Could Milledge be done in Pittsburgh

A strained oblique muscle appears to have shut Lastings Milledge down for the rest of the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. But things could get even worse next year for the Lakewood Ranch High product and it would have nothing to do with an injury.

The Pirates have seemingly given up on Milledge during the last month of the season while using everybody but your grandmother in right field where he came into the season as a starter.

The 25 year-old has a respectable .277 batting average and is hitting over .300 with runners in scoring position, but with only four homers that is not enough, Pirates GM Neal Huntington says.

Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Milledge needs to hit for more power, become a better base runner and improve his defense in the outfield.

“Lastings has got to get the ability to drive the ball more consistently. The batting average is nice, but it’s also about how much he can get on base, how much can he drive the ball, how much power is there?” Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.