TUESDAY: Milledge cleared waivers and accepted a Triple-A assignment, tweets Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
THURSDAY: The White Sox designated Lastings Milledge for assignment to create roster space for Jeff Gray, the team announced (on Twitter). Milledge broke camp with the team after signing a minor league deal and appeared in two games (he went 1/4 with a double), but the White Sox needed relief, particularly after consecutive extra innings contests against the Royals.
Ozzie Guillen's relievers have combined for 11 1/3 innings of work since Tuesday, so Gray gets the call. The former Cubs reliever has a 4.91 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 in 40 1/3 innings at the Major League level. The White Sox signed him last November, after the Cubs granted him free agency.
What the… Did not expect that.
This really sucks, Milledge loses his job because of our sh**** bullpen can’t do it’s job. I hope we can keep him in AAA. He can be a valuable asset if one of our outfielders goes down. And Jeff Gray!? No Marquez? Yuck.
Well, to be honest, he did suck in the outfield yesterday.
Paging Bill Smith… Milledge > Repko
After his pathetic displays in the outfield I can’t imagine the coaching staff was too happy with him.
Wow, after one game? He was great in Spring Training. Get your facts straight.
His facts are straight. Milledge’s career UZR is (-21).
UZR has shown time and again not to be the best way of measuring fielding talent.
Then what is the preeminent test to determine an OF’s defensive prowess? Your eyes?
It’s easy to disregard anything and everything when it conflicts with one’s own “eyeball” evaluation.
The fact remains that Milledge was DFA’d and no team wanted him and his crummy defense was part of the reasoning.
There had to be at least one team that would like a good young cheap defensive 4th OF who could play all 3 OF positions…and still young enough to possibly be a late bloomer as a hitter.
But the other 29 teams have spoken with their eyes… “We don’t want Milledge”.
So he can’t DH or pinch hit? Scouts do use their eyes when evaluating players. Suppose you think everyone sits behind computers and looks at sabremetrics. Why employ scouts then?
I was referring to “fans’ eyes” not “scouts’ eyes”. I admire scouts and their talents/opinions immensely.
“So he can’t DH or pinch hit???” Sure…if a team’s options are that limited.
Once again “Why did the other 29 teams pass on him?”
If he has either offensive and/or defensive value, some team would have wanted this young OF.
And since teams ask for input from their scouts before acquiring a player, what does this tell you about Milledge?
“Why did 29 other team pass on him?” Last time I checked “fans’ eyes” did not make executive decisions for teams…last time I checked. Also, it’s early April, when team’s are still in evaluating mode…you act like it’s July. Give teams time to figure out what they have or don’t have…then maybe some team WILL pick him up.
“Why did 29 other team pass on him?” Last time I checked “fans’ eyes” did not make executive decisions for teams…last time I checked.”
“Fan’s eyes” didn’t pass on Milledge. Executives and scouts from 29 other teams passed on him.
“Also, it’s early April, when team’s are still in evaluating mode…you act like it’s July. Give teams time to figure out what they have or don’t have…then maybe some team WILL pick him up.”
This is utter nonsense. By the time they “figure it out” they could be out of playoff contention.
A team like Tampa Bay who lost Carl Crawford and also has Longoria on the DL has to wait another month or two to fully evaluate whether their offense needs help? Since they have Sam Fuld in their starting OF, what does that tell you about Milledge? (And please don’t mention Fuld’s once-in-a-lifetime game from yesterday.)
More importantly, no GM is going to wait to correct a problem if an answer presents itself today.
The GM’s have spoken “Milledge isn’t an answer.”
Umm…the answer to Tampa’s problem is Fuld–a guy who couldn’t make it in the BIGS with the Cubs. Oh yeah, who’s the guy replacing Milledge on the roster. That’s right Jeff Gray, a player who two teams already, the Cubs and the A’s didn’t want. Otherwise, he’d be on one of those teams. Get a clue…nope here I’ll buy you one.
“Umm…the answer to Tampa’s problem is Fuld–a guy who couldn’t make it in the BIGS with the Cubs.”
That’s my point! Tampa considers Fuld better than Milledge. Fuld is nothing special and in Tampa’s eyes Milledge isn’t an improvement.
“Oh yeah, who’s the guy replacing Milledge on the roster. That’s right Jeff Gray…”
Comparing Milledge’s replacement (Jeff Gray) to Milledge is ridiculous since Gray is a pitcher not an OF. The Sox just decided to go with 12 pitchers rather than 11.
One last time:
If Milledge would help a team today, why didn’t a team pick him up now and improve their playoff chances immediately?
Because it is early in the season, the time of year to stick with what you think will work. There is a reason why most teams break camp with certain players. Clearly they dont think Milledge will preform better, but is that because of a lack of faith in his abilities or faith in their own players? When in doubt stick with what you know. There are many things that go into deciding what players you want especially when you are dealing with middling players.
“…Clearly they dont think Milledge will preform better, but is that because of a lack of faith in his abilities or faith in their own players?”
Maybe both, but in either case, Milledge is not viewed as an improvement which is my point.
If a team viewed Milledge as a better 4th or 5th OF than they currently have, why wouldn’t they want him? He’s been in the ML on and off since 2006 with over 1600 PA’s so teams should have a good read on him as they do on their current utility OF’s. He plays all OF positions and makes only $500K. And you wouldn’t be giving up anyone in return of any consequence.
I agree that teams aren’t going to blow up their team or farm system in April (like some hyperbolic poster has exaggerated) if their regulars start off slow.
But in terms of changing your 24th or 25th man on your roster for a guy who was once a hot prospect and still young, seems a no-brainer…unless you believe Milledge is not an improvement.
I agree, my point was that there are reasons why, other than performance, that a team would choose their own people over a new person. I was just answering your question earlier.
I’m not comparing a pitcher to a offensive player. The SOX have plenty of offensive. I’m comparing players who’ve bounced around. Teams don’t have immediate needs….it’s April! If that were the case, the Cubs would be trading top prospects in their farm system for pitching. Instead of signing players like Ramon Ortiz to minor league contracts. Thank God you’re not a GM…using the Lastings Milledge theory you’d pass on players like Colby Lewis, Ryan Dempster, or Jose Bautista figuring they’re all washed up.
Yes, I would take fans interpretations over UZR any day.
i like milledge but he CANNOT play outfield. constantly gets bad jumps and seems to make a good play because of it. he cant hit, but not well enough to be a full time dh.
Milledge is a butcher in the OF as is Teahen. They need to call up De Aza once the bullpen is set and let him be the late inning replacement in the OF. I would have dumped Teahen hoping someone would take a flyer on him and get rid of the money, especially after he dropped an easy catch yesterday which gave the Royals a gift run.
jordan danks would more likely be the callup first due to his defense being much better(ozzie has said his glove is MLB CF ready for years not but his bat needed to catch up) and his bat finally showed up this spring.
Maybe he can pitch for the Red Sox. Or hit for that matter.
Milledge still has a lot of potential. He was a consistent hitter last year. He just didn’t hit for the cycle every game. If a team needs a fourth outfielder, he’s your man, but I still think he should learn a little 3B, 1B and 2B if he wants to stay in the majors.
I just wish Teahen would leave too, The Tank can do everything Teahen can do but better
The Tank is also on the DL
He was until Tuesday
NO, no ,no, no. What needs to happen with the tank is once he fully recovers from the fracture. He needs to go to AAA and get every single at bat he can out in right field. And the second Carlos faulters he is called up. Or if carlos is hurt or dunn is hurt or PK is hurt then he comes up. You dont want “the tank” one of hawks dumbest nick-names to date. to rot on the bench and get playing time every few days. AND DONT say you can platoon him, we dont need a righty/right platoon at 1st or Right. If the sox are not all in it by the break and carlos is on fire they could trade him and being Dyan up then
Tank is worse than Spanky?
Time to cut another record?
Four organizations through not even six full seasons. Almost like the Milledge bicycle of baseball…
yeah hes not “lasting” very long right………..
Ah…good one, good one… I’m sure he’s heard that a number of times
but its probably the “last” time he will hear it from a sox fan……
I’d be willing to give up a low prospect for him. Then use him to the minors and use him when injury hits. He would be a great guy to have in the organization.
Nothing “lasting” about this guy….
You’re trying too hard
…flipping burgers at a fast food restaurant near year by 2013.
Yeah thats not gonna happen
He will probably still stay with the team if he wants, as he’ll probably clear waivers. The beginning of the season is a good time to sneak guys through waivers because roster spots are so important and teams want to stick with their guys for a bit.
Honestly, I’d rather the Pirates have kept Milledge on a minor league deal than Matt Diaz. Diaz has looked very bad so far, and a two year guaranteed deal looks like a waste of money.
With a .793 OPS vs LH pitchers I think he would be agood platoon player in a lefty/righty combo.
Maybe the Rays will pick him up..as of right now he’d be an offensive upgrade over any outfielder they have on the roster,except maybe Upton. Also, he’s from the Tampa area so maybe coming home would improve his “attitude”. Worth a shot, as bad as we are we could use the help……
Milledge = punk. High-fiving fans in the stands after going yard to tie the game in the 10th against the Giants at Shea in 2006. Better be real good if you’re going to pull that crap.
Milledge afterwards: “You know what? It happened, and if we could replay the game, I don’t regret one thing I did.”
Oh yeah, Giants won that one.
I’m sure Lastings isn’t going to want for anything in his life. But, nice to see a guy like that riding some buses in the minors for a while.
Happiness.
This is good news for White Sox fans.
66 comments for this guy?
Why not 67?
I am currently ruining the wonderful # of “69”. SORRY!
From the White Sox blog “South Side Sox” on 4-13-11:
“… Brett Ballantini tweeted that the other clubs were “scared of his defense.” Apparently, that will be Job One for Milledge as he heads back to Triple-A.
Here’s Ballantini’s tweet:
KW and Ozzie both happy Milledge remains in organization. KW told Milledge, as an FYI, other teams are scared of his defense.
Wasn’t reallty a failed experiment. He made the team after a great Spring. Our bullpen sucks a bag of… They decide they need another pitcher because the bullpen can’t do it’s job. They have to drop a player to add one. Teahen’s making too much money, Lillibridge is our most versatile fielder. So that left Milledge.
wish the angels would sign him, i think he is very good or could be if given the playing time..
Being a very fed up Cubs fan saddled with an abysmal organiztion with an inept GM I can relate to this move. Teahan making too much money to be sent packing sounds like a typical Jim Hendry mistake. One of Wiilliam’s rare bad signings. Which player gives the team a better chance of winning a ball game…Teahan or Milledge? Milledge of course but money talks so Milledge walks.
The Bullpen does not suck, an arm or two might but not the entire pen. First of all, its a small sample size. Ohman is the only one to worry about. Pena has never done well with high leverage situations. He does very well in long relief. The bullpen has to be used correctly, which is something Ozzie is very good at.
To be fair to Lastings, he was in no way a bad actor during his time in Pittsburgh. Performance wise, he was strictly fourth-outfielder–but his behavior was no issue.
Stats
Player A: .268/.310/.425/.735
Player B: .269/.328/.395/.723
Guess which one is Francoeur and which one is Milledge?
Frenchy has a better personality then Millidge? Could have fooled me, but then again I do not like being proselytized too and listen to people make dumb comments about Sabermetrics not meanin nothin to him.
To be fair, Francouer has more than twice the career plate appearances as Milledge.
Actually the need for teahan has nothing to do with money. On the bench right now( including lastings) the sox have two out fielders( lastings and lili) two in fielders ( Omar and teahan) and a catcher. Yes lili can play the infield and teahan supposedly can play the out field but only teahan can play 1st base. And keeping teahan over lastings makes sense because teahan can play more positions. And he really isn’t making that much
Money.
I’d wager that Milledge’s poor defense and precipitous drop in ISO had something to do with it.
I disagree with you. Pittsburgh let him go because they have 4 outfielders.
I doubt many people who actually play the game give a you-know-what about their sabermetrics either. They’re too busy, you know, playing.
You don’t know him. I sincerely doubt he was talking to you.
True, but Dunn can play first as well so the need to keep Teahan because of his value at 1B
over Milledge and his value as a pinch runner, outfielder doesn’t make sense. Milledge is
more valuable than Teahan to this particular team at this particular time. Of course NOW
considering Dunn’s situation I can see keeping Teahan. I think if Teahan and Milledge
had the same salary a different story would be playing out. Teahan seems to be the
“lost soul” this season, don’t you think? By the way, thanks for replying. You know
not all us Cubs fans are typical lemmings, I for one realize how much better the WhiteSox
team and organization is compared to…alas…my Cubs. Sigh. Good luck andHave a great season!
I am not here to bury or praise Milledge (or Francoeur, for that matter). I’d just rather not compare any kind of counting stat among any two players with such drastically different totals of career plate appearances. :shrug:
Supply and demand. Pittsburgh had no demand for Lastings’ rap skillz.
teahen and Vizquel are the only left handed bats on the bench. Whitesox only has 3 lhb on lineup. Makes more sense keep Teahen over Milledge.