Where do we begin to make sense of the latest calamities to befall our team? Let’s start with Jose Reyes.

 

I’m trying to make sense of how and when Reyes suffered this tear in his hamstring. After not hustling, J-Man sat Reyes the next day and we all rejoiced that Manuel was showing Jose who was the head Gangsta’ in Charge. But then he didn’t start the next day and we all said “WOW J-Man is going hard core on Reyes’ ass” but the word from the inner sanctum of the front t office was that Reyes had a sore leg. That was May 15^th. After that, Reyes sat out three games and then jogged a bit in LA and said he’d give it a go. So he started on May 19^th played the full game at shortstop and had a hit. Good to have you back Jose. The next night in LA, Reyes took is customary place at short and the lead off spot but something wasn’t right his leg was still bothering him and he came out of the game after one at bat. He was sent back to NY and it was revealed he had tendonitis behind his knee. The debate raged to DL or not DL, whether ‘tis nobler to let the player rest and recover or push him to the brink of making a nagging injury into a catastrophe. The Mets and their training and medical staff chose the later.

 

So instead of resting Reyes, the Mets sent him to St. Lonesome to “Rehab” (the next Mets player who gets injured should pull an Amy Winehouse and sing “I don’t wanna go to rehab, I said no, no, no) and during that rehab (or so we think because this will be covered up) Reyes suffered a torn hamstring tendon.

 

Now if I owned the Mets (how much fun would that be, not only would you never hear Sweet Caroline ever again, Neil Diamond would be permanently banned from ever coming to Gil Hodges Park that’s right I’d change the ball park’ name as my first order of business but I digress….) somebody is getting fired here. Either a trainer or a doctor or a front office person because the player who is the catalyst for my offense and my one of my top defensive players is out for what is a conservative estimate of 4-6 weeks. Was he misdiagnosed? Was it improper rehab instruction? Someone has to explain that to me and it better be convincing as their ass is on the line.     

 

Same with J.J. Putz. The guy goes from bad mechanics to a bone spur that just needs a cortisone shot to now to surgery? Com’on can we get our act together here?

 

As much as I want Omar to make a big move, I don’t want to trade any of the remaining top prospects in the organization and frankly I don’t know if he has the chips to trade with. I’m sure he’d love to move Ryan Church but what would Church bring back in return? Could you send Church back to D.C for Chrstian Guzman or to Oakland for Bobby Crosby? If you can, do it.

 

No way they want to deal off F-Mart and I never want to hear the names Bradley Holt, Jenrry Mejia , Wilmer Flores or Jefry Marte. I don’t know if any or all of these kids will turn out to be big time players but I ‘d rather keep them and make do with what we have or take on a big salary (I know Jeffy I know, what am I thinking ?) which would take less trade bait to do. Whatever, happens Omar, John Rico and Tony B have their work ahead of them as the Braves and Fish are on their heels.

 

Bravo Beltran:

 

“The reality of this is, coming here to Pittsburgh and getting swept, me, I feel embarrassed,” said Beltran, who homered and doubled in his first game since Saturday. “I don’t think it’s fun. I think we should find a way to play better and to focus more on what we need to accomplish…. “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 to 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.”

 

Finally someone stepped up in that clubhouse. I’m trying my best not to go ape shit on my boy D-Wright but if you are just going to give the same bland vanilla answers to question after games like yesterday where your club is embarrassed then it’s best to shut the fuck up.

 

 

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You think J-Man was doing a rain dance yesterday? If a team ever needed time to step back and access itself it’s the Mets. The good news yesterday was Carlos Beltran abdicating the porcelain throne to going back to being the everyday centerfielder. The bad news was Jose Reyes took himself out of an extended spring game (how long are these extended spring games and who plays in them besides the handicapped major leaguer ?)

 

Then to top of the day, the Atlanta Braves send a message that they ain’t going anywhere by pulling off a deal for Nate McClouth and telling Titan Tom Glavine to go home and make brownies.

 

The Reyes situation is a puzzling. I never question a guy who says he’s hurt but at some point, which hopefully is today when Reyes comes back to NY to see the quacks, a determination needs to be made on how this injury affects the team for the rest of the season. If this is going to be a chronic problem all season, then I’d expect Omar to quietly but out feelers for a shortstop (Miguel Tejda?) who is major league caliber. It’s ok that Omar has found some putty players like Wilson Valdez, Ramon Martinez, and Angel Pagan (before his yearly injury) but the fairy dust wears off quick with players like this. The Braves see this and look at the NL East landscape and say why not us? So out goes Titan Tom Glavine and in comes the young stud Tommy Hanson. As for us? Welcome the newest dumpster dive prize, Emil Brown.

 

Heads up news from upstate, top prospects RHP’s Bradley Holt and Jennry Meija have been promotes to Bingo and both will start this weekend. Keep you eye on Holt as he may just bypass Buffalo and go right to Flushing to offset the suckitude of Tim Redding.

 

Tonight on PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL we will discuss today’s Mets-Bucos game, the injury epidemic with the Mets and a look around the minor league system. We will be joined by Bert Sugar, who will be talking about his new book, Bert Sugar’s Baseball Hall of Fame: A Living History of America’s Greatest Game, (Running Press) You can listen live at Blog Talk Radio or listen to the podcast at PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL.   

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Mets docs say Carlos Beltran and John are NOT suffering from the Swine Flu. Are these the same doctors that OK’d Ryan Church to play with a bruised brain last year?

Just the same I’ll be wearing a mask and sprying Lysol while watching tonight’s game on SNY

Can’t get all bent out of shape over last night’s loss in fact Mets fans are in a tough tspot as the team’s roster get depleted everyday so it’s hard to get on guys but J-Man has sent a message to D-Wright in a round about way that it’s time for him to step up and put this team on his shoulders.

This kills me to write this but I commend what Mark Texieria did last night breaking up that double play and if you were honest with your Mets fan self you’d say the same thing.

Maybe Fernando Martinez not running out that pop up last week was a good thing? Seems he knows now not to take anything at this level for granted. Also good to see the vets take him under there wing as Fernando Tatis and Alex Cora has. The more F-Mart plays the more comfortable he looks at the plate and in the outfield.

Bradley Holt is on a very fast track to Flushing as he has been promtoed to Bingo and will start for the B-Mets on Friday.

 

Over at ROOTZOO TV they have up a great video interview with Darryl Strawberry where he talks about his book and answers questions sent in by viewers it’s well worth watching.

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Shades of ’07 last night as the Mets scored a bunch of runs early then the offense shout down and the bullpen , well not the entire bullpen just that Putz who pitches the 8^th, gave one away. If Saturday made you made then last night must have broke a blood vessel in your head.

 

First off, Livan Hernandez was hotter than a jalapeño after the game as he wanted to finish the inning and I have to say I can’t blame him as Livan wants to live up to his reputation as work horse. He threw 127 pitches in his last start but also got an extra days rest for this one and at 103 pitches he’s just hitting his stride.

 

But J-Man decided to make the move but he brought in his best reliever not named Rodriguez to finish the inning in Bobby Parnell. Why not bring in Brian Stokes in that spot with his exploding fastball and save Parnell for the 8^th inning? I know JJ Putz had this incredible bullpen session with Old School Dan Werthen earlier in the day but lets face it Putz is an MRI patient ready to happen. His velocity is down a bit and his pitches are as flat as stale beer so maybe that bone spur he took a shot for is effecting him? How long will it be until Putz hears the words “Dr. Andrews will see you now”

 

Outstanding work by Landon Evanson at Bugs and Cranks with this interview of Dr. Ron Taylor the standout reliever on the 1969 World Champs. Of all the Q & A’s in interview this is made my day:

 

   Who was one player, or what was one aspect of that ‘69 Mets club that has never gotten just due for their contributions to that championship? Lost in the shuffle, so to speak.

 

Jerry Grote. He was an All-Star catcher, and he was the one that made that pitching staff great.

 

What was it that Grote did that made the pitching staff great? Was it calling games or handling the staff in pressure situations? What was it that Grote did that was so important to New York’s success?

 

We had confidence in the pitches he called, we very rarely shook Jerry off. And coming into a big game, in the World Series or in the playoffs, he would go out to the mound to meet you and support you.

 

Did you see Gary Sheffield running first to third last night? My legs hurt just watching him. The 40 year old Sheff is not built for everyday wear and tear.

 

How depressing a scene was PNC Ball Park last night? Rows and rows of empty seats as far as the eye can see. I know the Pirates have stunk for almost two decades but from what you hear the ballparks is a gem so between that and the nice weather you’d think they could get at least 25,000 fans to come out to see our Metsises.

 

 

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Yeah I took the day off yesterday. So I sat in my back yard and took apart a playhouse and a slide that my kids have had since they were babies and I fired up the Webber Kettle and listened to Howie and Wayne and chilled. Maybe it was riding to Manhattan on the 7 train after a game a few weeks ago and listening to Wayne Hagin tell his stories of his days with the Oakland A’s and realizing that Hagin is a really nice guy that he is growing on me as the Mets radio guy. Yes Hagin rides the subway to work just like the rest of us slobs.

 

The cause of the stomach virus going around the Mets clubhouse has been linked to watching Tim Redding pitch. I have to think Omar is at least pondering the signing of Pedro Martinez to take Redding spot in the rotation. If Redding can’t pitch effectively his next start it’s time to cut bait.

 

What a May to remember 19-9 with a depleted roster. Just goes to show you if you can pitch, play defense and keep the brain farts to a minimum you will win baseball games.

 

I can’t figure out J J Putz. Is he physically unfit or is his head a mess? Old School Dan Werthen feels it’s just a mechanical breakdown but Omir Bench thought Putz was anxious on the mound. Between Putz and Sean Green, J-Man may have to put an extension on his Dog House although there is one spot open with Shrek sent off to Chitown.

 

I think there is better chance of Bruce Berenyi coming back to pitch for the Mets this season than Ollie Perez.

 

Cliff Floyd has just been activated from the DL by the Padres. I know he’s hurt so much his car has handicap plates but how about brining him back to the Mets and letting spell Sheffield in left and some added leadership?

 

 I don’t know what looked worse the Mets playing in the classic pinstripe uni and ruining it with that disgusting black and blue hat or Susan Boyle in a evening gown?

 

I don’t know what bad or evil thing Angle Pagan has done in his life but I think he’s paid the price already.

 

King of the Asshats, Filip Bondy has a piece on Jay Horowitz in today’s Daily News. From what you hear, Horowitz is loved by the Mets players as he protected them from the big bad media but after reading the story I find Horowitz a sad soul.

 

If 90 % of your paying customers were upset with something with your product, you’d  make a change right away, right? Then why does management continue to play Sweet Caroline when Mets fans HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

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