Category: Latest News

Mets Wagner Preps For Return

Billy Wagner threw 32 pitches in a bullpen session yesterday and his injured left elbow felt fine after the workout. The plan is for Wagner to pitch in a rehab game as early as Sunday in Brooklyn. The Cyclones last game of the season is today but a rainout is likely. So Wagner will probably be able to pitch there tomorrow.

Wagner is attempting to return from inflammation in his left elbow that’s kept him from pitching since August 2nd.

Manager Jerry Manuel told reporters that Wagner may not return immediately as the Mets closer. Personally, I think that’s ridiculous unless Wagner is still rehabbing on the job. Nobody in the Mets bullpen is close to the type of pitcher that Wagner is. If he does pitch some middle innings, it won’t last long. He’ll be back closing in no time.

Report: Jerry Manuel Expected To Return in 2009

CBS Sports senior baseball writer Danny Knobler wrote a column yesterday about managers that will be returning next season. We already knew that Cito Gaston would be back in Toronto next year, but Knobler also writes that Jerry Manuel is expected back with the Mets.

I’d be shocked if Manuel didn’t come back next year. The 2008 season has turned around dramatically since he took over. He’s accomplished the only thing that he really has control over: motivating the players to reach or exceed their potential. His in-game decisions are solid, if not innovative. He’s not driving us crazy by batting the pitchers eighth in the lineup or anything silly like that. I’d be hard-pressed to come up with an argument not to bring him back.

Image via Wikimedia

Mets and Marlins Empty Benches But Avoid Brawl

Cody Ross got hit by Mike Pelfrey in the arm during the second inning last night and didn’t like it. You could clearly hear him yell “God damn it!” during the broadcast and you could see him yelling “F*ck you!” at Pelfrey as he walked to first base.

The benches cleared and Mike Jacobs was the only player being restrained from going after someone. During the next few innings you could see Ross yelling at Pelfrey from the Marlins bench.

It didn’t look like Pelfrey was trying to hit Ross. My take is that Ross was trying to get the Marlins fired up after their devastating ninth inning loss on Friday night when Carlos Beltran hit a grand slam off Kevin Gregg. What was your take?

Mets Roster Moves- Castro, Figueroa, Cancel, and Rincon

Catcher Ramon Castro went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained quad today, and the Mets recalled Robinson Cancel from Triple-A New Orleans to replace him on the roster.

The Mets also optioned Argenis Reyes to New Orleans and purchased the contract of Nelson Figueroa. Figgy will likely replace John Maine in the rotation while he’s on the disabled list. Maine may even be lost for the season with bone spur problems in his throwing shoulder.

Figgy did a decent job in his first couple of starts for the Mets early this season. But the competition quickly caught up to him.

The Mets received pitcher Ricardo Rincon back from a loan to Mexico City. He was assigned to New Orleans.

Mets P Maine Will Need Off-Season Surgery

John Maine will require surgery in the off-season to remove a bone spur on the back of his right shoulder according to the Daily News. He isn’t able to throw between starts now because of the pain but plans to pitch the rest of the season through the pain.

It’s been obvious for some time that Maine has a medical problem. He had soreness in his forearm and then his shoulder. His velocity has been way down and he just doesn’t look like the same type of pitcher over the last month plus.

Mets Castillo Volunteers To Stay On DL

Luis Castillo, set to return for the Mets tonight, volunteered to stay on the disabled list for a few more days. Jerry Manuel told reporters last night that Castillo would start tonight’s game.

You have to wonder what’s going on here. Clearly, Manuel and Mets fans have liked the Damion Easley–Argenis Reyes tag team at second base since Castillo went on the disabled list.

Castillo can’t play any more rehab games under league rules. And he’s already back in New York. So, this leaves us wondering what the plan is. Who knows?