Reyes And Milledge

Jeremy Cothran at The Star Ledger writes about the simularities between Jose Reyes and Lastings Milledge:

"Even though it's a job, you've got to have fun," said Milledge, who is batting .309 and has made several highlight-worthy catches as the Mets' fourth outfielder. "It's a long, long season."

Meanwhile, the locker catty-corner from Milledge's belongs to another player who also struts through the clubhouse -- gleaming with five-figures' worth of diamonds, designer T-shirts with "Urban Prince" stenciled on the chest and personalized, detailed greetings as if he were the president of the Dominican Republic.

"Dime loco! Que lo que?" Jose Reyes often shouts in Dominican slang to his Spanish-speaking teammates. (Translation: Tell me something, crazy dude. What's going on?)

Any comparisons between Reyes and Milledge are purely superficial. Both are hip and gregarious, quick to flash megawatt smiles. Both have a love for urban culture and have an affinity for rap music. Milledge, who is black, produces hip-hop on his own label; Reyes has collaborated with several reggaeton artists. They often walk toward the batter's box to the sound of bounce-worthy songs they have helped create.

But unlike Reyes, Milledge can't catch a break. His style of play has made him a target for opposing pitchers, who get their message across with 90-plus fastballs aimed at various body parts, and for some members of his own clubhouse, who stick to pointed comments or sharply written notes.