Sorting through a few of the Mets' issues this morning and it doesn't seem like they have many solutions before tonight's opener of a three-game series with the visiting Padres.
-- After coming up empty at the trade deadline, it appears that Omar Minaya's strategy is to use his youngsters to fill the gaps, as we look at in today's Newsday. But using Nick Evans, Daniel Murphy and Eddie Kunz did nothing to prevent a three-game sweep in Houston.
-- Regardless of what today's MRI shows, expect Billy Wagner to be placed on the DL with a strained left forearm. Listening to him Sunday, Wagner said as much, and with only two months left in the season, he's better off getting healthy now. Brace yourselves for Aaron Heilman to be the closer for the immediate future.
-- As for a spot starter, the Mets are pondering either Jon Niese or Claudio Vargas to take John Maine's place this weekend. Niese allowed six hits and two runs over six innings last night to pick up his second victory at Triple-A New Orleans. Vargas struck out eight on Sunday before he was suddenly pulled with one out in the seventh inning. If the Mets want to give Oliver Perez an extra day, it should be Vargas on Friday. If Perez goes on regular turn Friday, then Niese has a chance to make his major-league debut on Saturday.
-- The Ryan Church saga. Not good. I had a discussion with Church as he was packing up following Sunday's loss and he was quite frustrated with how things are going. He took batting practice indoors on Sunday after not doing much of anything on Saturday, but Church said he had no idea of what the team's plans are for him. He was supposed to be on a rehab stint in Port St. Lucie after the Mets left Miami, but Church said on Sunday there had been no talk of that since then. If Church is not sent out for a rehab stint in the next day or two, I think it's time to wonder if he'll actually play again this season.
Comments (4)
Is this Church stuff for real? I mean,
A) I'm tired of Omar lying out of his teeth about any and every injury. Just give an accurate report, or don't give one at all. All this "precautionary", "No setbacks", "Day-to-Day" crap is really infuriating.
B) If they're holding him back just for the sake of precaution, then obviously they knew this was the plan at the deadline. Therefore, by Omar not doing anything, he's not only saying "Tatis is a Corner OFer for a contender", but he's also trying to say to us that "Evans/Murphy is a suitable platoon OF situation for a contender". Are you friggin kidding me!? He basically, if he's holding Church out, conceded the season July 31st when WE WERE IN FIRST PLACE for the sake of holding onto the next Shawn Estes?
FIRE THIS GUY IMMEDIATELY, AND HIS LITTLE CLOWN-FRIEND TONY B. UGH. Get some competent people up there, who evaluate personal less on "gut" and "athleticism" and more on "actual baseball ability." I'm so tired of reading things like at the deadline about Omar's lack of interest in Adam Dunn b/c he's not an Omar player: why, he's too good? No, you prefer "speed and defense"...right, like Luis Castillo. Speed and Defense galore. Oh, And Mr. Passed Ball Brian Schneider.
Omar is a joke.
I am not defending Omar at all because I think he sucks and is bad at making up the teams the past few years with UFA, trades, etc, but maybe the only reason he is saying stuff about Church and the rest of the DL guys is to bring some positive news and maybe other teams would not think he is so desparate to make a trade or two on players? That is the only reason I think of.
I WARNED YOU ALL SINCE GAME ONE !!!
This team is GUTLESS....They had a small nice run after the mgr. change, yet you cannot expect BENCH PLAYERS and OLD MEN to win a division.
OMAR should of SOLD like I said. That winning streka did one thing for us.....A false sense that we were good enough to compete.
We have NO FARM, OLD MEN, 140 MILL PAYROLL, NO CLUTCH PLAYERS, NO HEART, NO STAFF, NO BULLPEN, ETC. ETC. ETC.....
I alos told you all that Philly would get hot and run away with it !!!
All sad but true facts boys......sad but true!
I'd like to see the baseball writers stop poo pooing on Evans and Murphy as middling infield prospects forced to play the outfield. I seem to recall another middling infield prospect without any power toiling in the outfield as a youngster who turned out all right: Gold Glove First Baseman, 30+ homerun hitting, 23rd round draftee----------Don Mattingly. Enough of the Met prospect bashing, plenty of Met farmhands are successful in the majors, only with other clubs, case in point: Jason Bay and Scott Kazmir. Whaddaya say Mr. Lennon?