Mets offer arbitration to none

The Mets, as very much expected, did not offer arbitration to any players.

Of the Mets up for arby, only Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis would have landed a draft pick if they refused arbitration and signed elsewhere.

Shocker, I know.

Delgado, Tatis tabbed as Type B free agents

Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis have both been listed as Type B free agents by The Elias Sports Bureau.

That means if/when Delgado or Tatis sign with another team, the Mets will receive a “sandwich” draft pick in the 2010 draft for each, if they are first offered arbitration by the team.

Which is highly unlikely.

The rest of the eligible free agents from the Mets will not bring compensation back to the team.

Thanks, Superman!

Four file for free agency

Four 2009 Mets have filed for free agency in the two days after the World Series.

Carlos Delgado and Brian Schneider filed on day one.  Alex Cora and Ramon Martinez filed on day two.

Of those four, Cora is the only one possibly returning.

Delgado’s year likely done

Carlos Delgado, who was trying to make a return to the major leagues after hip surgery this season, may not be healthy enough to come back.

“I think time is running out for him,” Jerry Manuel told reporters before Friday’s game.

It’s unfortunate for Delgado who is without a contract for next season.  Though he’s pretty much built for the American League for the rest of his career, some have rumored that the Mets may bring him back in an incentive laden deal as a placeholder for Ike Davis in 2011.

Obviously, that would put Daniel Murphy back to the minor leagues, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

But, I don’t think Delgado is a smart signing at this point.  He’s in the twilight of his career and missed so much time this year, who knows where he’s going to be for next year?

I’m just glad I’m not Omar Minaya.

What I Missed: A win, setbacks and injuries

Where to begin…

--The Mets won 6-4, salvaging a win in the desert and avoiding a sweep.  Oliver Perez was his inefficient self, walking six and allowing six hits over his 5 1-3 innings.  He did only allow one run, though, and struck out seven.

--David Wright suffered some sort of an injury in the 9th inning of today’s game in Arizona.  After singling and moving to second on a fielding error, Wright clutched his right knee.  He stayed in the game.

Wright claimed it was just usual soreness, but Jerry Manuel classified it as a strain behind the right knee.

--Carlos Delgado strained his oblique muscle in his right arm, further derailing his return to the New York Mets.  Assistant GM John Ricco, who supposedly is next in line if Omar Minaya is fired and is now handling more and more press, said that it would be a few weeks before he starts swinging again.

It’s important for Delgado to get back to prove he can still play for another contract.  This does put to rest the rumors that the Mets were willing to trade Delgado if he returned before the August 31 wavier deadline.

--Billy Wagner will return to the Mets this weekend.  Wagner pitched another shutout inning in the minor leagues, and will return on Saturday.

The Mets may try to deal Wagner if he impresses.

Mets DL trips

This list was put together by reader and friend David Cancel.  It lists the date, the player, the injury and where it took place.  It’s long and excruciating.  Take a look.

• 8/5 Jon Niese (Torn hamstring) - 8/5 @ Citi [Added]
• 7/25 Gary Sheffield (Strained right hamstring) - 7/17 @ ATL
• 7/20 Fernando Nieve (Torn right quadriceps - out 6-8 weeks) - 7/19 @ ATL
• 7/9 Fernando Martinez (Right knee inflammation) - 7/1 @ MIL
• 6/22 Carlos Beltran (Bone bruise, right knee) - bruise first mentioned between LA and BOS (5/21), finally out after OF slide 6/21 @ Citi
• 6/12 John Maine (Right shoulder fatigue) - last pitched 6/7 @ WAS
• 6/5 J.J. Putz (Right elbow surgery - out 8-10 weeks) - 6/3 @ PIT
• 6/3 Ramon Martinez (Fractured left pinkie finger) - slide 6/2 @ PIT
• 6/1 Angel Pagan (Strained right groin) - 5/31 @ Citi
• 5/26 Ryan Church (Strained right hamstring) - 5/22 @ BOS
• 5/26 Jose Reyes (Right calf tendinitis) - complained of stiff right calf after 5/13 game @ Citi, rested 6 days, re-aggravated @ LA on 5/20
• 5/18 Alex Cora (Torn right thumb ligament) - slide @ SF on 5/17
• 5/16 Carlos Delgado (Right hip impingement) - slide @ Citi on 4/26, rested for 5 games, played 7 games, then shut down.
• 5/7 Oliver Perez (Right patellar tendinitis) - last start 5/2; was complaining about it since Spring Training
• 4/17 Brian Schneider (Strained back muscle) - @ Citi
• 4/5 Angel Pagan (Right elbow sugery - out 2-3 months) - bone spur, prolly from Winter ball
• 4/5 Tim Redding (Right shoulder fatigue) - spring training

Yikes.

Thanks, David!

Delgado is off and running

Steve Popper updates up with news that Carlos Delgado has begun running – sort of.

Here’s Popper’s report:

So far the workout consisted of one dash at half-speed about 40 feet, then jogging backwards. And that looked about how he usually makes his way around the field. But after that one lap, he spotted one of the Cardinals - can't recognize him from up here - and walked out to chat, where he still is while the strength coach waits for him.

Seems strenuous.

But seriously, it is a step in the right direction, especially for a player in the walk-year of his contract.  He will be making every effort to return and show teams (maybe even the Mets) that he can still hit.

He’s entirely built for an AL team as a DH now, with occasional starts at first, but some power-starved NL teams may also take a look.

Beltran and Delgado return to Citi Field…for BP

Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado were both at Citi Field last night, but neither were in the lineup.  The Carloses are both still on the disabled list, but last night was an encouraging sight for Mets fans, even if the season seems to have slipped away.

Beltran was hitting and shagging fly balls in the outfield, claiming he felt pain in his knee “only twice.”

Delgado told the Daily News that he plans on stepping up his routine today, and will continue hitting outside.

He also had the line of the day, saying, “I'm going to be ready when I'm ready.”

Is Delgado turning into Michelangelo?

Shut ‘em down, shut ‘em all down

The gist of this article can be had in the headline, but let me expand a little more.

The 2009 Mets season, as I see it right now, is a lost one.  Outside of some magical run the team would have to make with mostly the parts they currently have, the season is going to be a wash.

Jose Reyes, John Maine, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and the rest of the Mets disabled should be shut down for the sake of the players and their futures with or without the Mets.

There should be no reason to rush any of these players back from their assorted injuries to stare at a 10-game deficit in August.

Well, don’t shut them entirely down, per say.  But don’t rush them back into 2009.  Let them slowly but surely work their way back into their prime and if they feel ready enough to play this season, let them.  But there should be absolutely no reason to try and bring (or even rush) players back into the major leagues for this mess of a year.

Now the news is coming out that Maine will be visiting Dr. James Andrews, the most feared name in baseball surgery, it’s just another reason to be as cautious as possible.

I’m ready to pack it in for 2009.  Box my hope up for this year and let’s start the thrilling process of figuring out who can help the Mets in 2010 and beyond.  If deemed unhelpful, send them away and bring back some young prospects.  This season is lost, let’s not lose any more players for any longer.

F-Mart tore meniscus, had surgery; Other updates

Fernando Martinez tore his meniscus and had the subsequent surgery on Tuesday.  He is out six to eight weeks.

I’ve had this surgery before and it’s no fun, but for the knee, a meniscus is a good thing.  The Mets are very lucky that is wasn’t the ACL, MCL or any other CL.  You may remember Ramon Castro had the same surgery a few years ago.

For the rest of the Mets walking wounded, Omar Minaya updated reporters earlier today.

• John Maine should be pitching again within a week or so. 
• Jose Reyes is swinging, but not running yet. 
• Carlos Delgado’s is swinging and taking grounders. 
• Carlos Beltran had another MRI and he still has a bone bruise. 

Wonderful.

First base has been a black hole since Delgado went down, right?

Carlos Delgado last played in a game on May 10.  Since then, Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy have taken over at the bag. 

At the bag, they have been able to hold together the infield and perform well above expectations.

At the plate, let’s just say they’ve been pretty awful.  Or have they?

Tatis, since May 11: 16-75, 6 BB, 6 K, 4 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBI … .213 AVG / .302 OBP / .307 SLG

Murphy, since May 11: 11-73, 11 BB, 11 K, 1 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI … .151 AVG / .259 OBP / .205 SLG

I can’t get beyond Murphy’s slugging percentage since May 11.  .205?  Wow.

Combined: 27-148, 17 BB, 17 K, 5 2B, 2 HR, 19 RBI … .182 AVG / .280 OBP / .256 SLG

That’s 30 combined games at first base.  Delgado, through 28 games before going down with injury, had 28 hits, 12 BB, 20 K, 7 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 23 RBI … .298 AVG / .393 OBP / .521 SLG.

Delgado got off to a quick start, slowed down, but was coming on before the injury.  Surprisingly, the RBIs are quite close between Delgado and his replacements.  For all the struggles we’ve seen at first, the run production has been quite close. 

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such terrible numbers drive in as much.  It could be a lot better, but I guess it could be a lot worse, too.

Wright shows fire, excites Mets fans everywhere

Even if the Mets lost last night, I think a lot of fans would still be pleased at one thing that happened during the game.

OK, maybe not.  But they should still be (and are) very excited to see David Wright stepping up and getting vocal.  Sure, it was with one of his best buddies on the team, Mike Pelfrey, but it still counts for something.

After the sixth inning ended, an inning Pelfrey just couldn’t finish, Wright was shown jawing at the pitcher in the dugout.  Things looked heated, but positive, and ended with a nice slap on the rear, meaning things were well.

Sure, Wright is the King of Cliché, and if you caught his interview on Joe Buck Live earlier this week, you know what I mean.  Still, he never trips up and always has the right things to say about himself or the team.  I just wish he would be negative once in a while.  Seems we got something of that sort last night.

A lot of fans, myself included, would like to see Wright step up as more of a leader on the Mets.  With Carlos Delgado, the unnamed leader on the team, out with a hip injury, someone needs to step up in his place.  Wright, the young stud third baseman, would be perfect for the role.

He’s already the face of the franchise, why not be the leader in the clubhouse?

It may be only one incident that the cameras were lucky enough to catch, but it’s a sight for sore eyes for some Mets fans.  If Wright can step up and become a leader that other players rally around while putting up spectacular numbers at the plate, he will cement himself as the MVM (Most Valuable Met).

Manuel’s Musing for May 28

“Because he's a first baseman and doesn't have to be in a position that requires a lot of range, I don't think it will be an issue.”

-Jerry Manuel on Carlos Delgado returning from hip surgery

Delgado has successful surgery, out 10 weeks

Here’s the statement from the New York Mets:

This morning Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado underwent successful right hip arthroscopic surgery at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery. Mets team physician Dr. Struan Coleman performed the surgery. Delgado was diagnosed with an impingement of the hip, a bone spur, and a torn labrum. The Mets anticipate his return in approximately 10 weeks.

That puts Delgado’s return near the end of July, after the All-Star Break.

Time for a trade, me thinks.

Delgado needs, will undergo surgery

Carlos Delgado, currently on the disabled list, will go under the knife to repair his right hip injury.

According to reports, Delgado will likely miss at least six weeks.

Can the Mets survive with the trio of Fernando Tatis, Jeremy Reed and Daniel Murphy? Maybe, but I think the team would be better served trading for a competent first baseman to replace Delgado. There is no guarantee Delgado will return to form post-surgery.

My vote is to see if Aubrey Huff is available from the Orioles. If he is, I'd try to trade for him.

With Delgado out for an extended period of time, the Mets might have a move to make. That is, unless, they're confident enough in Tatis, Murphy or Reed.

Guest Blog: Balk this way

A guest post from Mr. Aaron Schuldiner.  Aaron used to blog over at the now defunt Shea Nation.  Enjoy this post on last night’s balk-filled game.

In light of the rough finishes to the last two seasons in Flushing, it has become easy, if not fashionable, for Met fans to push the panic button after every loss.  But when you’ve won eleven of your last thirteen games, you’re entitled to an off night against a good starting pitcher, right?

Entitled or not, that was the case Sunday, as the Giants edged the Mets 2-0 behind six shutout innings from Matt Cain.  Cain walked five, but allowed only three hits, and got two huge double plays to kill the only two rallies the Mets could muster.  In the second inning, Jeremy Reed, playing for the injured Carlos Delgado, bounced into a bases-loaded double play before Mets starter Mike Pelfrey grounded out to end the inning.  Then in the eighth, Jeremy Affeldt got Angel Pagan to hit into an inning-ending double play, again with the bases loaded.  The Mets went quietly in the ninth, as Giant closer Brian Wilson looked dominant after taking losses on Thursday and Friday.

Cain did not have his best command, but every time the Mets tried to put something together, he buckled down and put out the fire.  That was in contrast to Pelfrey, who pitched well overall, but sabotaged himself with three balks.  Both runners that scored for the Giants advanced from first base to second on balks, the second run coming in on an RBI single by none other than Cain.

It has always been my stance that Pelfrey has front-of-the-rotation talent, but mentally, it sometimes appears he’s not there yet.  After the second balk he was visibly shaken.  After the call was made, Pelfrey almost fell down while kicking the back of the pitcher’s mound in frustration, stirring up memories of his embarrassing tumble off the mound in the Citi Field opener.  After the game, Pelfrey joked that maybe he just likes making a fool out of himself when he’s on national television.  The Mets can only hope that the issue can be worked out of Pelfrey’s mechanics quickly, and doesn’t develop into some kind of Mackey Sasser-esque mental tic.  Since Pelfrey didn’t balk once in his 290-plus innings prior to 2009, I would assume that it’s something he and pitching coach Dan Warthen can get figured out. 

Sure, there’s no such thing as a good loss, and with this team there are no moral victories.  The fan base is insatiably hungry for wins, and both Manager Jerry Manuel and G.M. Omar Minaya could find themselves on the unemployment line if the Mets don’t play their way into October.  There have already been a few bad losses this year, the kind that you lose sleep over.  Both of Johan Santana’s losses in which he didn’t allow a single earned run and the twelve-inning loss to Atlanta come to mind.

So, considering the Mets took three out of four at AT&T Park, where the Giants had the second best home record in the league before this series, it’s hard to be too disappointed.  And considering those three wins featured the Mets setting a franchise record with seven steals in a game, plus an impressive comeback win over reigning Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum (In my mind, the signature win of the season to date), it’s hard not to be encouraged.  Throw in the facts that the Mets essentially played the entire series without Jose Reyes and Delgado, have won eleven of their last fourteen, and currently occupy first place in the N.L. East, and I suspect that last night’s loss might be quickly forgotten by the masses with a win tonight in L.A..

But for Pelfrey, it might take a balk-free start in Boston next weekend.  A second performance like last night’s won’t be nearly as easy for him to laugh off.

THE GOOD

Despite allowing seven walks, Cain, Affeldt, Wilson, and Bob Howry never let the Mets get on the board, stranding nine runners in the process.  Cain moved to 4-1 on the year and lowered his ERA to a stingy 2.65.

THE BAD

Granted it was a makeshift lineup, and it was unfortunate that the Mets’ three bases loaded at-bats were taken by Pagan, Reed, and Pelfrey.  But when you leave the bases loaded twice against a good staff, there’s always a good chance you won’t get another opportunity, as was the case last night.

THE UGLY

It shouldn’t be lost among Pelfrey’s mental lapses that he did pitch pretty well last night, but no starter had balked three times in a game since 1994, when ex-Met Al Leiter completed the trifecta for Toronto.

---

Thanks, Aaron!  Good stuff.

Heyman: Mets options for first baseman trade

With Carlos Delgado out, possibly for a long period of time, it may be time for the Mets to look to trade.  The trio of Fernando Tatis, Jeremy Reed and Daniel Murphy probably won’t be cutting it.

Jon Heyman, in his Daily Scoop, broke down some players the Mets might be able to trade for.

Aubrey Huff, who's a productive hitter and also does pretty fair Joba Chamberlain impersonation, could be the best-hitting first baseman on the trading block. And as a bonus he's left-handed. Two more first basemen that the Mets might take a look at would be Nick Johnson, the oft-injured National who's perpetually on the block, and Russell Branyan, who's off to a hot start with the Mariners.

Of those three, I’d like to see Huff on the Mets.  He’d probably come the cheapest as well.

Johnson, though a solid player, would be trading within division, and I can see the Nationals asking for Daniel Murphy and I don’t want to see him singling off the Mets for years to come.

Delgado to DL, Pagan called up

The Mets have finally put Carlos Delgado on the disabled list with a right hip impingement.

Angel Pagan has been called up to fill the roster the spot.

Pagan was arrested a few weeks ago for unpid driving tickets in Florida while rehabbing from his shoulder injury. Hey Pagan, I would suggest hiring a driver, as long as it's not the same guy that drove Duaner Sanchez around.

The Mets are beat up

The conference call is over and two players are out of commission but still with the team (relayed by David Lennon and Adam Rubin).

J.J. Putz has a bone spur in his right elbow, shown on an MRI on Wednesday.  Putz received an anti-inflammatory shot and will not be available for two days.

Carlos Delgado will not go on the DL, at least not yet.  The Mets will wait a few more days to see if a DL stint is needed.  Lennon quotes it as an “impingement” which may also be around a slight tear or bone spur.

The Mets will be playing with a short bench and a short bullpen going into a very tough series against the surprising San Francisco Giants.

They are essentially a 23-man team right now.  That can’t bode well.

Why wait on Delgado?

The Mets have scheduled a press conference at 4 p.m. to discuss Carlos Delgado.  Taking an educated guess, the Mets will likely be putting Delgado on the disabled list due to his hip injury and calling someone up to take his spot.

Update – 3:58 p.m.: David Lennon says “it appears the team will not make a decision about the disabled list until this weekend, and maybe even as late as Sunday.”

Delgado hasn’t played in a game since May 10 in the series finale against Pittsburgh.  He had previously four straight games from April 27 to May 1 with the same injury.

Why has it taken the Mets this long?

I understand if he’s hurting a little and the team wants to see if he’ll bounce back after a few days off.  But after it’s happened twice in two weeks, why take the chance?  Don’t the Mets have some of the best doctors in the world looking at their multi-million dollar investments?

Though it’s “just a hip injury” this could parlay into something that Ryan Church experienced last year with his concussions.  Did Delgado make the cross-country trip to be with his team on their west coast swing, just like Church was put on a plane after his run in with Yunel Escobar’s knee.

If, in fact, Delgado did sit on a plane for six hours – which can’t be good for the hip – it’s just another bobble by the Mets medical and coaching staffs.

Mets fans can only hope Delgado stayed behind in New York to get treatment and work toward recovering from the injury, sacrificing being in the dugout for a few games.

We’ll all just have to wait until that 4 p.m. conference call.