Who Deserves to Stay in the Majors -- Weaver or Milledge?

by user Awrigh01

Both Jered Weaver and Lastings Milledge might be moved to the minors, even though they have both shown that they are major league ready. The Los Angeles Angels are flirting with the idea of sending Weaver down to accomodate last year's AL CY Young Bartolo Colon who has been sidelined with an injury. Weaver is 4-0 with a 1.37 ERA through 26 1/3 innings and looks like a future ace. The New York Mets might are looking to find room for Xavier Nady and Cliff Floyd both of which are nursing minor injuries. Milledge is batting .255 with 2HRs and 11 RBIs. The numbers, however, do not show his impact on the team--one of the HRs which tied the game and sent it to extra innings--in terms of Milledge's energy, timeliness, and defense.

What do you guys think?

Date

Thu 06/15/06, 9:54 am EST

JuTMSY4Legend

1263 days ago

Score 2

Milledge is an MLB player, but AT THIS POINT is he better than Nady? Its a definate no, but he may be better than floyd. Then the question is, can you sit floyd. I'm not sure of th mets situation, but does it serve milledge better to sit/platoon in the MLB or play everday in AAA?

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ChachiOSUDraft Pick

1263 days ago

Score 2

I think Milledge would be better served with everyday playing time in AAA tham platooning in the MLB right now. Plus, I'm sure some type of minor (or major) injury will put one of the Mets OF on the DL (atleast the 15-day DL) one or two more times this year giving him other chances to get experience at the MLB level. Weaver, on the other hand, deserves to stay in the MLB and is proving more and more with every start that he belongs. They should send his brother down for a couple AAA starts to see if it straightens him out.

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JuTMSY4Legend

1263 days ago

Score 1

I agree. You know one of those 3 will get hurt, plus they've got late call-ups...

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RoblefkoLegend

1263 days ago

Score 1

Milledge hasnt shown he's major league ready. He gave high fives to fans during a game after hitting a homer and yesterday was watching a ball instead of running around the bases at full speed (and got thrown out at plate)...he can definitely use some more growing up in the minors.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1263 days ago

Score 0

So he hit a homer, but it didn't count?

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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick

1263 days ago

Score 0

Thats just silly to me. He slapped fans 5 therefore he is not ready to play in the majors? He is a better fielder, is faster, and has a better bat than Nady. If he is sent down its not because he slapped a fan 5 or didn't run hard once. Those are the types of mistakes people make. The only reason he should be sent down is if he is not going to start everyday.

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SteaksammichRed-Shirting

1262 days ago

Score 0

I never did understand what the big deal was that he high fived some fans. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being excited about your first major league home run or about interacting with the fans.

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ChristofMVP

1263 days ago

Score -3

Milledge is more deserving, simply because his team is winning at the moment.

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ChachiOSUDraft Pick

1263 days ago

Score 1

That doesn't make him more deserving. Also, if memory serves, the Mets were winning without him.

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SteaksammichRed-Shirting

1262 days ago

Score 2

The Angels are winning when Weaver pitches. So you're saying that he should be sent down because they're losing when he's not in the game?

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Sayhey-rodSoccer Kid

1263 days ago

Score 0

I think Milledge would be better served building character amongst the likes of Beltran and Delgado then going back to AAA where he's the big fish and he can get away with his shenanagins. Minaya has to have a another move in mind for pitching, with Nady and/or Floyd, why else bring in Marrero?

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Awrigh01All-Star

1263 days ago

Score 4

Weaver has been awesome. I think he deserves the shot. His brother sucks and should be sent to the bullpen.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1263 days ago

Score 1

Weaver's stats are much more impressive than Milledge. I'd keep him, but it's difficult to cross-compare a batter with a pitcher. I think I'd rather have Weaver in the rotation however.

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RoblefkoLegend

1263 days ago

Score 0

this article is inaccurate, Milledge never hit a game winning homer in extra innings

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JuTMSY4Legend

1263 days ago

Score 0

Was it bottom of the 9th? It was a walk off if I remember correctly.

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JuTMSY4Legend

1263 days ago

Score 0

I kinda have to agree. I think milledge is best served by more time in the minors. He still needs some work at the plate. I'm a Phils fan, so i've only seen him play 3 games or so, but I think his D needs a little work as well.

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RoblefkoLegend

1263 days ago

Score 0

Milledges homer tied the game in the bottom of the 10th, but the mets lost the game in 12.

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The sharkDraft Pick

1263 days ago

Score 1

I agree with Roblefko. Millings isn't quite there yet. Another 50-100 games in the minors to hone his skills and polish his swing will definitely help him. Weaver, on the other hand, has proven quite effective (if not dominating at times) against big league hitters. The answer (for now) is Weaver.

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Bobbyjim45Draft Pick

1263 days ago

Score 1

The thing with a pitcher is they can still see a lot of action through long relief and setting up if they aren't starting. With a hitter, for the most part, you either play the game or you don't, and Milledge won't get too much better just sitting on the bench. That's why Weaver is better off in the majors than Milledge. If the Angels don't have room in the rotation, they can stick him in the bullpen.

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Angels FanJV Squad

1263 days ago

Score 0

While I think Weaver has been great, he has recieved a lot of run support. The 28 runs in his 4 games almost matches the 33 runs his brother has gotten in 13 games. Could there be some relation between the Angels wanting to 'do good for the rook' or could Jered be inspiring the team? In either case, I think he should be kept in the bigs until he proves he does not belong.

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SteaksammichRed-Shirting

1262 days ago

Score 0

I think that's mostly just a case of a small sample size. They just happened to have 4 good games while he was pitching.

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SteaksammichRed-Shirting

1262 days ago

Score 0

The Mets can stand to send Milledge down. They have other players to take over for him and they're a damned good team with or without him. The Angels, on the other hand, aren't doing so hot. They need all the help they can get. Weaver has been their best pitcher for the last few weeks and they need his arm in the rotation.

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JuTMSY4Legend

1262 days ago

Score 0

I agree. I think its best for Milledge to play everyday in AAA than stay up. Its not like the Mets can't use him, but they don't need him desperately. Besides they can always call him up at a moments notice for some games as needed. Guaranteed, one of their OFs will get hurt and be on the DL, this is not the last of his ML time this year...

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JuTMSY4Legend

1262 days ago

Score 0

Besides, this is the kind of situation you want to be in...too much is better than not enough...Maybe they could move someone via a trade?

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ASwaffAll-American

1262 days ago

Score 0

Weaver has to be the one to stay up. With the way the Angels are hitting and playing defense, they need all the good pitching they can get. Plus, I think it hurts pitchers a lot more than it does position players to be hopping around from the majors to the minors all the time. Lots of pitchers come up and perform great for a few games, and then start to lose it when hitters figure out their stuff. See examples like John Koronka and Taylor Buchholz this season. Buchholz was leading the NL in ERA for like the first three weeks of the season, now his ERA is over 6.00. So give Weaver a few more starts and see if he's for real. Maybe they could send down his older brother, Jeff. He is totally stinking up the place.

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