Win the Right Way

By Kevin Collazo
Posted Wednesday, July 11, 2007

"Pedro is set. He rocks back and delivers. It's a line drive hit over the glove of the leaping Delgado! Counsell moves over to second...NO HE'S GOING FOR THIRD! GREEN FIELDS THE BALL AND THROWS......to the cut off man, as Craig Counsell easily slides into third. Chad Tracy scorched that ball just over Delgado's reach and the D-Backs are threatening with a man on first and third with one out."

Does that sound familiar? It should, but the scenario was slightly different. Let's take you back to what really happened.

"Pedro is set. He rocks back and delivers. It's a line drive hit over the glove of the leaping Delgado! Counsell moves over to second...NO HE'S GOING FOR THIRD! LASTINGS MILLEDGE FIELDS THE BALL AND THROWS......OUT AT THIRD!!!! Craig Counsell tried to test the rookie and Milledge made him pay."

Yeah, it's like that. That was a 1-0 victory for the Mets last year. The Chavez single ended it in the 13th inning. Do you all see what a difference Milledge makes for this team? There have been too many games like the first scenario that have been costing the Mets victories time and time again.

So what's the issue people? Why the sudden indifference toward the prospect every team wants? Is it because of a simple rookie base running mistake? A couple of ill-chosen words in a rap song from over a year ago? What? What could sway the image of this could be superstar into one so disliked? Is it his color? Well, it's not his ability. That much is apparent.

When fans. and media feel the need to try to ship him off, I ask that you look at this team. Look at Alou in left. Look at Green in right. Look at Beltran in center. Do you see the look of despair on his face? Now look at Beltran covering all the ground. Now look at Beltran writhing in pain as he pulls his hamstring. Finally, look at the Mets season come to a crashing halt. I don't think anyone wants that scenario if you are Mets fans. So why the overwhelming desire to ship off Lastings Milledge?

It makes no sense. I wouldn't trade Milledge for anything that the Mets could get for him. Why? Because he fits the most important need they have. The starting pitching can easily get by with Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez, John Maine, Tom Glavine, and El Duque. Any pitching changes that need to be done can be done internally. You've got Heilman, who boasts a 43-7 record for Notre Dame, wasting away in the pen. Mota can replace his duties with his comparable change and fastball, but the pitching is a story for another day. Today it's about Lastings Milledge.

The facts are there people. He is doing nothing but focusing on baseball improvements in ever facet of his game. How can anyone not respect that? It's time he was given the credit he deserves. Let the kid play, and succeed in NY. The shortage of African-American players is far too grand to let someone like him go. Here, with these Mets, he has the best chance to succeed as a player, and a person. Willie is teaching him the right way to play ball and act in NY. Reyes is teaching him how the passion for the game can take you farther than any home run hit. It's all coming together here. Accept him people. He is the biggest need for the Mets to win it all.
 

Kevin Collazo of Shea Faithful writes for Flushing University twice a week on Sunday and Wednesday.