Minor League Spotlight: Lastings Milledge Lands on DL

Minor League Spotlight is the MLB FanHouse's look into baseball's minor leagues. But you probably figured that out already.

Things just keep getting more and more bleak for Lastings Milledge. Already demoted to the minors after Shawn Green caught fire early in the year and kept him out of the lineup, Milledge is now on the shelf for Triple-A New Orleans with a foot injury. From Newsday's On the Mets:

Lastings Milledge was placed on the minor-league disabled list today after he was diagnosed with a strained ligament in his right foot. Milledge was batting .333 (13-for-39) with a double, home run and five RBI in 11 games at Triple-A New Orleans. His seven-game hitting streak ended Monday, when he was forced to leave the game in the second inning because of foot discomfort. Milledge flew back to New York and had further tests, including an MRI, on Wednesday.

That's a tough break for Milledge, who probably figured his year would start out a little different after hitting .367 in spring training. But I guess it just goes to show how much spring training stats really matter. Take Green, for instance: he looked like a mess at the plate when the games didn't matter, hitting .149 in 74 at-bats. Through his first 77 at-bats in the regular season, though, he's hitting .351.

Previously on FanHouse:
Lastings Milledge Can't Resist a 'Rocky' Marathon
Lastings Milledge Gets His Grown Man On
Lastings Milledge Would Like to Rock Your Body