Bob Raissman on Mets and Milledge

[Elster88]

My guess is that someone, possibly George, will make Floyd an offer that the Mets would be crazy to match considering that others like Milledge can step in.

[patchyfogg]

Adam told us ( The interview is up, by the way. I'll be posting more stuff on it later.) that he got major flack from the Mets behind the scenes for that and that Raissman was doing that story on it.

I--Patchy talking, not Adam--have a feeling that Raissman's original filed story and that which we're reading today were not the same. Raissman's articles are never that vague.

[Gwreck]

soupcan wrote: Enter Milledge. The Mets clubhouse is one of the more diverse in baseball, a place where a Puerto Rican and a Mississippian bond in the bullpen, where a country boy left-hander has a locker between an oenophile from California and a golf nut from Massachusetts, where half the roster is Hispanic. But until Milledge arrived, there were only two African-American players � Floyd and reliever Darren Oliver � and Floyd said he expected Milledge to gravitate toward him because of their shared background.

This was the first I heard that Bradford and Feliciano were friends. That's cool.

[MFS62]

]"He (Milledge) did irritate the opposition with his flamboyance," said Keith Hernandez on SportsNet New York's Mets-Diamondbacks telecast. "We'll just have to keep an eye on it."

Yeah, and Clemente "irritated the oposition with his flamboyance" with his one handed snatch/catch style. And Willie Mays did the same with his basket catches. I'm sure Mets fans would be more than thrilled if Lastings continued to "irritate the opposition" for the next, say, 15 years?

Later

[Guest vtmet]

I wonder if the '86 Mets annoyed any players, managers, coaches, owners, media in any other city as well...usually it's a sign that you have talent...

[Elster88]

Or just a sign that you're a dickhead.

OTOH, people can also irritate by trying to be too-helpful or trying to be a "Rah-Rah college-type", as Keith once put it. Gary Carter and ARod are notable examples of that.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

This guy does seem to have an agenda:

]Mets' Lastings impression Tuesday, June 6th, 2006 During a recent Mets telecast, Keith Hernandez indicated he has little patience for players who bring excessive attention to themselves, which usually results in showing up an opponent. His comments were nothing new. Throughout his broadcasting career Hernandez has said showboating - or popping off in print - can put your team in a tough spot. So, what did he think of Lastings Milledge's high-five trip down the right-field line in the 11th inning Sunday? You know, that particular stroll made by the Met rookie after hitting his first major league homer. This celebration looked like something you might see following a game. Trouble was the Mets and Giants were tied 6-6 when Ch. 11's cameras focused on Milledge's slap-happy trip. The scene had Howie Rose, filling in for Gary Cohen (appendectomy), all gooey inside. "He didn't take a curtain call, but he's making up for it now," Rose gushed. "'Hi, I'm Lastings Milledge, nice to know you.'" Hernandez had nothing to say. When the commercial break ended, there was a window to address the matter (Ch. 11's director even popped up a closeup of Milledge in the dugout) but Hernandez still would not comment on Milledge's premature celebration. Nor did Rose ask him what he thought about it. Instead, the subject turned to the 1986 Mets' ability to produce come-from-behind wins. Judging by Hernandez's recent words, his silence was curious. Maybe he did not see anything wrong with Milledge's show of "exuberance." Or maybe he did not want to needlessly incur the whining of certain Mets suits who are sensitive when it comes to anyone in the media casting aspersions on Milledge. Or even referencing the fact he comes with baggage. Anyway, on the WFAN radio side, a mind reader was not necessary to know the feelings coming out of the broadcast booth. Tom McCarthy was going gaga, positively enthralled by Milledge's solo parade. Ed Coleman? Well, he injected some much-needed insight and reality into the equation. "It looked nice from up here, but I'm sure a lot of veterans will be talking to him (Milledge) about it," Coleman said. "They will tell him there's a time and place for that, but not in the middle of the game." Considering how Willie Randolph and Cliff Floyd reacted after the Mets' 7-6 loss, Coleman knew what he was talking about. He also, in the 11th, reported that despite Milledge's love-in, the Mets had not yet won the game. On Sunday, Coleman was the only Mets broadcaster to recognize that fact. SportsNet New York had an opportunity to get some Milledge feedback from Hernandez on the postgame report. Unfortunately, Matt Yallof did not ask Mex about all the high-fiving. SNY did cover the story later in the show when both Milledge and Randolph, during their media sessions, were asked about the "celebration" by NY1's Tom McDonald.

[Elster88]

]Judging by Hernandez's recent words, his silence was curious. Maybe he did not see anything wrong with Milledge's show of "exuberance." Or maybe he did not want to needlessly incur the whining of certain Mets suits who are sensitive when it comes to anyone in the media casting aspersions on Milledge.

It cracks me up when people want to read into silence. Keith didn't say anything, but somehow Raissman immediately draws two possible conclusions.

[MFS62]

I didn't know Raismann was capable of the Vulcan mind meld.

Later

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Not for nothing but the so-called �agenda� of Raissman and Madden derided here just might have something to it.

I won�t spin it as negatively as they might, because Milledge is just a puppy, but to my eyes he certainly has a few things to learn, and if I can see it, the Mets sure ought to have also.

That doesn�t necessarily mean that LM was called up strictly so as to �teach him some discipline� as Madden might put it, or that there�s an unspoken organizationwide muzzle designed to prevent folks from acknowledging it, as Raissman might say, but the core truth � Milledge could benefit from veterans probably moreso than the average rookie � is prolly true. No?

[Guest Edgy DC]

]Or even referencing the fact he comes with baggage.

If you've got something to dish, dish. I'm all eyes and open mind here.

[Frayed Knot]

Covering the media's coverage is Raissman's beat so he's got every right to keep on this story, especially as it was a major topic of conversation yesterday - including nationally.
I just didn't agree with his earlier column where he claimed - while offering little in the was of backing - that the media is bending to some sort of team pressure to lay off the young player even as several reporters from his own paper were addressing it at that moment.

[Elster88]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: but the core truth � Milledge could benefit from veterans probably moreso than the average rookie � is prolly true. No?

Yeah, but the way I read it, Raissman is using it solely to say that SNY and the FAN tend to be "gooey", "gaga", and "gushing", which to me is pushing his agenda that the Mets refuse to let their broadcasters say anything bad about their team. Only Ed Coleman provided the "voice of reason".

If his core message is only that Milledge could benefit from veteran leadership, why go into the three G's of gooey/gaga/gushing? Why bring up the broadcast booths at all?

[Elster88]

I didn't get to FK's post until after I posted.

Frayed Knot wrote: Covering the media's coverage is Raissman's beat so he's got every right to keep on this story, especially as it was a major topic of conversation yesterday - including nationally.

I didn't realize this was his area of expertise. I guess you answered the last question in my post right above yours ("Why bring up the broadcast booths?")

Frayed Knot wrote: I just didn't agree with his earlier column where he claimed - while offering little in the was of backing - that the media is bending to some sort of team pressure to lay off the young player even as several reporters from his own paper were addressing it at that moment.

This is what I was saying too. Ed Coleman, if no one else, proved that the Mets are not forcing their broadcast teams to use kid gloves on the new guy.

[MFS62]

="Johnny Dickshot"] That doesn�t necessarily mean that LM was called up strictly so as to �teach him some discipline� as Madden might put it, or that there�s an unspoken organizationwide muzzle designed to prevent folks from acknowledging it, as Raissman might say, but the core truth � Milledge could benefit from veterans probably moreso than the average rookie � is prolly true. No?

JD, the best answer I can give to that is a definite maybe. We really don't know much about how he acted in the minors. And maybe that's because of the muzzle that the author spoke about.

Later

[seawolf17]

Elster88 wrote: ]Judging by Hernandez's recent words, his silence was curious. Maybe he did not see anything wrong with Milledge's show of "exuberance." Or maybe he did not want to needlessly incur the whining of certain Mets suits who are sensitive when it comes to anyone in the media casting aspersions on Milledge. It cracks me up when people want to read into silence. Keith didn't say anything, but somehow Raissman immediately draws two possible conclusions.

Exactly. Maybe he just had a mouthful of lemonade, jerkass.