Category: Injuries

Mets Injury Updates: Putz, Wagner

PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Pitcher B...
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Before yesterday’s game against the D-Backs J.J. Putz spoke to the media and said that he pitched in the bullpen at Citi Field and he’s shooting for a return in about three weeks. He’s been on the disabled list for about two months after having surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow.

Billy Wagner is going to pitch again in St. Lucie today in a rehab game. He threw an inning on Friday for them as well. It looks like he’s on track to return to the Mets around the same time as Putz, at the end of the month.

Unfortunately, I think they’ll both be coming back to a team that’s out of playoff contention. But both players are really pitching for next season. Putz has a team option for next season at $8.6M with a $1M buyout. It’s highly unlikely the Mets will exercise that option. And Wagner has a team option for $8M with a $1M buyout that the Mets have already told him that they aren’t picking up.

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Mets Sheffield Returns; Cancel DFA

NEW YORK - APRIL 15: Gary Sheffield of the Ne...
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The Mets are bringing Gary Sheffield back from the disabled list for today’s game against the D-Backs. To make room on the roster, Robinson Cancel has been designated for assignment.

Sheffield hasn’t played in two weeks due to a right hamstring strain. Initially, it was referred to as a cramp. But when he didn’t play for a week the Mets put him on the DL.

The most interesting thing about him coming back is the talk of keeping light-hitting Cory Sullivan in left field. We’ll see how long that lasts. Sullivan is a quadruple-A player that’s only on the roster due to the numerous injuries the Mets have sustained. Starting him over Sheffield in left shouldn’t last long. I’ve been surprised that he’s been playing over Jeremy Reed.

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Mets Injury Updates: Billy Wagner, Jose Reyes

NEW YORK - MAY 02: Billy Wagner #13 of the Ne...
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The Mets have to be encouraged that Billy Wagner threw an inning in a minor league rehab game for the St. Lucie Mets yesterday. He threw 10 pitches and got two strikeouts and one ground ball for a clean inning. The Mets have already told Wagner that they’re not picking up his option for next season, so he must be intent on getting a contract with someone in the offseason.

It’s nice to think that the Mets could have Francisco Rodriguez, Billy Wagner, and J.J. Putz finishing off games for them late this season. The problem is that the team appears that they may be too far out of the playoff picture for it to matter.

The Mets also announced before yesterday’s game that Jose Reyes didn’t run the bases in Florida as he was supposed to. He’s still just doing some light jogging, not running full speed. The word from the team is that he may run the bases this weekend. I can’t wait to see him back with the team. He’s missed more than any of the big name players on the DL right now. The dropoff from his production to the backup players is huge. Again, he may be coming back too late for it to make a difference this season though.

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Mets Sheffield To DL; Niese Added To Roster

The Mets finally put Flickr photo courtesy of Keith AllisonGary Sheffield on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. This is after a week of sitting on the bench and taking up a roster spot without playing. Sheffield said that he felt fine and was dressed to play about two hours before the game today. At least they’re able to make the DL retroactive to July 18, so he can come back in a week.

Jon Niese was added to the roster taking Sheffield’s spot to make the start in Houston tonight. Of course, he’s starting because Fernando Nieve tore a muscle in his quad in his last start.

Flickr photo courtesy of Keith Allison
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Mets July 2009 Injuries: F-Mart, Beltran, Reyes, Delgado, Maine

Flickr photo courtesy of Keith Allison
Flickr photo courtesy of Keith Allison

The list of Mets injuries is still pretty long and includes some of the players that are key to the team having a successful season. Omar Minaya had a review of player statuses with reporters yesterday prior to the Mets return from the All-Star break in Atlanta.

Fernando Martinez: Out 6-8 weeks. He had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Carlos Beltran: He had another MRI during the All-Star break. He still has a significant bone bruise in his right knee. Team medical staff still hasn’t cleared him to begin jogging.

Jose Reyes: He’s running lightly and hitting. Reyes could be back by the end of July

John Maine: He threw live batting practice yesterday. The plan is to get him into rehab games within the next 10 days and back with the Mets by the end of July.

Carlos Delgado: He’s been hitting lightly. The plan is still for him to return in August.

The injury situation is so bad that I see it hampering the Mets motivation to make a big trade this month. There’s so much uncertainty about how these critical players will perform during this season that it doesn’t make sense to unload big prospects to make a run this season.

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Mets 2009 All-Stars Ready For Action

IMG_0295Three Mets are in St. Louis today for the mid-season festivities. David Wright will be starting at third base and hitting sixth in the National League lineup. Francisco Rodriguez is in the bullpen and it’ll be interesting to see where he gets into the game. In my mind, he should pitch the eighth inning. Trevor Hoffman should get the ninth, despite the fact that he was added because Jonathan Broxton couldn’t make it because of injury.

The Mets have asked Charlie Manuel, the NL manager, not to use Johan Santana unless it’s an emergency. So don’t plan on seeing Santana unless the game goes to extra innings. Santana just pitched on Saturday and threw seven innings against the Reds. I’d be thrilled if he didn’t make it into the game tonight at all for the Mets sake. He’s too important to risk in an exhibition game.

Of course, Carlos Beltran would have been starting in center field but he’s recovering from a bone bruise to his leg.

Enjoy the game tonight. I know that I will be. Sure, it’s an exhibition but the National League could sure use a win. It’s been a long time and the Mets could use home field advantage in the World Series this year. Right?

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Mets Injury Updates: Maine, Perez, Pagan, Wagner

John MaineThe Mets media got an update on some of the players that the Mets have on the disabled list right now. Jose Reyes, J.J. Putz, and Carlos Delgado are still in New York. They’re not rehabbing in Florida yet, so we don’t have any updates on them.

Oliver Perez threw three shutout innings in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie yesterday. He got through three innings with 48 pitches and his fastball was clocked in the low 90’s. He’s nearly pain-free and is pitching every five days now.

John Maine threw 60 pitches in a simulated game in Florida yesterday as well. He was rusty and felt a “pinch” in his right shoulder that’s been diagnosed as a pinched nerve. Maine won’t come off the disabled list next week when he’s eligible, so we have to get used to Fernando Nieve for a while.

Angel Pagan is rehabbing a right groin strain and should be back with the Mets in 10-12 days.

Billy Wagner is throwing three bullpen sessions per week. And he should start facing hitters in about two weeks.

If the Mets can get Reyes, Maine, and Perez back within a reasonable period of time they should be fine this season. If these key injuries drag on, I think that the Mets will have trouble contending for a playoff position. You can’t lose 2/5 of your starting rotation and expect to have a solid season. I just don’t see that happening.

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