Here's a few paragraphs about the Mets' lineup that didn't stick for the second edition. Seems like Lastings Milledge has won himself some additional playing time at the expense of Shawn Green.
Hoping for a spark, manager Willie Randolph juggled his lineup for last night’s game, elevating David Wright to the No. 3 spot and dropping Beltran to fourth for the first time this season.Since Randolph enjoys discussing the lineup about as much as Karl Rove likes attending Democratic fundraisers, the manager didn’t reveal much about his strategy.
Randolph did confirm that he wanted Wright to bat in the first inning for a change, but talked in general terms beyond that.
“That’s part of it,” Randolph said. “David’s stealing more this year, so it’s nice to have all your speed together. Beltran seems to have more power this year. You can throw that in the mix, too. I just go by what I feel. I thought about it off and on for a long time.”
Randolph added another new wrinkle by starting Lastings Milledge in rightfield, which essentially was a benching of Shawn Green with Ian Snell, a righthander, on the mound for the Pirates. That move had been a long time coming. Milledge was batting .429 (12-for-28) with three doubles and four RBI this month, so Randolph could no longer stick with the veteran.
Admittedly, Milledge's defense can be shaky at times, as anyone who witnessed that sideshow act last night in the eighth inning can attest. But the Mets can really benefit from his energy and hustle, which he put on display by busting it for a double in the third inning.
Randolph can no longer deny it. The Mets are a better team with Milledge in the lineup.
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On an unrelated note, this week is one of the rare times during the season that I stay in the same hotel as the Mets and I'm amazed at the number of parents -- with young kids -- that stalk the lobby for players at 1 a.m. or later. I don't understand the obsession with autographs and this is really taking it to the extreme. It's fine if you want to stop them in the middle of the afternoon on the way to park or something like that. But letting 8-year-olds patrol a hotel lobby after midnight is bizarre, I'm sorry.