Our Alou preview has ended

Moises Alou is heading to the disabled list, this time with a strain in his left calf.

How long did you really expect him to play? The Mets must enter 25 more cents to get another two weeks of play out of him.

The player being brought up to replace him on the roster is Raul Casanova.

This is one of the most confusing roster shuffles I've ever seen. Adding to the craziness, with Ryan Church still sitting out, Damion Easley is also unavailable tonight, as he is attending his sons high school graduation.

It should be interesting to see how Willie Randolph handles the team tonight.

Pedro playing at least two more years

Even though he said he was considering retirement after this season earlier this week, Pedro Martinez now claims he wants to play at least two more years.

From ESPN:

"I feel great physically and for the record I haven't considered retirement. Retirement would only take place if my arm is badly hurt and if I have to face surgery or something near that nature," Martinez told ESPNdeportes.com

Unfortunately, I highly doubt he'll be going it with the Mets. I could see the team picking him up for another year, or even two, but he has to truly prove he's still got it and can stay healthy. But again, I doubt it will happen.

Here is something to be happy about, again from ESPN:

"I'm completing the workouts and doing a great job. My arm feels excellent and the speed is showing, throwing well over the 90 miles-per-hour mark," Martinez said.

Great news. Just stay on track and stay healthy. This team needs his charisma and character back in the clubhouse and his talent on the field.

Poll: Keep Delgy on the field

After a long delay for no apparent reason, here are the results from the latest poll:

Where do you stand on Carlos Delgado?
Keep him: 60% (41 votes)
Cut him: 20% (14 votes)
Trade him: 13% (9 votes)
Bench him: 5% (4 votes)

I find it hilarious 14 people want to outright cut him. Delgado has gotten a tad bit better since this poll was posted, but he's quickly writing his ticket out of New York after this season is over with his play.

Next poll: Should the Mets fire Willie Randolph?

Going to baseball games is dangerous

Another fan fell and died while attending a Mets game, this time in Atlanta, GA.

From the AP:

Authorities have identified the 25-year-old man who died after falling about 150 feet down a stairwell at Turner Field.

The senior investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, Mark Guilbeau, said Thursday that the man who fell was Justin Hayes of Cumming. Guilbeau says an autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.

Authorities say the man fell during the eighth inning of Wednesday night's
game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets.

Braves spokesman Brad Hainje said the man apparently fell from the club level to the landing on the stairwell on the field level.

Campbell says the man may have been sliding down the hand rails when he fell.

Two deaths, both from apparently sliding on hand rails. People, if you're going to a Mets game, either home or away, steer cleer of the hand rails and take the stairs.

That didn't take long: Alou heading back to NY

Moises Alou took himself out of the game last night and was diagnosed with a cramp in his calf.

He's now en route back to New York to have an MRI taken on the calf, as it might be more than a cramp, possibly a mild strain.

Alou just cannot stay healthy, and it stinks because he's a professional hitter and this team just can't seem to hit over the last three games. They're going to miss him.

TSTDIA: Braves 11 -- Mets 4

Happy trails, Willie Randolph as your fate is being sealed with each loss.

Alou leaves game

Moises Alou took a long, slow walk in from left field, taking himself out of the game.

He was not limping, so it might just be a stomach issue or something to that effect. Hopefully.

Update: It's a cramp in his left leg, per SNY.

That makes me breath a little easier.

Pedro and Church; One goes into a hospital, the other comes out of one

Pedro Martinez was scheduled to throw a bullpen session today at Turner Field in Atlanta as he inches his way closer to returning to the Mets rotation. Plans for the session were scrapped when Martinez learned via phone call that his ailing father suffered a setback in the Dominican Republic.

Pedro's father, Pablo, is suffering from brain cancer. My thoughts go out to Pedro and his family.

The Mets are looking for Martinez to make his return possibly as early as next week when the LA Dodgers come to Shea.

I'd love to see Pedro back so soon, but I don't want the team to rush anything and possibly lose him for an even longer amount of time.

~~~~~

Ryan Church, most likely still a bit dazed and confused after taking a knee to the skull last night, has been released from the hospital and will report to the stadium on time today, thought almost definitely will not play.

He's currently listed as "day-to-day" or in other words, "sitting on the bench all the time, but not going on the DL, therefore taking up a spot on the roster and not allowing another player to come up even if he can't play."

If you couldn't tell, I hate that term.

Hopefully Church will make a quick recovery. This lineup desperately needs his bat.

Wave goodbye to Willie

After all Willie Randolph's latest comments on race and SNY, I get the feeling the Mets are beginning to search for a replacement.

Randolph's days are numbered.

Who do you want to replace Randolph if/when he is fired?

Ding dong! Church has his bell rung

I had to.

The Mets are in bad shape. After looking so hopeful after sweeping the Subway Series in the Bronx, the Mets offense turned about-face on Tuesday, managing only three runs through 18 innings.

To cap it all off, the Mets MVP so far, Ryan Church, took a knee to the head on the final play of game two, capping off a terrible day for the Mets in Atlanta.

Church slammed into Yunel Escobar's knee as he slid into second and Escobar turned the game ending double play. Church stayed on the ground a while, bloodied and dazed. He is reported to have suffered a mild concussion, very reminiscent of his collision with Marlon Anderson back on March 1.

Hopefully Church will only miss a few days, but the way this team's luck has fared this season, I'm sure he will be out for longer.

Just out luck, right?