I hope this steroid/HGH talk begins and ends this week

Dr. Anthony Galea is a name I hope I don’t hear much more.

Because a steroid scandal is the absolute last thing the Mets need.

Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes have both been questioned by the FBI in connection with their relationship and visits to Dr. Galea’s office for treatment.  Galea is being investigated by Canadian authorities for attempting to smuggle human growth hormones into the US.

Both players have met with investigators and discussed their treatment with Galea.  Both claim that HGH or steroids were not involved or discussed.

Hopefully, as this week winds down, we hear less and less of this story.  Unfortunately, steroids are too juicy of a story to overlook, so as long as it’s slightly relevant, it will be written about and discussed at length.

But please, for the sake of Mets fans minds everywhere, let’s hope we don’t hear much more of it.  I think we have enough to worry about.

Heyman: Reyes to bat third until Beltran returns

Last spring training, we were all intrigued when Jerry Manuel discussed putting Jose Reyes in the third spot of his lineup.  We all scoffed when we heard the same thing this season.

But, according to Jon Heyman, this plan will be in action for more than just spring training.

Heyman tweets that Reyes will be batting third in the Mets lineup, at least until Carlos Beltran returns.

This, I think, is stupid.  We all know the saying “As Jose Reyes goes, so goes the Mets.”  That saying didn’t come from nowhere.  Reyes is the Mets sparkplug and dropping him to third seems silly.

There are other tweaks I’d like to see Manuel make with the lineup, but dropping Reyes out of the top spot is not one of them.

Here is what the opening day lineup will likely look like, if Manuel sticks to this plan…

1. Angel Pagan
2. Luis Castillo
3. Jose Reyes
4. Jason Bay
5. David Wright
6. Daniel Murphy
7. Jeff Francoeur
8. Rod Barajas
9. Johan Santana

It’s actually not too bad, but I still think Reyes is better suited for the leadoff spot.

What do you think?  Leave your comments below.

Beltran will report to spring training…they think [Quote]

“It will not be surprising if this changes, but the Mets believe Carlos Beltran will head to spring training when position players report, even though the star center fielder will not be physically ready and is under no obligation to report that early.”

-Mark Hale writes in the NY Post

The world works in funny ways, sometimes

Does anyone else find this ironic and funny?

From Brian Costa…

[Carlos] Beltran, who was unable to attend the dinner because he is rehabbing from knee surgery in Colorado, received the Joan Payson Award for community service. Mets general manager Omar Minaya accepted the award on Beltran's behalf, making no mention of the dispute between Beltran and the Mets over his surgery last week.

Oh, these Mets.

For some more notes on what went on at the BBWAA awards gala, click here.  There are some gems.

Gammons: Mets did not insure Beltran’s contract [Quote]

Everyone in the business understands that the Mets did not insure Beltran, so that when team physician Dr. David Altcheck and trainer Ray Ramirez signed off on Dr. Richard Steadman's decision to perform arthroscopic surgery in Vail, Colo., it was clear they were afraid that their worst time-frame fears might be realized and that Beltran could be out for -- and paid for -- much of the 2010 season.

-Peter Gammons

Click here for the rest of the article (scroll down a bit).

Another Minaya quote

“It was a very good conversation. Everything is fine. Listen, we have no problems with Carlos Beltran. I have no problem with him and ownership has no problem. We love him. The only issue was with the process, not the player.”

-Omar Minaya to the New York Times

Link: Minaya says he did not OK surgery

Head over to Newsday (one free page view a day) to read Anthony Rieber’s article about Omar Minaya and Carlos Beltran’s conversation.

The Omar quote is so Omar.

Statement from Carlos Beltran

I am totally surprised by the reaction to my recent knee surgery. Any accusations that I ignored or defied the team’s wishes are simply false. I also spoke to Omar Minaya about the surgery on Tuesday. He did not ask me to wait, or to get another doctor’s opinion. He just wished me well. No one from team raised any issue until Wednesday, after I was already in surgery. I do not know what else I could have done. The most important thing here is that the surgery was a total success and I expect to be back on the field playing the game I love sooner rather than later.

Carlos Beltran through his agent Scott Boras

Quotes and notes from John Ricco conference call

Direct quotes from Assistant GM John Ricco

• "When he started to ramp up for his spring training program in early December  was when he started feeling discomfort in his knee."
• "There is an issue regarding the process that was followed regarding the surgery."
• "Surgery was performed before we had the opportunity to do that [get third opinion]."
• "I'm not going to get into the legal ramifications right now."
• "All we've done is sent a letter to the agent alerting him to the fact that we were not afforded the opportunity we asked for."
• "We're just reserving our rights under his [Beltran's] contract."
• "The 12 weeks is the time frame before he can start full baseball activity."
• "The estimate right now is 12 weeks until be can *begin* baseball activity."
• "We're clearly not done putting this team together."
• "Clearly he had a symptom. ... He had a procedure he thinks can alleviate those symptoms."
• "We found out the surgery had been done Wednesday mid-day."
• "Omar has spoken with Carlos and we've had several conversations with Scott Boras."
• "It's disappointment on a couple of different levels."
• "This was not microfracture surgery. ... He is not a candidate for microfracture surgery."

Notes/Paraphrases from Ricco

• He was monitored by the medial staff. Ray Ramirez visited him in PR.
• Beltran visited Dr. Altchek. Had three MRIs on the knee.
• Altchek suggested backing off workouts to see if that helped
• Dr. Steadman suggested procedure, was a successful surgery. Beltran is still in Colo.
• Mets wanted third opinion on Beltran's knee and wanted to "digest" the info.
• There was communication between the doctors [Steadman & Altchek]
• Mets are most upset that surgery was done before third opinion, not that the surgery was done.

Did the Mets give consent? [Quote]

“The Mets gave consent to pay for the surgery.”

-Scott Boras, via Andrew Marchand

Marchand said he spoke with Boras who claims the Mets, specifically Ray Ramirez, sent over workman’s comp papers to perform the surgery.

Scott Boras speaks [Quote]

“This was necessary surgery,
necessary surgery to work.”

-Scott Boras on Carlos Beltran’s surgery

Mets blogs react to Carlos Beltran news

Last night, the Mets 2010 season got off to a bumpy start.  Not only will Carlos Beltran, their star center fielder, go under the knife and will subsequently miss 8-12 weeks (but likely more), he also did it without the Mets blessing.

Here, culled from many different Mets blogs, are some reactions to the news…

Amazin’ Avenue - The Carlos Beltran Quagmire

Though the Mets should have learned by now to be conservative in their prognoses, I'm not particularly sanguine that Beltran will be running full-speed by the end of the twelve-week timeframe the Mets have propounded. It's probably even-money that he won't begin a rehab assignment until at least the beginning of May, and nobody who has been following this team over the past few seasons would even raise an eyebrow if Beltran didn't return until June.

Brooklyn Met Fan - Heeeeeeerrrrrre’s KneeGate!

I honestly thought it must be some cruel Syd Finch-esqe April Fools joke. How could this really be happening to us right now??? It’s only JANUARY 13TH!!!! AAARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Mets Today - Carlos Beltran’s Mysterious Knee Surgery

The 12 weeks spit out by the Mets’ crack PR team is what makes things suspicious, because it takes the blood clot formed by microfracture surgery at least 8-15 weeks to heal — and the number 12 is right in the middle of that range. Mind you, the healing of the clot is only step one of the recovery process. From the research available on the information superhighway, if indeed he had microfracture surgery, Beltran would GET OFF CRUTCHES after 8-15 weeks

Mets Merized Online - Beltran Surgery Aftermath Fueling Wild Speculation

I’m also surprised at the number of Mets fans who find it unbelievable that Beltran chose to follow the advice of his personal physician instead of the Mets doctor. Based on what transpired in 2009, why are Beltran’s actions so shocking and unbelievable?

Hot Foot - Beltran Out 12 Weeks, Now What?

Whatever they plan on doing, it would be unwise to rely on Beltran returning anytime soon, no matter what the reports are.

TedQuarters – Gut punch

That’s a bit of a gut punch given the way things went for the Mets last year. And it certainly doesn’t seem like a good omen for 2010. And it’s bad for fans of awesome baseball players in general.

Mets alert Players Association [Quote]

A person familiar with the situation told the Post that the Commissioners Office and the Players Association have been alerted that “the Mets are claiming this was done without clearance and that the Mets are threatening to take some form of action. There is a potential issue out there.”

-Joel Sherman

Don’t punish Beltran

With the reports surfacing that Carlos Beltran had surgery, specifically, without the permission of the New York Mets, this leaves the team in a tough situation.

Many people are reporting that the Mets are “threatening some form of action,” according to Joel Sherman.

But they shouldn’t.

Outside of some menial fine or deduction from his contract, I’d be fine with a slap on the wrist and a warning to the rest of the team to never ever do this again.

The problem: If the Mets take a hard stance on this and truly “punish” him in some way (outside of monetarily, I can’t imagine what they’d do), what will that accomplish?  Yes, it would warn others to never do it, but between Beltran and the Mets, there will be bad blood.

And that’s something the Mets can’t afford.  After these last three seasons, the Mets need to keep their players healthy and happy. 

Regardless of the trust for the Mets medical staff (and who can blame him?), the Mets need to shake their finger at Beltran and move on. Anything more will likely created unneeded tension between the player and the team.

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?

2009 Met of the Year: Final Four

The Final Four is set for the 2009 Met of the Year. 

Two one-seeds and two six-seeds.  A starting pitcher, the ace of the staff.  The third baseman, the face of the franchise.  And two center fielders, one, a backup who filled in during an injury plagued season and the other, the All-Star who missed half the year due to a bone bruise.

David Wright will take on Carlos Beltran
and
Johan Santana will take on Angel Pagan.

Voting resumes on Monday.

In case you were worried: Mets not fielding offers for Beltran

A few days ago in the Boston Herald, columnist Michael Silverman pitched the idea of Carlos Beltran going to the Boston Red Sox.

It was just a suggestion, but the Full Count blog squashed any rumors before they could get started.

From WEEI’s Full Count blog…

A major-league source said that the Mets would not even entertain the idea of trading Beltran. The Mets are instead giving every indication that they will be active in adding pieces this offseason (New York is expected to get involved in the markets for Bay and/or Matt Holliday). Given that likelihood, it would not make sense for the team to deal one of its best players.

(Emphasis mine.)

Don’t worry, Beltran fans.  He’s not going anywhere but back out to centerfield in Citi Field for at least another year.

Graph: Mets Top 10 HR leaders in 2009

Albert Pujols led the league with 47 home runs.  The league average was 10. 

Five Mets at least met the league average, while only one surpassed it.

It should be noted that Carlos Beltran hit 10 home runs in 357 plate appearances, Gary Sheffield hit 10 home runs in 312 plate appearances and Jeff Francoeur hit his 10 home runs in 308 PAs.