Mets to announce new trainer added to staff

Dr. Gregory House will be the new trainer on the Mets staff.

It might be lupus.

Boomer & Carton on SNY?

My second favorite WFAN personalities (behind Steve Somers, of course) may be coming to a TV near you!

Neil Best reveals that Craig Carton and Boomer Esiason will have their morning radio show simulcast on SNY next Friday, possibly hinting at a future program.

Here’s what Best has to say:

Nothing is remotely imminent, but with Esiason's contract with MSG soon to expire, and with Esiason and Carton both Mets fans and friendly with Jeff Wilpon, and with Ca-Boom having explored the idea of a simulcast before, and with SNY always looking for New York-centric programming ...

Makes sense, no?

I’d watch!

Make it happen, SNY.

Ravaged by injuries

Injured and on the DL (this season):

• Oliver Perez* – Right knee tendinitis
• Carlos Delgado* – Right hip impingement
• Jose Reyes* – Calf / Torn hamstring
• Angel Pagan - Groin
• Ramon Martinez – Broken pinky
• Ryan Church* - Hamstring

Injured but playing:

• Alex Cora* – Torn ligament in thumb
• J.J. Putz* – Elbow maladies

Has suffered injury of some degree this season:

• Carlos Beltran* – Stomach virus
• Mike Pelfrey* – Forearm tendinitis
• Francisco Rodriguez* – Back spasms

*On Opening Day roster

Did I miss anyone?

Manuel’s Musing for June 4

“Seems like we've been here a month.”

-Jerry Manuel on his time in Pittsburgh.

Jose Reyes has a tear in his right hamstring tendon

Jose Reyes has been diagnosed with a tear in his right hamstring tendon, according to Kevin Burkhardt’s latest tweet.

Bart Hubbuch reports that Reyes will rest, then be reevaluated.  He is likely out until the All-Star Break.

(I wouldn’t hold my breath.)

It’s said to be “small,” but when you’re dealing with this sort of injury, size doesn’t matter.

The Mets sent out this update:

Jose Reyes today was examined by Mets team physician Dr. Struan Coleman and subsequently underwent an MRI at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery. The MRI revealed a small tear in his right hamstring tendon, a new injury. Reyes will rest for two days and then resume treatment.

** *** **

For more on the injury, here’s some info from WebMD: 

Most hamstring injuries heal without surgery. In rare cases, where there is a complete tear at the ischium, or where significant piece of ischial bone is jerked away, surgery is necessary. All other hamstrings tears are best treated without surgery.

And from eOrthopod:

The hamstring may be pulled, partially torn, or completely torn. The injury can happen at the musculotendinous junction (mentioned earlier), within the muscle, or where the tendon connects on the ischial tuberosity (avulsion). In the rare case of a complete tear, the pain is excruciating. The torn tissues may form a hard bunch in the back of the thigh when the leg is bent. The skin may also bruise, turning purple from bleeding under the skin. This is not necessarily dangerous but can look somewhat alarming.

And for the rehabilitation time frame:

A physical therapist or athletic trainer may oversee your rehabilitation program. For minor muscle pulls, you may need two to four weeks to safely get back to your activities. For more severe muscle tears, you may need rehabilitation for two to three months, with complete healing occurring by four to six months.

…What’s next?

Carlos Beltran stepping up and saying something

Finally, a member of the Mets comes out and says how he really feels.  Carlos Beltran expressed his feeling after the Mets fell to Pittsburgh as the Pirates completed a three-game sweep.

Relayed via Adam Rubin:

“The reality of this is coming here to Pittsburgh and getting swept, me, I feel embarrassed,” Beltran said.

And more poignantly:

“We have to play better. There’s no doubt we have to play better. I mean, we have to take this personally. It can’t happen. It can’t happen us being able to come here and lose three games just like that. It just can’t happen. Three games with this team — I know they’re a big-league ballclub, but we’re better than them. We’re better than them. And we know we’re better than them, but we have to do something about it.(Nate) McLouth wasn’t there and they still come out and score how many runs — 11? Eleven runs. We have to play better.”

It’s about time.

Don’t get me wrong.  These aren’t the words of a leader.  Beltran pretty much called out the team for their poor play, but that’s something that needs to be done.  I don’t mind Jerry Manuel, but he always seems to be afraid to say something that might irk a player on the team.  Beltran, on the other hand, sheds all disregard for other people’s emotions and said something.

No more dancing around the subject or trying to praise everyone after a loss. 

I couldn’t be happier.  This was a long time coming.  Hopefully the players take it to heart.

Putz back to NYC to see doctor, may need surgery

Honestly, is anyone surprised?

J.J. Putz revealed after Thursday’s loss that he has been pitching in pain for the past two days.  He announced he would not be traveling with the team to Washington, instead heading back to New York City to see a doctor about his elbow issues.

Putz has already gotten a cortisone shot for the bone spur in his elbow this season. 

Surgery is very likely Putz’s only option.

What should be called into question here is the evaluation of Putz before he came to the Mets.  Was he entirely healthy at the time of the trade?  Had he told the Mets everything that may have been ailing him?  Did the Mets do thorough enough of a job checking on Putz’s arm?

There are lots of questions here that may never be answered.

At this point, was the trade worth it?

Game Recap: Pirates 11 – Mets 6

Six runs on 10 hits should win you a baseball game.  Not the case when your starting pitcher allowed nine runs in 3 2-3 innings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (25-28) beat the New York Mets (28-24) by a score of 11-6.

Mike Pelfrey didn’t get off to a great start and never recovered.  Pelfrey allowed six hits and let in four runs in first inning alone.  He lasted only 3 2-3 innings, giving up nine hits and nine run total.  Eight of those runs were earned.  Pelfrey walked four and struck out three.

Sean Green turned in two innings of no-hit baseball, striking out one.  His ERA now stands at 5.96.

J.J. Putz entered for the seventh inning and allowed two runs to score on three hits, including a triple deep to right-center field by light-hitting Nyjer Morgan.

The Mets did get encouraging performances from Carlos Beltran and David Wright.  Beltran, returning from many days lost to the stomach virus, went 2-4 with a double and solo home run.  Wright reached base four times, with two walks, a single and an RBI double.

Fernando Martinez also picked up two hits, including an RBI double in the fifth inning.

A Keith-ism for the ages

This is just too good to pass up… “What a great player.  And he could fly...”

-Keith Hernandez's poor choice of words
while discussing Roberto Clemente.

Game Chat: NYM @ PIT [Game 3]

Join in for a day-game chat with some fellow Mets fans as the team tries to salvage the series in Pittsburgh.

(Chat removed, as usual.)