J.J. Putz to have surgery, out 8-10 weeks

As expected, J.J. Putz will undergo surgery on his right elbow, according to WFAN.  Putz will have surgery on Tuesday.  It will likely keep him out for 8-10 weeks.

Update – 4:04 p.m.: Bart Hubbuch relays that Omar Minaya has now bumped it to 10 weeks minimum for Putz.

Putz, who was recently “demoted” to the 7th inning by Jerry Manuel, has been struggling with a bone spur in his elbow.  He received a cortisone shot in his arm and pitched well after, but since that wore off, the results have been messy.

According to Kevin Burkhardt, Omar Minaya will address the media at 4 p.m.  The team is currently touring Walter Reed Medical Center.

How appropriate.

As for who might replace him, Elmer Dessens is sporting a 1.29 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with Triple-A Buffalo.  In 28 innings, he’s allowed 18 hits and four runs.  He’s walked six and struck out 20.

** *** **

For more info on a bone spur, here’s my WebMD link for the day:

A bone spur forms as the body tries to repair itself by building extra bone. It generally forms in response to pressure, rubbing, or stress that continues over a long period of time.
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Bone spurs can be surgically removed or treated as part of a surgery to repair or replace a joint when osteoarthritis has caused considerable damage and deformity. Examples might include repair of a bunion or heel spur in the foot or removal of small spurs underneath the point of the shoulder.

Do the Mets need to make a move? [Shortstop]

The first in a series of posts looking at the Mets and if they need to make a trade.  Am I pulling the emergency lever too soon?  Maybe, but it needs to be discussed.

With Jose Reyes is likely out until the All-Star Break, meaning the Mets must rely on Alex Cora and Wilson Valdez to carry them at short.  Can they manage? 

So far, Cora has been pretty good.  He is playing through injury, with a torn ligament in his thumb, so that might be something to keep an eye on.  Valdez is more known for his glove, though he’s already picked up four hits and three RBI in 13 at bats. 

Don’t expect either of those to continue.  Cora is a backup and Valdez can’t hit a lick.  The Mets might be interested in making a move, and a few are seemingly available.  Jack Wilson from Pittsburgh is an interesting option, especially since the team seems to be in a selling-mode.  The Pirates didn’t take much for All-Star Nate McLouth, the Mets might be able to get a bargain on Wilson.

The question here, like above, is what happens when Reyes is ready to return.  Wilson is a starting shortstop and outside of last year, has played over 135 games since 2002.  If Reyes is slotted to come back sometime in July, maybe the Mets can’t trade Wilson elsewhere when he returns. 

Above all, I’d like to see the Mets make a play for Mark DeRosa.  He’s a utility infielder, playing at all infield positions and both corner outfield spots.  The Cleveland Indians are tanking and DeRosa is supposedly being shopped around.  DeRosa is batting .264 / .332 / .433 in 2009, playing a majority time at third base. 

This is likely the most logical move for the Mets, as he can play almost any position.

With one of these trades Cora could be slotted back into his backup role for Reyes and Luis Castillo, who needs days off.

I don’t think the Mets can make it by with just Cora and Valdez splitting time, especially for the amount of time Reyes is supposed to miss.  I think the Mets may be best suited to trade for DeRosa, and if not, for Wilson, to fill in while Reyes is out.

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.