Category: Roster

Pedro’s Bullpen The Story Of The Game

Pedro Martinez waves goodbye after signing som...Image via Wikipedia

The 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.

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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.

Report: Pelfrey Is Still Mediocre

PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 6: Mike Pelfrey #34 of the ...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I read an interesting post by Peter Bendix of Beyond The Boxscore about Mike Pelfrey. Basically, the gist of it is that Pelfrey has dominated bad offensive teams but struggled against good teams. The conclusion is that he hasn’t really figured anything out or turned a corner this season. He’s just beating up on bad teams.

I hadn’t really thought about the level of competition while watching Pelfrey dominate in his starts since May 31st. He looks like he can get anyone out, regardless of their offensive stature. But I’ll certainly be keeping a closer eye on that in the second half of the season.

It looks to me like he’s taken a little bit off his fastball to improve control. He’s throwing a higher percentage of fastballs. He’s mixes in an occasional curveball and he’s throwing a lot of rising four seam fastballs at the top of the strike zone. Those are tangible changes to his strategy over the past month and a half.

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Pelfrey NL Player of The Week

PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 6: Mike Pelfrey #34 of the ...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Mike Pelfrey was named the National League player of the week. The New York Mets pitcher has won six consecutive games and has a 2.26 ERA in his last nine starts. Pelfrey has just been phenomenal for the last month and a half. I know that this run started under the tutelage of Rick Peterson but new pitching coach Dan Warthen has clearly had a tangible impact on the Mets pitching staff.

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Ryan Church- Good News On Head Injury

Mets outfielder Ryan Church got some good news after visiting the Cleveland Clinic this week for examinations. He’s on the disabled list again after suffering headaches and dizziness. There’s been some question as to whether the symptoms are due to post concussion syndrome or migraines.

The doctors at the Cleveland Clinic determined that migraines are the cause of his symptoms and have put him on a program of exercise and stretching for his neck to relieve the pain he’s experiencing.

That’s great news for Church and the Mets. The Mets need him now more than ever with Moises Alou gone for the season with a hamstring tear.

Mets News- El Duque

Orlando Hernandez is rehabbing in Port St. Lucie and plans to make two more starts before re-joining the Mets. He hasn’t pitched at all this season with toe and bunion problems. At this point, he won’t be able to crack the Mets starting rotation so he’ll be working out of the bullpen when he gets back in about two weeks.