Lasting Milledge is still immature…

LASTINGS Milledge said during spring training that the biggest lesson he learned - having been chastised by 1) Willie Randolph for not running hard from first on a two-out double in Philadelphia, 2) by the media for high-fiving fans after hitting a home run, 3) by his teammates for showing up only an hour before a game - was how to "handle responsibility."
And this, apparently, is his definition of that: The Mets' prospect's voice is on a rap record recorded by his childhood friend, Immanuel Dent II, singing a song called "Bend Ya Knees," the lyrics of which pose instructions to a woman just asked to take off her clothes.
Of course, the female to whom L Millz, also listed on the Web site of the recording label as the manager for Manny D, is singing is not actually being referred to as a woman, instead by the usual gutter descriptions stereotypical in rap. One of those words that got Don Imus fired.
It also was the minimum needed to get the Mets, who learned only yesterday of Milledge's musical misadventures, to issue a statement a lot faster than he went from first-to-third on that play last year in Philly.

"We disapprove of the content, language and message of this recording, which does not represent the views of the New York Mets," said the statement, weakly attributed only to "The Mets," not a Wilpon, not Omar Minaya, nor anyone in a position of responsibility.
"I'm looking into it," was all Minaya would say after last night's 10-1 loss to the Cubs. Presumably, "The Mets" will be calling New Orleans to tell the prospect, currently sidelined with a sprained foot, that as a representative of their organization, he must approve a statement of apology.

The regrets would seem more sincere with a suspension, even better with a trade, but keep in mind this is an organization that 12 games from now will be welcoming back drug cheat Guillermo Mota from a 50-game suspension.