WASHINGTON -- The Nationals optioned center fielder Lastings Milledge to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. The club has not announced a corresponding move.

 

Milledge is off to a slow start, batting .167 (4-for-24) with one RBI, while playing mediocre defense in center.

 

The team had warned Milledge about a possible demotion since Opening Day. Members of the organization were upset that Milledge was late for a meeting held by manager Manny Acta the day before, and they wanted Milledge to sit out for Opening Day. Acta refused, however, so the team fined Milledge instead.

 

The move most likely means that Elijah Dukes will be the everyday center fielder. He is swinging a hot bat, going 8-for-21 (.381) with a home run and five RBIs in six games.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...sp&c_id=mlb

You feel bad enough for the Nats to actually hope these failed prospects will show success and show up their old teams that just traded them away . . . and then you realize what made them failed prospects to begin with

if milledge comes here i bet you he is an all star =P

Sucks for Milledge, but at least this should mean more playing time for Hammer!

Sucks for Milledge, but at least this should mean more playing time for Hammer!

 

Only effects Dukes, really. He's only other one that can play CF on their team.

 

So this move sucks for us cuz Dukes is 10 times the player Milledge is.

Sucks for Milledge, but at least this should mean more playing time for Hammer!

 

Only effects Dukes, really. He's only other one that can play CF on their team.

 

So this move sucks for us cuz Dukes is 10 times the player Milledge is.

And Hammer time will see more time!

 

You know it's to showcase Hammer/Kearns so they can trade one of them to someone needing a bat.

Hah. Wasn't he God's gift to Mets fans at some point?

Hah. Wasn't he God's gift to Mets fans at some point?

 

 

So was Citi Field and we see how great they repaid him

Sucks for Milledge, but at least this should mean more playing time for Hammer!

 

Only effects Dukes, really. He's only other one that can play CF on their team.

 

So this move sucks for us cuz Dukes is 10 times the player Milledge is.

 

But both of guys were capable of playing the corners, as well. Dukes may or may not have been ahead of Hammer on the depth chart for LF, but with one less OF on the roster, there is one less player blocking Hammer. I don't see how this could not affect Hammer.

Sucks for Milledge, but at least this should mean more playing time for Hammer!

 

Only effects Dukes, really. He's only other one that can play CF on their team.

 

So this move sucks for us cuz Dukes is 10 times the player Milledge is.

 

But both of guys were capable of playing the corners, as well. Dukes may or may not have been ahead of Hammer on the depth chart for LF, but with one less OF on the roster, there is one less player blocking Hammer. I don't see how this could not affect Hammer.

 

I had thought that Dukes had had only played CF this year, but I just looked it up and he's started as many games in RF than he has in CF. So, yeah, you're right.

Hah. Wasn't he God's gift to Mets fans at some point?

Speaking of mets prospects when is the Martinez kid supposed to be up. I've been hearing about him for so long.

BUST!

I never thought he was very good. I was extremely upset when the rumors swirled that we would get him.

 

Glad to see this, though, so Hammer can get some more starts. I really hope they either start him everyday or deal him soon. He had a great spring, led them in RBI, and still didn't get a spot. Tough break, and pretty ridiculous considering his success when healthy is probably better than Kearns... but whatev. Get him out of the division and deal him to somebody that could use a good cheap bat.