July 24, 2011 ,
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By MIKE PUMA
MIAMI ---- Johan Santana aced his latest test and appears ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment, as soon as Wednesday.The Mets ace threw a 45-pitch bullpen session before his team faced the... Read on
July 21, 2011 ,
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Associated Press
Mets third baseman David Wright is expected to come off the disabled list Friday. Mets manager Terry Collins says he plans to have Wright in the lineup when New York starts a series at Florida.... Read on
Mets third baseman David Wright is expected to come off the disabled list Friday.
Mets manager Terry Collins says he plans to have Wright in the lineup when New York starts a series at Florida.
Wright has been out since mid-May with a stress fracture in his lower back.
July 20, 2011 ,
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By DAN MARTIN
Mets left fielder Jason Bay was removed from Wednesday's game in the fourth inning with a tight right hamstring.FOLLOW GAME HERE It's the latest thing to go wrong for the high-priced slugger, who has... Read on
Mets left fielder Jason Bay was removed from Wednesday's game in the fourth inning with a tight right hamstring.
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It's the latest thing to go wrong for the high-priced slugger, who has done little but struggle at the plate and with injuries since signing with the Mets.
He was replaced by Willie Harris.
July 19, 2011 ,
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By HOWIE RUMBERG, AP
Jose Reyes had good reason to flash that big, infectious grin Tuesday night: He was back in the Mets lineup. The All-Star shortstop was activated from the 15-day disabled list for the opener of a... Read on
Jose Reyes had good reason to flash that big, infectious grin Tuesday night: He was back in the Mets lineup.
The All-Star shortstop was activated from the 15-day disabled list for the opener of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals after he missed more than two weeks because of a left hamstring strain.
Right fielder Carlos Beltran also returned Tuesday after he sat out three games with the flu.
“I’m happy, excited. Can’t wait to get back on the field,” Reyes said. “It’s great to have Carlos, too. My job is to get on base for the guys behind me.”
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Reyes has been out since straining his left hamstring on July 2, and the Mets went 6-6 without their electrifying catalyst. New York has lost three of four since the All-Star break.
The Mets offered a special $7 ticket for Tuesday’s game in honor of No. 7’s return, and fans let out a big cheer when Reyes ran onto the field about 30 minutes before gametime.
Reyes flied out to left in his first at-bat.
Having watched his team struggle at the plate the last two games, Mets manager Terry Collins was eager to see his star at the top of his lineup.
“It’s a huge plus for us,” Collins said. “It’s a boost of energy.”
Leading the majors with a .354 average and 15 triples, Reyes was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, the mildest form, and he went on the disabled list five days after being hurt.
Being overly cautious with Reyes because of his history of leg injuries, the Mets didn’t reinstate him when he was eligible Monday. Instead, they had him play a rehabilitation game for Single-A Brooklyn to test the leg.
He doubled in three at-bats and played six innings at shortstop.
Collins said he would monitor his speedster throughout Tuesday’s game, especially with temperatures in the high 80s-low 90s.
“I don’t think there’s any question that at times I will be holding my breath,” Collins said. “If he hits the ball in the gap, I’ll be holding my breath.”
In the final season of his contract, Reyes is having an MVP-caliber season and he led the surprising Mets to the fringe of wild-card contention before getting hurt.
He returns at a crucial period for the ballclub, one in which general manager Sandy Alderson has said will determine how active the Mets will be as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches. Reyes could be one of the players to move, though it’s unlikely.
With diminished revenue and a $1 billion lawsuit pending in the Bernard Madoff scandal, the Mets might not be able to afford the 28-year-old Reyes, their most popular and best player. Reyes can become a free agent after this season.
But Reyes said the possibility of being traded — or seeing teammates go — doesn’t affect him.
“I don’t put pressure on myself,” Reyes said. “I need to do my job and get on base and do the job I did in the first half.”
Beltran said he lost five pounds over the past three days in which he had a fever that reached 105 degrees. He received intravenous fluids on Sunday and was feeling better Monday night, available to pinch-hit.
He took early batting practice and was satisfied with the results despite still being congested.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “Fell the ball has been going off the bat good.”
He hit his 29th double in the first inning Tuesday.
To make room for Reyes, the Mets sent Ruben Tejada to Triple-A Buffalo.
Also, catcher Josh Thole was put on the paternity leave list to be with his wife, who is due to give birth. Mike Nickeas was supposed to join the team from Triple-A Buffalo but couldn’t make it in time Tuesday, leaving the Mets with just Ronny Paulino at catcher.
Tuesday's Mets lineup:
Reyes – SS
Turner – 2B
Beltran – RF
Murphy – 3B
Pagan – CF
Bay – LF
Duda – 1B
Paulino – C
Gee – RHP
July 18, 2011 ,
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By DAN MARTIN
Carlos Beltran is out of the Mets lineup Monday night again as he recovers from flu-like symptoms over the weekend. Beltran's absence gives manager Terry Collins little choice but to play the... Read on
Carlos Beltran is out of the Mets lineup Monday night again as he recovers from flu-like symptoms over the weekend.
Beltran's absence gives manager Terry Collins little choice but to play the struggling Jason Bay again after saying on Sunday he would talk to the left fielder about taking a day off.
Bay is hitting sixth, behind bats like Daniel Murphy, Scott Hairston and Lucas Duda in the middle of the lineup, with Chris Capuano on the mound.
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1. Angel Pagan – CF
2. Willie Harris – 2B
3. Daniel Murphy – 3B
4. Scott Hairston – RF
5. Lucas Duda – 1B
6. Jason Bay – LF
7. Josh Thole – C
8. Ruben Tejada – SS
9. Chris Capuano – LHP
July 16, 2011 ,
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By DAN MARTIN
Carlos Beltran isn't in the Mets' lineup with flu-like symptoms Saturday as they play against the Phillies at Citi Field. Scott Hairston fills in in right and Nick Evans will be at first against... Read on
Carlos Beltran isn't in the Mets' lineup with flu-like symptoms Saturday as they play against the Phillies at Citi Field. Scott Hairston fills in in right and Nick Evans will be at first against lefty Cole Hamels. Here's the rest of the Mets' lineup:
Pagan – CF
Turner – 2B
Hairston – RF
Murphy – 3B
Bay – LF
Paulino – C
Evans – 1B
Tejada – SS
Niese – LHP
July 15, 2011 ,
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Mets have promoted right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi from Triple-A to fill the roster spot left by the trade of closer Francisco Rodriguez. The Mets made the move before Friday night’s game... Read on
The Mets have promoted right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi from Triple-A to fill the roster spot left by the trade of closer Francisco Rodriguez.
The Mets made the move before Friday night’s game against Philadelphia. Rodriguez was sent to the Brewers right after the All-Star game Tuesday night.
Igarashi was 2-1 with a 4.65 ERA in 15 games for the Mets earlier this season. He was recalled from Buffalo, where he was 0-1 with five saves and an 0.87 ERA.
Igarashi had not allowed a run in Triple-A during his past 13 appearances, covering 19 1/3 innings. Mets manager Terry Collins said Igarashi had gotten a better feel for his splitter over the last two months in the minors.
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R.A. Dickey takes the mound against the first-place Phillies. Here's the rest of the lineup:
Pagan CF
Turner 2B
Beltran RF
Murphy 3B
Bay LF
Duda 1B
Thole C
Tejada SS
Dickey P
With Dan Martin
July 13, 2011 ,
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By DAN MARTIN
Francisco Rodriguez had a tumultuous tenure with the Mets and took to Twitter on Wednesday to talk about his “new opportunity” with the Brewers after being traded following Tuesday’s All-Star Game.“I... Read on
Francisco Rodriguez had a tumultuous tenure with the Mets and took to Twitter on Wednesday to talk about his “new opportunity” with the Brewers after being traded following Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
“I want to thank all the Mets fans for their great support during these two and a half years,”
Rodriguez wrote in Spanish.
Rodriguez was shipped to Milwaukee -- along with $5 million -- for two players to be named later, as GM Sandy Alderson took a significant step in remaking the Mets.
The move prevents the Mets from having to worry about paying Rodriguez his $17.5 million option, which would have vested if he finished 55 games this season. He is ahead of schedule on getting to that number, having already finished 34 games.
Now, that’s the Brewers’ -- and Rodriguez’s new agent, Scott Boras -- problem.
July 12, 2011 ,
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By DAN MARTIN
David Wright expects to begin playing rehab games in Port St. Lucie “sometime in this next week,” TCPalm.com reports.The Mets are pointing to Friday’s game in Lakeland for his debut for the Single-A... Read on
David Wright expects to begin playing rehab games in Port St. Lucie “sometime in this next week,”
TCPalm.com reports.
The Mets are pointing to Friday’s game in Lakeland for his debut for the Single-A team.
Terry Collins has said he expects Wright, recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back, to need somewhere between 30-40 at-bats before he’s ready to return to the Mets. That would get the third baseman back either against the Cardinals at Citi Field next week or in Florida against the Marlins.
"I'm just entering into some controlled game situations," Wright told the newspaper in Port St. Lucie on Monday. "I've been taking batting practice outside and taking ground balls full-go. Hopefully, I'll be playing in some rehab games sometime in this next week."
Wright has been working out at the Mets' minor-league facility since June 25 after suffering the injury in April. Wright played with it for nearly a month, which delayed his recovery.
July 12, 2011 ,
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By DAN MARTIN
Gary Carter continues to undergo radiation treatments for the brain cancer he was diagnosed with in May and has an MRI exam scheduled for next month, but the Mets great still plans on a return to... Read on
Gary Carter continues to undergo radiation treatments for the brain cancer he was diagnosed with in May and has an MRI exam scheduled for next month, but the Mets great still plans on a return to coaching next season at Palm Beach Atlantic University, according to his daughter.
“My dad’s plan is to return as the head baseball coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University for his third year,” Kimmy Bloemers wrote on a family website. “A committee has met at school and interviewed different candidates for the new position that is now open … the associate head baseball coach. We are praying for the perfect fit and so far we have some highly qualified coaches who want to be a big part of dad’s program. Dad has been involved in the hiring process and each interview. We should have someone hired very soon.”
Bloemers also said Carter recovered from a recent bout with walking pneumonia and has had more energy recently.
“Dad has exercised more this past week than any other week,” Bloemers wrote. “His mind has been sharp and everything else is functioning as it should. … He gets so excited when he has the energy to workout -- treadmill and bike -- (on top of his night walking with mom and swimming in the pool). It does not happen every day, but dad DOES take advantage of those energetic moments to exercise his body.”