Mets P John Maine Will Miss One Start

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 13: John Maine #33 of the ...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

John Maine was diagnosed with a mild rotator cuff strain and will miss his next scheduled start. The Mets are off Monday before playing 23 consecutive games. So they should be able to work the off day into the plan without needing to find another starter to take Maine’s place.

Maine was pulled from his last start on Monday in Miami during the fifth inning due to the shoulder pain he was experiencing. As I’ve written before, it was a good decision by Jerry Manuel to pull him early from the game. Maine is one of the most valuable players the Mets have due to his skill, age, and contract status.

Maine told reporters that he feels good after not throwing for three straight days. His plan going forward is for light throwing today and working off the mound in Houston tomorrow.

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Report: Dan Murphy Being Called Up Today

Adam Rubin of the Daily News is reporting that Triple-A player Dan Murphy is being called up for tonight’s game in Houston. There’s no mention of who’s roster spot he’ll take. I would assume it’ll be Nick Evans. Evans hasn’t been playing much and there’s no sense in keeping a young player on the big league roster to sit on the bench. Evans has looked overmatched by big league pitching at times hitting .244/ .286/ .333 so far this season.

Murphy was just promoted from Binghamton to New Orleans and only lasted there one day. More news to come on which player on the active roster will be moved to make room for Murphy.

Astros Grand Slam Does In Mets 7-3

There are several story lines in this game but the biggest is the grand slam by Mark Loretta in the eighth inning off Aaron Heilman. That broke the 3-3 tie and sunk the Mets. Heilman was victimized badly by home runs early in the season but seemed to have worked out his problems until tonight. I think they’re leaning too hard on Heilman to go multiple innings now. Manuel needs to do a better job of working more relievers into the game. There’s no true long man in the bullpen so Manuel needs to make an adjustment.

Another story line is that the Mets had ten hits in this game. They had several opportunities to score though, leaving seven runners on base. Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes both went 2 for 4 but the Mets couldn’t capitalize on several opportunities.

A side note is that Damion Easley made several stellar plays at second base. He made a great turn for a double play, and a great sliding stop and throw to first from his knees. The Mets haven’t missed Luis Castillo at all. Easley and Argenis Reyes have both played really well since Castillo’s been out.

Pedro Martinez was fair tonight, kind of like he has been for most of his starts. He went five innings giving up three runs. That’s a typical game for him now. Jerry Manuel was going to limit him to 80 pitches and he ended up going for 87 (49 strikes). The runs he gave up were on three solo homers, including one to the Astros pitcher Brandon Backe. Granted, Backe is a good hitter but that still shouldn’t happen. Kaz Matsui led off the game with a homer too.

The Phillies lost tonight too so the Mets won’t lose any ground in the NL East.

Box score

Video Highlights

Minor League Mets- Murphy, Niese, Armas and Knight

Double-A Binghamton outfielder Dan Murphy was promoted to Triple-A New Orleans. It’s a well deserved promotion for Murphy. He hit .308 with 13 HR and 67 RBI’s at Binghamton. He’s definitely a candidate to make a contribution at the big league level late this season or next year.

Double-A pitcher Jon Niese was promoted to Triple-A New Orleans and may be a candidate to make a spot start for the big club next week. The Mets will need a starter on August 11th and Niese may get the call against Pittsburgh in a makeup game.

Tony Armas, Jr. is scheduled to have hernia surgery this week.

USA Olympian Brandon Knight has cleared waivers and is being assigned back to Triple-A New Orleans. He’s with the Olympic team now in California.

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El Duque Isn’t Close To Returning- No Surprise

MIAMI - APRIL 18: Pitcher Orlando Hernandez #2...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I haven’t heard a word about Orlando Hernandez in quite some time. A couple of weeks ago he left a rehab game with Binghamton because of pain in his right foot. The same foot that’s been bothering him since last season because of a bunion.

Adam Rubin of the Daily News reports that Mets vice president Tony Bernazard told him that El Duque isn’t close to returning. He hasn’t pitched off a mound since leaving the game with Binghamton. They’re waiting for a special shoe to be built for El Duque.

It’s August already, so I’m not counting on getting anything out of El Duque this season. Fortunately, it’s the last season of his contract with the Mets. So he’ll be gone next year and the $6 million that he’s making can be put into a productive player.

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