As the position players trickled in this morning, no one caused a stir like Ruben Sierra, who showed up in a head-to-toe white outfit. Shoes, pants, shirt, hat. And the obligatory gold chains around his neck. Sierra has almost zero chance of making this club, but for one day at least, he gets the Best Dressed award.
*****
Julio Franco was back at his corner locker, digging through a plate of egg whites and saying that he's ready to be a mentor for Lastings Milledge. That seems to be an early theme on this club. There was hardly a player or coach who didn't hug MIlledge after he arrived on Monday, and Franco, who confronted the media after the whole sign controversy last season, already extended a welcome to the 21-year-old outfielder.
"I always believe if you tell a guy 10 different things, he can use one of them," Franco said. "I believe he's going to be a great ballplayer."
*****
If that turns out to be true, and Milledge impresses over the next six weeks, the Mets could have an interesting decision to make. It's not a stretch to say that Milledge could outplay Shawn Green. But would the Mets give him the starting rightfielder's job over the incumbent Green, who is due around $4 million this season but already had his $10-million option declined for 2008? It's something to keep an eye on.
Comments (2)
I think Milledge will have to hustle his butt all over the place, become markedly better in the field and on the bases, and hit over .350 in the spring to take the job away from Shawn Green. Since he didn't play any winter ball, I'm not sure he's going to show much advancement in the outfield in a few weeks of ST.
Also, people are forgetting that Ben Johnson will be given an opportunity to win a job. He's at a point now where he either needs to win a job or forever be considered a "tweener" or "AAAA" player, destined for reserve roles. That might be enough motivation for him to grab a roster spot.
Green has seen his better days and will be no better than a .260 hitter and an average fielder. We have so much fire power that we can let Lastings or Ben Johnson get their chance in RF. Just because Omar traded for Green doesn't mean he has to start or does it?