Boz called it

April 14, 2009

In this morning’s column, Thomas Boswell had this to say about Milledge:

For example, the Nats are tired of Lastings Milledge, their 24-year-old center fielder, acting like a 10-year veteran who has earned a central position in their locker room when, in fact, he has accomplished little. When he doesn’t show up until 30 minutes before team stretching exercises or is late to a team meeting the day before Opening Day, it sends a bad message that honors are given before they are earned in the Nats’ world.

So don’t be surprised if, fairly soon, the Nats’ clogged outfield problem is solved, at least temporarily, in an unexpected way: by sending Milledge back to the minor leagues. He’s a gifted athlete but, both in center field and as a leadoff hitter, he is still an unpolished and undisciplined player. The Nats’ front office still refers to the zig-zag routes he runs to fly balls, like two more adventures yesterday, as “pass patterns” because he breaks in so many different directions. As a leadoff man, he seems to have no sense of his get-on-base role.

And the release just came out – Milledge has been optioned to AAA Syracuse. This will not only change the lineup arrangement, but the outfield defense as well. I would imagine Dukes will start in CF in place of Milledge, although not bat lead-off (a spot Milledge failed at so far this season). Can one player spark a turnaround?

Posted in MLB, Players, Washington Nationals