Setting A Veteran Up For Failure
Let's say you had a veteran on your team who is batting .307 against righties but has been struggling against lefties. Though everyone agrees he is a great clubhouse presence, his power numbers are way down (though he is still a threat to hit a dinger once in awhile). He eats up certain pitchers - pitchers that we happen to face quite a bit this season. He brings speed to the lineup and has stolen a few bases.
This is the situation Willie has faced with Shawn Green. Though Green is batting .300 with .714 OPS vs Peavy, his "gut" tells him to play Milledge who, battling the flu goes 0-4 with a Golden Sombrero. Though Green is batting lifetime .419 with 1.115 against Brad Penny, his "gut" tells him to have Green sit on the bench to watch Milledge, who isn't at his best against righties, go 0-3 with a walk. Though Green has batted lifetime .360 vs. David Wells, Willie waits until he is removed from the game to give Green a shot against Beimel, a lefty with a slider against which he has struggled during his career. He strikes out to lead off the inning and hears the boos from the Shea faithful.
He benched Green on the road in Washington, Arizona and Los Angeles, all ballparks where his career production has been astronomical.
Look, I know as well as anyone that Green's best days are behind him and he will likely not see another 30 HR season. I also see the value in giving Milledge a bunch of starts down the stretch, both to see what he's got and to add his brand of energy to the lineup.
But Green can still make a significant contribution. And Willie's management by "gut" is playing to Green's weakness, not his strength. Off the bench, Marlon Anderson is clearly the lefty bat of choice (and should be). What is Green's job? He should start against right-handed fastballers, giving Milledge the lefty starts (and adding a powerful righty bat off the bench in those games, sorely lacking in Easley's absence.)
Willie, a bit more brains and a bit less gut please. Green needs some success down the stretch and he can win us a couple of games in the post-season. Put him in situations where he can succeed, and he will disprove your "gut feeling" that he is washed up.
There is something about the
There is something about the way Lastings Milledge plays that bothers me. On the one hand you get a young player with a good bat and some speed. On the other hand you have someone who makes poor decisions.
On Saturday's game he took a horrible route to the ball in right field and turned a single into a triple. He did the same thing on Sunday night. And he overran third base with one out and Carlos Beltran coming to the plate. He makes bad decisions.
He also had a streak where he struck out seven at bats in a row. That is horrible. The kid still needs work.
Shawn Green has much more presence even if Milledge has more potential. As long as Green is on the squad he should be treated as the starter in right field with Milledge as the backup.
I like Milledge. I agree
I like Milledge. I agree with you about "poor decisions" but the kid is 21 years old and has yet to play a full season in the bigs. It looks like he is serious about the game and listens to the coaches, so I feel that with a bit more experience under his belt he can be our starting right fielder. But not yet!
I like the idea of getting him some experience but not at the expense of a win down the stretch. Some fans knock Green for his defense but I think he is better than many in RF. He has good range and a strong arm. His failing is that when he dives for the ball he doesn't look as graceful as, say Beltran or Tori Hunter. But I will take an awkward-looking out over a graceful double any day of the week.
Now that Chavez is due back soon I think he is the obvious defensive move, but he also isn't an everyday player and seems to me to be more of a threat off the bench.
So I'm fine with a straight righty-lefty platoon between Green and Milledge, using Endy in right when a double switch or late-inning defensive adjustment is needed. Check the stats to see where Green has suceeded and use him whenever possible.
Post new comment