Winless Nationals Demote Milledge

The Nationals' 0-7 start can't be that much of a surprise, but on their off day Tuesday they have tried to shake things up, or send a message. Or at least get better.

Lastings Milledge, who started five of the seven games at center field and leadoff, was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse.

Some might see this as scapegoating Milledge, but he did nothing to show he should stay. Always an adventure in center field, Milledge has batted .167 without an extra-base hit, striking out 10 times in 24 at-bats.

The Washington Post's Thomas Boswell saw this coming:

For example, the Nats are tired of Lastings Milledge, their 24-year-old center fielder, acting like a 10-year veteran who has earned a central position in their locker room when, in fact, he has accomplished little. When he doesn't show up until 30 minutes before team stretching exercises or is late to a team meeting the day before Opening Day, it sends a bad message that honors are given before they are earned in the Nats' world.

So don't be surprised if, fairly soon, the Nats' clogged outfield problem is solved, at least temporarily, in an unexpected way: by sending Milledge back to the minor leagues. He's a gifted athlete but, both in center field and as a leadoff hitter, he is still an unpolished and undisciplined player. The Nats' front office still refers to the zig-zag routes he runs to fly balls, like two more adventures yesterday, as "pass patterns" because he breaks in so many different directions. As a leadoff man, he seems to have no sense of his get-on-base role.

If the Nats take this course, they can put Elijah Dukes, whom one executive refers to as "a warrior," in center field. Milledge is an athlete learning to play baseball. Dukes is an athlete who is both a baseball player and a fierce competitor. That fire has often burned far too hot for his own good, but, if channeled, it could be central force on a good Nats team on some future day.

Dukes, by the way, is also far from a finished product.

Milledge, Dukes and the released Wily Mo Pena were part of former general manager Jim Bowden's effort to collect players with tools but not necessarily skills.

"All of a sudden you don't just become a center fielder; it's going to take a lot of work," [Nationals coach Marquis] Grissom said. "Sometimes it takes two years, sometimes it takes 10 years, sometimes you never get it. He has the ability to be a good center fielder, but you can't teach instinct."

And what did Bowden give up to get Milledge from the Mets?

Well, Brian Schnieder is hitting just .167 for the Mets. But Ryan Church has batted .423 so far, with four walks and no strikeouts.