THE NEW YORK METS’ LASTINGS MILLEDGE: NOT METAL

New York Mets outfielder Lastings Milledge, aka “L Millz,” again finds himself in the middle of a controversy not involving his play on the field. The New York Times reported Tuesday that Milledge, who is currently with the Mets’ AAA minor league franchise in New Orleans but is sidelined due to a foot injury, had produced a rap album for his childhood friend Immanuel Dent. Milledge appeared as a guest rapper on one song that included offensive lyrics, sparking a controversy within the Mets organization.

[Mets General Manager Omar] Minaya spoke with Milledge yesterday and told him the Mets were upset.

“We, as an organization, just don’t approve that,” Minaya said of the lyrics. “I think he understood that.”

The Mets did not take immediate disciplinary action against Milledge, who began the season with the Mets, was sent to New Orleans on April 13 to play more, and has been out for the past three weeks with sprained ligaments in his right foot.

Minaya did not say whether Milledge had apologized for the rap album, which was produced by Soul-Ja Boi Records, a label Milledge founded with Dent (a k a Manny D). Milledge (a k a L Millz) provided vocals for the song “Bend Ya Knees.” The song includes lyrics that are sexually explicit and derogatory to women.

The album was scheduled for release this summer. Some songs, however, could be heard on the label’s Web site, souljaboirecords.com. The site also said that Milledge was Dent’s manager.

Minaya said the Mets did not have the jurisdiction to make Milledge scrap the song’s release, nor did they ask him to do so. “That’s an individual matter,” Minaya said.

In other news, yesterday’s 9th inning dramatic win was awesome, and totally metal. Lastings Milledge: NOT metal.

-VN