Big Denny

I was thinking about this. Most of us hope that once Beltran comes back Miledge replaces Green on a regular basis in right field. I wonder, however, if that's the plan that Willie and OMar have. If so, why is Green batting 6th now and Milledge batting 8th? Perhaps it's because they don't want to put pressure on the kid and I understand that to a degree. However, you'd hate to think that they are going to let the kid rot on the bench when Beltran gets back.

If they plan on giving Milledge the bulk of the playing time anyway, why not bat him ahead of Green now and then move him down to 8th ( really seventh since Lo Duca should be batting 8th) when Beltran comes back? I just seems to me that they have every intention of keeping Green in right field when Beltran comes back, otherwise they wouldn't have him hitting ahead of Milledge in the lineup now.

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freakzilla11

He's done his best hitting in the #8 spot, why bother changing that?

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MrHat

Pressure is part of it. Milledge "earning" his way forward and keeping his attitude/ego in check in another part of it. Willie also likes to have speed in the bottom part of that lineup to give him options when the pitcher comes up as well.

That said, I would swap him and Green....however the big issue comes with what to do with LoDuca when Beltran comes back. IMO he is an instant double play/force out if he's hitting 8th. With his leg right now any sac bunt that isnt picture perfect, they are nailing him at 2B. Plus he's not a guy who is generally known for taking a walk so the pitcher could end up leading off a lot of innings. So when that's all factored in I think the Mets are back to hitting Milledge 8th when everyone is healthy again so doesnt seem like much of a point in switching him for a week just to move him back.

Rey-YES

I don't see the connection between the current order and Willie's future plans for Green. Right now, Green's #6 because Willie likes the RH/LH pattern in the order. I agree that Milledge (as Wright did 2 years ago) will move up in the order as he establishes himself. But Willie doesn't want a slow runner as #8, so fuggedabout Lo Duca or Castro there.

I expect Milledge to be displacing Green in RF much of the time once Beltran returns.

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TPFKABM

dak11

For whatever reason Willie feels the need to keep rookies towards the bottom of the line-up. Took him forever to move Wright up in order in 2005.

freakzilla11

I guess he turned out just fine, and by the way, the 2005 team was far less talented than the 2006/7 teams.
It's not like there's 4 or 5 places Milledge can bat.

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MetfanBren

Wright had more games batting fifth than sixth or seventh combined in 2005. You can write it off as Willy refusing to move him up for too long, but you can't say he's not willing to do it and stick to it if the performance warrants it. Unfortunately Milledge at his best is not going to be the 2005 version of David Wright...

MajorRanger35

Milledge isn't moving. As of now, here's the lineup when Moley comes back:

Reyes
Castillo
Beltran
Wright
Delgado
Alou
Lo Duca
Milledge

There's no way Milledge is moving in front of Alou, and there's no way Randolph will make a vet like Lo Duca bat #8, so Milledge is stuck batting #8.

15 Day DL Alou

forever once again defined as 40 days...give me my forever

Rey-YES

Vet or not, Willie has said he wants speed in the #8 spot, to avoid a FC when a pitcher tries to sac bunt, and to avoid having a slow runner ahead of Reyes.

Green has already batted 8th at least once, and Valentin often did last year (especially early on), so the "vet" status is not the reason.

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dak11

Wright's accent to the 5th and 6th spots in the order that year were as much to do with injuries as it had to do with Willie moving him up on merit.

Piazza had 125 TOTAL AB's post all star break
Mientkiewicz had 75 TOTAL AB's post AS
Cameron only had 105 TOTAL AB's post AS

Rey-YES

Wright doesn't have an accent. He speaks perfect English.

Ask Paul Lo Duca, if you don't believe it.

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TPFKABM

MetfanBren

And those injuries healed, and Wright stayed where he was for the majority of the season. Cameron wasn't blocking Wright's spot in the order because he never really hit anywhere besides the two hole anyway. Like I said, maybe Willy didn't move him up soon enough, but he kept him there when he did. Many folks around here still believe he hit 8th that year...