Mets Daily Notes

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News from the 26th of March.

Duaner Sanchez is headed for a second surgery on his surgically repaired right shoulder, a source told the New York Daily News.
It's still unknown what the actual problem with the shoulder is. Sanchez had a setback last week as he continued his rehab from a separated right shoulder.

The MRI on Duaner Sanchez's shoulder showed a small fracture in the area. He'll need surgery to insert a screw, and he's expected to miss at least three or four months.
GM Omar Minaya said Sanchez could rehab in another 6-8 weeks, and it would be another 6-8 weeks after that until he could get in a game. He'll need to begin a rehab assignment then, so he may not rejoin the Mets before August. The club will have to go with Aaron Heilman as the top setup man until then.

Mets optioned RHP Jorge Sosa to Triple-A New Orleans.
Sosa is guaranteed $1.25 million this season, but he'll be earning his money in Triple-A initially. If he works through his issues, he'll eventually be an upgrade over Aaron Sele in middle relief.

Chan Ho Park allowed two runs in an inning Monday in his first appearance since being moved to the bullpen.
Matt Kemp's homer accounted for both runs. Park is expected to make the Mets as a reliever, but the team could change its mind if he adjusts poorly this week. He's already made it pretty clear that he'd prefer to start.

Jose Valentin went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI Monday in the Mets' 6-5 win over the Dodgers.
Valentin is batting .341 with two homers and 11 RBI in 44 at-bats. It'd be for the best if he sat in favor of Damion Easley against most left-handers this year, but he might be an everyday player while he's hot.

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News from the 27th of March.

Lastings Milledge (hand) said Monday that he's "a little iffy" about whether he'll be ready to play when the Mets begin the season Sunday.
"Sometimes contusions take just as long. You never know," Milledge said. "It's kind of like either five days or two weeks. At least you know when it's broken you have six weeks to go." If Milledge is unable to begin the season on time, Ben Johnson could claim a roster spot.

Jose Valentin left the Mets on Tuesday to attend a funeral in Puerto Rico.
He'll likely be back on Wednesday or Thursday.

Mets GM Omar Minaya said Tuesday that Lastings Milledge could still win a spot on the Opening Day roster despite missing recent games with a bruised right hand.
As long as Milledge thinks he'll be healthy enough to play on Sunday night, it sounds like the Mets will carry the youngster, at least for a little while. There's not going to be room for both Milledge and Shawn Green on the roster for very long.

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News from the 28th of March.

Jon Adkins was pounded for five runs in two innings by the Braves in a start on Wednesday.
Good news for the Mets. It already looked like Adkins wouldn't have a spot on the team, and the ugly outing today makes it more likely that he'll get through waivers. Adkins has given up 17 runs -- 15 earned -- in 13 innings.

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News from the 29th of March.

Manager Willie Randolph indicated Wednesday that the Mets may look to Ambiorix Burgos as the replacement for Duaner Sanchez.
"He fits in nicely, especially with Sánchez not being here," Randolph said. "He gives us a power arm, and it seems like he’s developing consistency." If Burgos makes the team, it's likely that either Aaron Sele or Chan Ho Park will not.

Carlos Delgado rejoined the Mets on Thursday after missing day six days for the birth of his child.
"They don't have a batting cage at the hospital," Delgado said. "It's going to be a little rusty, but what are you going to do?" He does expect to be in the starting lineup for Sunday's opener.

Endy Chavez went 3-for-3 on Thursday and is batting .373 this spring.
With all the Lastings Milledge talk, it seems to have been forgotten that Chavez was also a better player than Shawn Green last year and is the far superior defender. He'll probably get 350-400 at-bats regardless of who begins the year as the Mets' right fielder.

David Newhan went 4-for-4 with two homers, a double and a walk Thursday against the Dodgers.
The homers came off Joe Mays and Casey Hoorebelke, two guys he doesn't figure to face during the regular season. Newhan will make the Mets as a bench player, but he's not going to make much of a contribution on offense. There are enough better players ahead of him that he shouldn't have any fantasy value.

John Maine won for the first time this spring by holding the Dodgers to two runs in six innings on Thursday.
Maine, the Mets' No. 3 starter, didn't have to face a single regular today. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out five versus one bench player (Marlon Anderson) and minor leaguers.

Lastings Milledge, who missed three days with a bruised hand, went 1-for-2 with an RBI after entering Thursday's game.
He's healthy, giving him a chance, but whether Milledge makes the Mets could be a last-minute decision.

Mets optioned OF Ben Johnson and INF Anderson Hernandez to Triple-A New Orleans; reassigned 2B Ruben Gotay, 1B Mike Carp, C Sandy Alomar, Jr., C Mike DiFelice and RHP Lino Urdaneta to minor league camp.
Johnson's power would have been an asset off the bench, but the Mets favored David Newhan going in and Johnson slumped during the second half of March. Alomar went 2-for-17 this spring.

Mets sent RHP Jorge Sosa outright to Triple-A New Orleans.
Sosa's $1.25 million salary guaranteed that he wouldn't be claimed off waivers. He was eliminated from competition for a bullpen spot last weekend.

Mets purchased the contracts of RHP Joe Smith and RHP Aaron Sele.
Both will be in the bullpen to start the year. The Mets still have one spot left for Chan Ho Park, Ambiorix Burgos or Jon Adkins. It's possible they'll keep two of them and have Mike Pelfrey make a start in Triple-A at the beginning of the month.

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News from the 30th of March.

The final Mets bullpen spot is reportedly coming down to Ambiorix Burgos or Chan Ho Park.
Mike Pelfrey beat Park out for the final spot in the starting rotation last week, and based on the way manager Willie Randolph was raving about Burgos' recent two scoreless inning-outing, it doesn't look good for Park. He would be owed $147,541 if he's released.

Mike Pelfrey is expected to remain in Port St. Lucie participating in extended spring training rather go to Triple-A.
The Mets don't need a fifth starter for about two weeks, so Pelfrey won't be on the Opening Day 25-man roster. He is scheduled to start on April 13 against the Nationals.

Mets sent RHP Jon Adkins outright to Triple-A New Orleans.
With a 10.38 ERA in 13 innings, Adkins was bad enough to clear waivers. He'll likely see time in the majors with the Mets or another team this year, but he's not a great option as far as 12th pitchers go.

Mets optioned RHP Chan Ho Park to Triple-A New Orleans.
Park could have chosen his release instead. We're guessing he was told he'd be used as a starter in Triple-A, because as upset as he was about getting moved to the pen last week, it's hard to believe he'd accept the assignment to work in relief. The move means that the Mets will carry both Ambiorix Burgos and Lastings Milledge, with Milledge a possibility to get sent down when Mike Pelfrey is added as the fifth starter.

Back in the fifth spot in the order, David Wright walked twice and drove in two runs Friday in the win over the Marlins.
Was Willie Randolph just teasing us all spring? Wright could be a mainstay in the fifth spot despite hitting second almost all month long. Paul Lo Duca hit second today, just like he did throughout 2006, and went 0-for-3, leaving him with a .196 average.

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News from the 31st of March.

Manager Willie Randolph announced that Lastings Milledge has made the 25-man roster.
Shawn Green, who hit just .153 this spring, will be the Mets' starting right fielder, but Milledge figures to play against left-handers. "A lot of people expect a lot of things out of me," he said. "Right now I'm on the team. I have a spot. And I'm grateful. But it doesn't stop here."

Mets signed outfielder Ricky Ledee to a minor league contract.
Ledee, released by Oakland earlier this week, rejoined the organization he spent the final two months of last year with. He'll play at Triple-A Norfolk. The Mets might not need him until September.

Carlos Delgado hit his first homer of the spring Saturday in his first appearance in nine days.
Delgado had played in minor league games since returning Thursday after missing six days for the birth of his child.

Mike Pelfrey was pounded for eight runs in four innings by the Devil Rays on Saturday.
Probably not the way he wanted to go out in his first start after being named the Mets' fifth starter. Pelfrey will next pitch at Single-A St. Lucie on April 7. He's scheduled to rejoin the Mets and start on April 13.

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News from the 1st of April.

The New York Daily News reports that the Mariners have expressed some interest in trading for Chan Ho Park.
Park will start the season in Triple-A New Orleans. The Mets are hoping to deal him for another starting pitcher.

Mets optioned RHP Mike Pelfrey to Single-A St. Lucie.
Pelfrey, the Mets' No. 5 starter, will make a start for St. Lucie on Saturday before making his season debut on April 13.

Mets placed LHP Dave Williams on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 23, following neck surgery.
Williams is two months removed from surgery to repair a herniated disc. He could be ready to pitch in games by early May, but don't expect to see him back in the majors before June.

Mets placed RHP Duaner Sanchez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 23, with a broken bone in his shoulder.
Sanchez is expected to miss at least the first four months of the season, leaving Aaron Heilman as the Mets' top setup man.

Mets placed RHP Juan Padilla on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 23, following Tommy John surgery.
Padilla had a setback in his recovery 10 days ago and is about a week away from picking up a ball again. If all goes well next time, maybe he'll help the Mets in May.

Mets placed RHP Pedro Martinez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 23, following surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.
A spring without any setbacks gives hope that Martinez will be back immediately following the All-Star break or in early August.

Paul Lo Duca drove in three runs with two singles as the Mets' No. 2 hitter on Sunday night.
Just 46 more RBI until he matches last year's total. Lo Duca is likely to keep batting second, with David Wright in the fifth spot, as long as the Mets score runs. Wright might bat second on days that Ramon Castro is filling in behind the plate.

Tom Glavine held the Cardinals to one run in six innings Sunday night as the Mets kicked off the 2007 season with a 6-1 victory.
Glavine and reliever Joe Smith, who made his major league debut, both benefited from some stellar defense, most notably from Moises Alou and Jose Valentin. The Cardinals had a real shot in the eighth after getting two on with none out against Smith, but Tony La Russa, asleep at the wheel again, left Preston Wilson in to hit versus the sidearmer when he had switch-hitter Scott Spiezio available off the bench. Wilson struck out in particularly ugly fashion, and after Albert Pujols walked, Aaron Heilman came in and got Scott Rolen to ground into an inning-ending double play. Glavine allowed six hits, walked one and struck out two before departing. He's now just nine wins away from No. 300.

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News from the 2nd of April.

Paul Lo Duca received treatment on his right hand after it was hit by a foul ball during Sunday's game.
Lo Duca said the injury wasn't major and he would be "okay".

Oliver Perez pitched four innings of shutout baseball in an extended spring training game on Sunday.
Perez allowed two hits, struck out six and walked just one. He is scheduled to start against the Braves on Friday.

Sandy Alomar Jr. will report to Triple-A New Orleans to begin the season.
The 40-year-old Alomar will likely play a month or two in New Orleans. If he starts hot someone might be desperate enough to add him as a backup.

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News from the 3rd of April.

Juan Padilla (Tommy John surgery) said his elbow felt sore while throwing on Sunday.
Padilla will test the elbow again on Tuesday. If he continues to feel pain he will halt his rehabilitation and be examined by team doctors.

Orlando Hernandez limited the Cardinals to one run in seven innings and had a two-run double to earn a victory on Tuesday night.
El Duque had two RBI in 68 career at-bats before his double off Kip Wells tonight. Hernandez got the win despite not striking out a single batter. He fanned 164 in 162 1/3 innings last year, so it was probably a fluke.

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News from the 1st of June.

Shawn Green (chip fracture in right foot) has ditched his crutches and protective boot and has started riding an exercise bike.
Green, who is on the disabled list for the first time in his 14 year career, expects to be ready to return from the DL on June 10.

Pedro Martinez will throw off a mound Tuesday for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery.
Martinez has been throwing from distances up to 230 feet for the past week. He is on pace for an early August return.

An MRI on Carlos Beltran's right knee came back negative. He's day-to-day with a bruise.
Beltran isn't in Friday's lineup. The Mets have Endy Chavez playing center, David Newhan in left and Ben Johnson in right.

David Wright won't play Friday agaisnt Arizona because of back spasms.
The Diamondbacks sure are getting the Mets as a good time. Julio Franco is starting at third in Wright's place tonight. Wright is day-to-day.

John Maine was the hard-luck loser against the Diamondbacks tonight, giving up just two runs in six innings but taking the loss as the Mets were limited to one run.
Maine didn't walk a batter and struck out seven. While his last four starts haven't been as good as he was in April, Maine is still providing quality innings for the Mets. He's quite likely to finish with an ERA well over 3.00, but he's likely to remain a useful fantasy starter. Thus far, he's 6-3 with a 2.81 ERA and has recorded eight quality starts in 11 outings this season.

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News from the 2nd of June.

Moises Alou (quadriceps) is optimistic he will be healthy enough to return from the disabled list early next week.
Alou has been out since May 12 and is eligible to be activated from the disabled list as soon as he is comfortable enough to play.

David Wright is starting at third base Saturday versus the Diamondbacks.
Wright was held out of Friday's game due to back spasms.

Ruben Gotay went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer to lead the Mets' offense on Saturday.
Damion Easley has cooled off of late, given Gotay a chance today, and the 24-year-old improved his average to .316. He has two homers and nine RBI in 38 at-bats, giving him a strong case for sticking around after Jose Valentin returns next week. It'd make a lot of sense to keep him over David Newhan.

Jorge Sosa limited the Diamondbacks to one run in 6 2/3 innings in a victory Saturday.
The run scored on Eric Byrnes' homer. Sosa is 5-1 since being recalled, and it's not all about run support, as he's given up one or two runs in every one of those wins. He should remain an asset in NL-only leagues, though it's possible he'll become a sell-high candidate later on.

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News from the 3rd of June.

Moises Alou plans to visit a doctor Sunday after his left quadriceps muscle felt sore and tight when he tested it running Saturday morning.
Alou, who last played May 12, had hoped to return for the Phillies series that opens Tuesday, but concluded: "I think that is out. ... It's kind of frustrating because it's taking so long," he said.

Carlos Beltran expects to return Tuesday after missing a third straight start Sunday.
Beltran hit in the cage today to test his bruised knee and indicated that he felt better. He might be available off the bench today.

Deolis Guerra returned to the mound at Single-A St. Lucie and pitched two scoreless innings Saturday.
Guerra, one of the Mets' top prospects, hadn't pitch since May 3 because of shoulder tendinitis.

Oliver Perez was handed a loss by the Diamondbacks on Sunday after yielding three runs in seven innings of work.
Perez gave up just four hits, but he also walked three and hit a batter. Half of the baserunners Perez gave up came in the fifth, when he allowed two of the three runs Arizona scored off him. Perez has shown the best command of his career thus far, with just 21 free passes in 70 2/3 innings. That command, along with some luck on balls in play, has left Perez with a stellar 2.80 ERA.

Mets released RHP Chan Ho Park from Triple-A New Orleans.
Park had a 5.57 ERA in nine starts for the Zephyrs, so he wasn't in line for another opportunity anytime soon.

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News from the 4th of June.

Jose Valentin (ACL tear) could begin a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Monday.
Valentin, who has been playing in extended spring training games the past week, should be activated from the disabled list by this weekend.

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News from the 10th of August.

Marlon Anderson was placed on the bereavement list Thursday to attend the funeral of his grandmother.
Anderson injured his left wrist during Thursday's game while making a diving catch, but the injury isn't believed to be serious. He should return in three or four days. Sandy Alomar Jr. or OF Chip Ambres could be called up to take his spot until he returns.

Carlos Beltran is in the Mets' lineup for Friday's game against the Marlins.
It looks like he'll take Marlon Anderson's roster spot and start in center field tonight.

Mets placed outfielder Marlon Anderson on the bereavement list.
Anderson, already dealing with a sprained left wrist, will miss at least the next three days.

Mets activated outfielder Carlos Beltran from the 15-day disabled list.
Beltran is starting in center field and batting third tonight after missing 16 days with a strained oblique.

Carlos Beltran had a homer that scored all three Mets runs Friday in his return from the disabled list.
Beltran decided to come back and play even though he's not 100 percent, and for one night at least, it looks like he made the right choice. He usually struggles mightily while trying to gut it out through injuries, so we'll have to wait and see whether this was an aberration or not.

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News from the 11th of August.

Pedro Martinez (shoulder) will make his second rehab start on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Martinez, who allowed six runs during his first rehab start with Single-A St. Lucie on Wednesday, suffered no setbacks during the outing.

Carlos Beltran, who homered Friday in his return from the DL, is out of the lineup for Saturday's game.
Beltran's oblique remains a problem when he tries to hit right-handed, so he's sitting against the lefty tonight. He'll probably be back in center field Sunday against right-hander Rick VandenHurk.

David Wright went 3-for-4 with two homers on Saturday, but it wasn't enough in a loss to the Marlins.
Wright's homers accounted for all three runs the Mets scored off Scott Olsen. It was Wright's ninth career multihomer game. He's up to 22 bombs on the season, all of them coming since the beginning of May.

Tom Glavine was denied his 301st victory after Guillermo Mota gave up a go-ahead grand slam Saturday against the Marlins.
Glavine was charged with two runs in 6 1/3 innings, the second coming when Mota allowed an inherited runner to score. He allowed three runs or fewer for the eighth time in his last 10 starts.