Diametrically Opposed

Lastings Milledge is getting another chance at Major League Baseball. With the sad release of the aged Julio Franco, the Mets added some desperately needed youth and outfield energy as they called up the capricious Milledge to take his place.

Franco has been around the Big League’s for longer than Milledge has been alive but at the ripe old age of 48 (soon to be 49), this may be the end. Designated for assignment after hitting just .200 and receiving only 50 at-bats through the first half of the season, unless Franco can call in a few favors and get some type of minor-league deal with an old GM buddy, his days in the Show appear to be over.

This is a sad way to go out for the soon-to-be pension eligible Franco. He began his career in 1982 with the Phillies and has since played with 8 other teams. After essentially disappearing from the baseball radar from 1997-2000, he reappeared as a member of the Braves in 2001 and was a valuable role player for the team until 2006 when he signed with New York. His role has diminished since coming to the Big Apple and on Thursday, his role was cut altogether.

In contrast, Lastings Milledge is at the start of his baseball career. Feels like he has been for about the past 5 years though. Immaturity and inconsistency plagued Milledge throughout his brief career, in the minors and last season in the Major League’s. He failed to make the team out of spring training and has seen his playing time go to Carlos Gomez and Endy Chavez while he has toiled away in triple-A.

Now, with both Gomez and Chavez out of commission, Milledge is getting his chance to vie for playing time with the esteemed trio of Carlos Beltran, Shawn Green and David Newhan. There’s an outfield that strikes fear into people.

If Milledge can put it all together, he will either develop into a steady, everyday outfielder for the Mets, or they will use him as a bargaining chip to attempt to weasel an experienced arm from a below .500 club.

Two players whose careers are respectively at sunrise and sunset, only time will tell if Milledge can have any more of an impact than Franco did.