah.

Thank God that's over.

by southcitysteve on Nov 30, 2007 10:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Schneider is about as good as they get behind the dish defensively, and Ryan Church has a high-upside. I think this trade is even. Milledge has the potential to be a star but also has the potential to be incarcerated.

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Nov 30, 2007 11:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Wait, what in Milledge's history has shown him to have any potential at all to be incarcerated?

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Nov 30, 2007 11:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

That's what I'm curious about, too. From what I remember ever reading of him, he sounds like a prima donna in the making, but not some kind of future public offender.

by sfgfan on Nov 30, 2007 11:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

That picture of Milledge high fiving the NY fans, while Frandsen going ape shit about it in the dugout, came to mind when you said that.

Getting Nuschler Faced off $20 Hefeweizen.

by SoFa King Mike on Nov 30, 2007 11:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Do you have a link or more info?

That sounds familiar but I can't remember the details.

And Boom Goes the Dynamite

by Andy from DC on Nov 30, 2007 12:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Do you have a link or more info?

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20060604_SF@NYM

Getting Nuschler Faced off $20 Hefeweizen.

by SoFa King Mike on Nov 30, 2007 12:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Though I can site no legal background problems, here, the NY media constantly rips him for his negative attitude, his rapping, and his thuggish possee (sp?)

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Nov 30, 2007 11:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Well, all the complaints I've read have been basically that he high-fived fans after a homerun, recorded a rap song and rubbed some of the more ornery Mets veterans the wrong way. He's not a saint, but he's a long way from being a criminal.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Nov 30, 2007 12:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Milledge was charged with statutory rape when he was 17 for having sex with a 15 year old girl. That's the only legal problem he has ever had. I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that he was underage as well.

SIGN ANDRUW JONES!!

by rxmeister on Nov 30, 2007 12:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

And she was very mature for her age. She even said so herself.

"When Jackson Williams thinks of how many times Madison Bumgarner has tried to kill Tyler Walker..."

by multiphasic on Nov 30, 2007 12:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

If there's grass in the infield, play ball!

This is my signature, not yours.

by Goofus on Nov 30, 2007 8:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

One of the most solid arguments ever

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Dec 1, 2007 11:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Underage is 16 in NY. 17 is legal. Weird right?

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Dec 1, 2007 11:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Yep. In my eyes he's a shithead and he makes really poor decisions, but until he actually shoots someone up outside a strip club or USA Today runs a photo of him enjoying a big bowl of dead babies for breakfast, I don't see any reason to consider him for Future Felons of America.

Democracy is lovely but baseball is more mature. BVCE supports Manny Burriss and SF Dugout.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Nov 30, 2007 3:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Babies are much better live.

Only 972 games until the end of Zito's contract.

by thehavenot on Nov 30, 2007 5:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Being ripped by the NY media is a big plus in my book.

by zenbitz on Nov 30, 2007 12:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Ryan Church is 29 years old, a veteran of 4 major league seasons with nearly 1000 ABs. At this point with apologies to Denny Green he is who he's shown himself to be: a nice little player, but you don't have high upside when you're passing the 30 marker.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Nov 30, 2007 1:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

...says Barry Bonds fan

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Dec 1, 2007 11:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I love this offseason

Seems like everyone is in the pool and playing while Sabean only dips his toe in. C'mon Brian, jump in! Find some 3/4/5 hitters.

by wilriv21 on Nov 30, 2007 10:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love this offseason

Chris Russo on WFAN in New York is a Giant fan. His partner is killing him on the lack of activity of his team. He just told him "the one team who most needs to make moves is the only team that isn't!!"

SIGN ANDRUW JONES!!

by rxmeister on Nov 30, 2007 10:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love this offseason

There is an upside to this, with the Nats getting Milledge they probably no longer have interest in AJones.

by wilriv21 on Nov 30, 2007 10:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love this offseason

Sabean's in front of the mirror the locker room trying to decide if he looks better in swim trunks or a speedo.

This is my signature, not yours.

by Goofus on Nov 30, 2007 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love this offseason

what happened, did he lose his shirt in the AJ deal?

by wilriv21 on Nov 30, 2007 11:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rimshot

***

Succumb to the Enchanted t-shirt! Adopted dad of Minor Izzy

by hairball on Nov 30, 2007 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love this offseason

Speedo with the vest.

Getting Nuschler Faced off $20 Hefeweizen.

by SoFa King Mike on Nov 30, 2007 11:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love this offseason

no, that's Ishikawa

This is my signature, not yours.

by Goofus on Nov 30, 2007 12:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: I love this offseason

Excuse me, do these effectively hide my thunder?

Nattowear | comics | Durham? I hardly know 'im!

by Natto on Nov 30, 2007 3:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

I strongly disagree with the statement that the Nats got him for "nothing." The Mets came out slightly ahead, at least in the short run.

Church has consistently put up an OPS over .800 in an extreme pitchers' park. Schneider is the best defensive catcher in baseball. In exchange for Milledge, who has tools but is not even considered the top offering the Mets have--and the Mets have one of the worst farms in baseball.

"When Jackson Williams thinks of how many times Madison Bumgarner has tried to kill Tyler Walker..."

by multiphasic on Nov 30, 2007 10:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

exactly. The Mets have one of the worst farm systems in baseball and they traded one of the only trade chips they have for a .230 hitting catcher and a platoon player. Milledge is 22 and a potential five tool player.

SIGN ANDRUW JONES!!

by rxmeister on Nov 30, 2007 10:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

They might come out slightly ahead in the short term, but in the long term this deal is horrible.

Schneider is not close to being the best defensive catcher in baseball... and he can't hit at all. Church is a solid player but Milledge has far more potential. And Milledge isn't part of the Mets farm system any more, btw.

The fact is that the Mets held on to Milledge for a long time when they could have gotten real value for him and then in the end, turned around and traded him for a very mediocre catcher and a platoon player (albeit a good one). That's just bad. If this is the best deal they could have gotten for him, they should have just kept him around.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Nov 30, 2007 10:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Schneider is not close to being the best defensive catcher in baseball...

Well, I still live in 2004 apparently... but BP still considered him elite as of 2006. Which is a somewhat fancy way of saying yeah, I stand corrected. Nonetheless, he's a top ten defensive catcher. Estrada and Lo Duca were both in the bottom ten. So regardless, he's a drastic improvement, defensively.

As far as handling Milledge, value-wise, yeah, they fugged up. But as far as ceiling goes, I've been reading people outside the Mets inner circle expressing extreme doubts about Milledge ever coming close to his ceiling. Seems like Minaya got guarantees in exchange for promises...

"When Jackson Williams thinks of how many times Madison Bumgarner has tried to kill Tyler Walker..."

by multiphasic on Nov 30, 2007 11:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Yeah, I've been seeing doubts about Milledge not ever reaching his potential too and I don't really understand where they come from. He hit very well for a 21 year old in AAA in that park in 06 (and was bad in the majors) and then hit quite well (for his age) in the majors last year, but missed some time with injury. I don't really get why people are apparently so down on him (well... omg! rap song! he high fived the fans! he didn't kiss Billy Wagner's feet when he was first called up!)

And I don't really see Church as more of a sure thing than Milledge... he's had a lot of problems staying healthy over his career.

Like I said, if this is the best return they could get for Milledge, they should have just kept him. But IMO, the Mets have been continually shooting themselves in the foot WRT Milledge since 2006.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Nov 30, 2007 11:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

I don't remember seeing Schneider play, but I certainly never heard of him being anything special defensively, so I was suprised at your comment. You may be right, I've just never heard that before.

The SF Giants: agressively promoting young talent since 2008.

by Lyle on Nov 30, 2007 11:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

I read somewhere that views on Milledge vary drastically. Some GMs think he's destined to be a 5-tool star while other GMs don't feel he will ever pan out. I think this trade can probably be explained by that theory. Although, if I'm the Mets, I'm calling all the GMs who are in love with Milledge first.

What's most similar package we have to Church and Schnieder? I guess Schierholtz and Molina?

Vizquel leads by a higher level of example. --BS (Brian Sabean)

by Woody Wins on Nov 30, 2007 11:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That would actually be a better deal for the mets

this really makes like no sense at all.

by awesomer on Nov 30, 2007 11:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

The Mets propaganda team is funneling information to WFAN, telling them that nobody wanted Milledge and all his teammates hated him. It's still a horrendous move. The season doesn't start tomorrow and the winter meetings haven't even arrived yet. I'm sure they could have gotten more for Milledge. Some teams not interested in him now would have been interested in him later if they are unable to fill their more pressing needs.

SIGN ANDRUW JONES!!

by rxmeister on Nov 30, 2007 11:08 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Wow. The Mets REALLY got screwed in the foot on this one. I guess this is what panicking gets you.

Dave Righetti: You Know You Want It. / Also, my blog. For writers.

by howtheyscored on Nov 30, 2007 11:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Forreal. Last offseason I was declaring the Mets as having the brightest future of all NL teams. Now, well, I don't feel that way.

Democracy is lovely but baseball is more mature. BVCE supports Manny Burriss and SF Dugout.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Nov 30, 2007 12:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Wow. I'm envying the Nationals. That's bad.

Only 972 games until the end of Zito's contract.

by thehavenot on Nov 30, 2007 12:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

WTF!

we have a washed up catcher and youngish mid-talent outfielders! Hell, that's all we have!

Sabean should be fired for this!

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Nov 30, 2007 2:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

So we couldn't send the Molina a Fred Lewis? Really?

by cheno on Nov 30, 2007 2:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

Hell, I think Randy Winn ALONE is more valuable than what the Mets got... I'd make that trade.

The only way this is explainable is if there really is knowledge inside the industry that Milledge is a ticking time bomb/clubhouse cancer. Or the Mets are unconscionably dumb. Take your pick.

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on Nov 30, 2007 5:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Lastings Milledge to the Nationals!

As jponry pointed out above, Schneider lost his starting postion with the Nats late last year to Jesus Flores who the Nats had picked up in the rule V draft ... from the Mets. So I'm going with unconsciouably dumb as a winning answer here.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Dec 1, 2007 10:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs