Mets: Carlos Beltran medical update

Here’s the medical update press release from the Mets…

FLUSHING, N.Y., January 13, 2010 -- Mets centerfielder Carlos Beltran had worsening of osteoarthritis of the right knee during the offseason. He had not been experiencing pain following the conclusion of the season and into his early offseason conditioning. The symptoms returned to the point where pre-spring training conditioning became too painful.

He elected to undergo arthroscopic clean out of the arthritic area of his knee by Beltran's personal physician Dr. Richard Steadman today in Colorado. He is anticipated to return to baseball activities in 12 weeks.

Emphasis mine.

Update: Beltran underwent ‘minor’ knee surgery without Mets permission, out 8-12 weeks

Update – 10:44 p.m.: Info from Kevin Burkhardt: “Mets knew about this, but didn't agree with surgery.”

Update – 10:16 p.m.: Joel Sherman: “Mets are definitely claiming Beltran procedure done without their blessing, and are threatening some form of action.”

Not good.

Update – 10:01 p.m.: Two things: Twelve weeks from now is April 7, the second game of the season.  But that’s when his spring training will begin.  So don’t expect Beltran until the second month of the season.

Kevin Burkhardt, on SNY, also reports that the surgery may have been done without the Mets blessing.

Update – 9:54 p.m.: Steve Popper says out 12 weeks and performed by doctor that invented microfracture surgery.  Joel Sherman said Beltran’s knee worsened during the offseason and had surgery in Colorado today due to osteoarthritis.

Update – 9:49 p.m.: Another Sherman update.  Says it wasn’t microfracture, as Heyman reported.

Update – 9:46 p.m.: Sherman’s source says “scope clean up.”  Then Sherman writes “but Mets are acting like this was more than routine.”

Original post: According to Sports Illustrated, Carlos Beltran underwent “minor” knee surgery earlier today.

He will miss 8-12 weeks, according to the report.

Joel Sherman heard that Beltran may have gone through with the surgery without the Mets permission.

A few questions raised from the Beltran news

Does anyone trust the Mets medical staff?

Did the Mets say not to get it or was this all on his own?

How bad was the pain?

Will there be any repercussions for Beltran?

Will the Mets make a deal even if they have Angel Pagan?

Endy Chavez? Rick Ankiel? Randy Winn? Other?

What does the lineup look like without Beltran for the first month or so?

Bad news coming for the Mets?

Update – 9:36 p.m.:

Update – 9:33 p.m.: Steve Popper confirms there is news coming tonight and it is “bad.”

Brian Costa says it is not an injury to Jose Reyes or Johan Santana. That still leaves Carlos Beltran, though.

Original post:

Jose Reyes? Carlos Beltran? Something non-player related?
What do you think?

2009 MotY Final Four: Johan Santana vs Angel Pagan

Here is the second matchup in the 2009 Met of the Year Final Four…

Voting ends Friday at 10 a.m.

With 77 percent of the vote, David Wright advanced into the Championship Round.  He will face the winner of this matchup.

Mets closing in on Molina?

Yesterday, I wrote that Bengie Molina lowered his demands and was willing to take a two-year deal.  In today’s NY Post, Mike Puma backs up this statement.

Last night, Tim Kurkjian of ESPN said that Molina and the Mets could have an agreement within “the next 48 to 72 hours.”

It seems inevitable at this point.  No other team has shown a real interest in signing Molina and the Mets seem to have him near the top of their wishlist.  It seems to be just a matter of time.

Regarding Fernando Martinez [Quote]

“The guy was the equivalent of a college sophomore last year. If a college sophomore got drafted and hit .290/.337/.540 in Triple-A,
people would be drooling over him.”

-John Sickels on Fernando Martinez

Molina lowers asking price

Bengie Molina, one of the Mets targets from the start, has lowered his asking price according to FOX Sports.

Molina, who had been holding at three years, is now “willing to sign for two years.”

Jon Paul Morosi writes that this raises “the likelihood of a long-expected union with the New York Mets.”

This isn’t exactly new news, as the Mets have seemed unwillingly to go three years on Molina.  The Mets are believed to have offered two years to Molina and have been rumored to offer a one year contract plus an option for a second.

Now that Molina is willing to sign for two years, the marriage between the team and the player are one step closer to a deal.

The fake Mets [Twitter]

Not all are funny, but they are all fake.  

On Twitter, there is a collection of “fake” accounts ranging from the Mets front office to the owners and manager.

Here’s a list of all them, with one of their better tweets so you know what to expect…

@FakeFredWilpon

The Royals have signed Vance Wilson. The rich are getting richer. If I had known he was still playing we would have been in on the bidding.

@JeffWilponNYM

Don't tell him: We've promised Orlando Hudson if he signed w/ Mets we'd get a river named after him.

@FauxmarMinaya

Overheard kids on train last nite talking about going to see the ball drop. Told them I appreciated their support but to check back in April

@FakeOmarMinaya_

My real plan is to bring players into the organization that are injury prone and old. I just want to test the new medical team.

@NotJerryManuel

I got a bad feeling Leno replaces Conan, Conan replaces Fallon, Fallon replaces Daly and Carson Daly replaces me.

@FakeJayHorwitz

More 2010 Mets slogan options: "Not 2009!" "Citi Field: Still sorta new" "Shake Shack is yummy" Thoughts?

@MetsOfficials

Bay passed his physical! Turns out he only has two concussions and a torn ACL. That's like a paper cut around here.

Link: Interview with the ‘I Hate the Mets the Most’ dudes

The other day I posted a video entitled “I Hate the Mets the Most” by two guys from down south.

Will Sommer contacted the two men, known as the Tomahawk Dudes and conducted a little Q&A.

Here’s the gem…

Sommer: Why so much hate on the Mets? Why not the Phillies? After all they are the best team in the East.

Tomahawk Dudes: There is a pretty simple reason as to why we chose the Mets. The Mets have always been the biggest rival for the Braves and it is a given that if you are a Braves fan, you hate the Mets, period. As you may know, there are some of the best rivalries in the South. It’s just like if you are a Georgia Bulldog fan, you are going to hate the Florida Gators. We do not like the Phillies, Marlins, or Nationals either but as the song illustrates, we just hate the Mets the Most. We think a lot of the hatred between these two ball clubs spawns from their history. From all the close games, to playoff battles, controversy on the diamond is no stranger between these two teams. We know that every time the Braves travel to Citi Field that #10 for the Braves will step into the batter box and the “Larry Chant” will soon follow. Also, when the Mets take the trip to Turner Field, it is a given that the stadium will be filled to capacity with die-hard Braves fans.  We just know as loyal Braves fans that if someone asks a “true Braves fan” who is the Braves’ biggest rival; it is going to be the Mets nine times out of ten.

For the rest of the interview, head over to Mets Fans Forever.