Ryan Church will resume his baseball activities today by taking batting practice with the team in Florida. The plan is for him to play some rehab games in Port St. Lucie this week and get back to the team, and off the disabled list, next week against San Diego. He’s been recovering from post concussion syndrome and hasn’t played a game since July 5th.
Category: Injuries
Mets Pitcher John Maine Leaves Game Injured
John Maine was pulled in the fifth inning tonight by manager Jerry Manuel after experiencing stiffness in his shoulder. Manuel told reporters after the game that pitching coach Dan Warthen told him that Maine’s shoulder was stiff.
Warthen told Manuel that he didn’t like what he saw in Maine’s mechanics in the fifth inning so Manuel went out with a trainer to talk to him. Maine asked to stay in the game and promptly gave up a homer to Marlins catcher John Baker. It was a fastball right down the pipe.
That was it for Maine’s night. He was pulled immediately. Manuel said after the game that Maine will fly back to New York to have his shoulder looked at by doctors. That will determine whether he can make his next scheduled start in Houston on Sunday. Manuel said that if there’s any pain at all Maine won’t pitch Sunday.
The Mets have to be extremely cautious with Maine. He’s a young, talented pitcher that isn’t making much money yet. That’s about the most valuable type of player a team can have. It was smart of Manuel not to take any chances with Maine’s health.
Billy Wagner Is Day To Day With Shoulder Spasms
Image by Getty Images via DaylifeWFAN beat reporter Eddie Coleman just reported that Mets closer Billy Wagner is day to day with shoulder spasms. He had an MRI that didn’t reveal any structural problems with his left shoulder.
Coleman said that he believes that Wagner will be available to pitch tonight.
Great news for the Mets! Duaner Sanchez could handle closing but I’m much more comfortable with Wagner closing and Sanchez in the eighth inning, especially for this huge series against the Phillies.
Mets Injury News- Wagner, Church
Image by Getty Images via DaylifeI’m sure that you saw Jerry Manuel go out to the mound yesterday with trainer Ray Ramirez to talk to Billy Wagner. Wagner appeared surprised that Manuel was there to see him. Apparently, Wagner had some tightness in his throwing shoulder while warming up yesterday. There have been contradictory reports about whether Wagner’s having an MRI today or not. The latest news is that he felt better on the plane last night and he’s only going to see a doctor today if he wakes up and feels any pain or stiffness.
Today’s the big pow wow for everyone involved in the Ryan Church head injury saga. There’s been word that there are some differing opinions among the medical people that he’s seen on how to handle the situation. Church wants to come off the disabled list tomorrow for the Phillies series. But the Mets are playing it cautiously (after not doing so originally). That gets up to today. Everyone involved in Church’s medical care regarding his post concussion syndrome/migraine problem is meeting to determine the course of action for him.
Pedro’s Bullpen The Story Of The Game
Image via WikipediaThe biggest story of the Mets game wasn’t the game. It was Pedro Martinez throwing a bullpen session during the game. He’s trying to recover from hip, groin, and shoulder pain and had a cortisone shot in his hip just days ago.
Last night the word came from Jerry Manuel after the game that Pedro won’t pitch against the Phillies this week. The plan is for him to pitch in next weekend’s series against the Cardinals. Pedro did feel good after throwing last night though, the first time he’s thrown since his last start on July 12th.
“OK, for the time being,” Martinez said. “I’d say it’s a positive day. We’re going to see how it feels tomorrow.”
He’s pitched so poorly this season (3-2 6.25 ERA) and missed so much time with injuries that it’s really been a wasted season for Pedro. Unfortunately, this is the last season he’s under contract with the Mets. So his pre-season comments about proving his health and ability to gain another deal with the Mets is seriously in question.
It would take a big run by Pedro in the last two months of the season to warrant the Mets offering Pedro a contract beyond the end of this year. He’s a definite Hall of Famer but he’s been hurting the Mets for more than two years now.
Mets Injury News- El Duque, Pagan, Nixon
The Mets injury list is a deep one and is certainly casting shadows over the Mets needs at the non-waiver trading deadline. Here’s the latest:
- El Duque- Another setback with his right foot. After leaving the game in Binghamton after one inning because of discomfort in his foot, he visited a doctor in New York about the problem again. The Mets will have a shoe specially made for him and orthotics to try to relieve the pain he’s experiencing.
- Angel Pagan- It looks like he’s done for the year with a torn labrum in his shoulder. He’s going for a second opinion but the initial diagnosis is that he needs season ending shoulder surgery.
- Trot Nixon- Unconfirmed reports that he’s done for the season due to a hernia operation.
With Pagan and Nixon possibly out for the year, and Ryan Church a serious question mark, the Mets will probably need to jump into the corner outfield market before the trading deadline. I would assume that they would go with a B-level player as opposed to emptying the top prospects for a Jason Bay or Xavier Nady type of player.
Mets Injury Updates: Pedro, Pagan, El Duque, Church
It’s a good thing that the Mets are playing so well right now because the injury news isn’t very good.
- El Duque- He left his start in Binghamton after one inning because of some pain in his foot. It’s the same foot that’s been bothering him because of a bunion and toe ligament problem.
- Angel Pagan- He had pain in his left shoulder during a game in Brooklyn. That’s the shoulder that he injured in May in Los Angeles.
- Pedro Martinez- He got a cortisone shot in his hip and will have his next start pushed back. Mike Pelfrey will move up to take his start. So Pedro should start on Tuesday.
- Ryan Church- He wants to come off the disabled list on Tuesday when he’s eligible. But Jerry Manuel told reporters that the team will be cautious and Church probably won’t be back that quickly.
The Mets Report 