Mets never performed physical on Putz [Quote]

“When the trade went down last year, I never really had a physical with the Mets. I had the bone spur (in the right elbow). It was discovered the previous year in Seattle, and it never got checked out by any other doctors until I got to spring training, and the spring training physical is kind of a formality. It was bugging me all through April, and in May I got an injection. It just got to the point where I couldn’t pitch. I couldn’t throw strikes, my velocity was way down.”

-J.J. Putz on his time with the Mets

Click here to read more from the story, because it’s almost too good bad to be true.

This is beyond stupid.

Everyone and their mother was harping on the right elbow of Putz the moment he came to the Mets.  It was an issue, but not one to get hung up on.  Apparently, the Mets didn’t deem it an issue at all.

Extremely disturbing news.

Ex-Mets: White Sox sign Putz for $3 mil [Updated]

The Chicago White Sox have signed reliever J.J. Putz to a one-year, $3 million deal.

Good luck with that elbow, Chicago.

Update – 2:27 p.m.: $3 million base salary, $250K on appearance bonuses and another $3 million in games finished bonuses, according to Ken Rosenthal.

Twitter Poll: Do you regret buying a certain player’s jersey?

When the Mets traded for J.J. Putz last off-season, a lot of people hurried out to the store to purchase a new shirt for No. 22.

Not even a full year later, it’s likely that Putz is done as a member of the Mets.

So I asked my Twitter followers if they regret buying a certain player’s jersey.  Here are some responses…

PaulsRandomStuf said: I own a Mo Vaughn Mets t-shirt. Do I really have to explain the reason for the regret? ;-)

fallacyofromeJH said: Kaz matsui....for obvious reasons

IvanCTorres said: kaz matsui! bought it right before his first year with the Mets

PessimisticMet said: my roberto alomar jersey is looking real nice right about now.

BigVin57 said: i bought Roberto Alomar and Mo Vaughn shirts. waste of money

benbarbato said: I bought a Ryan Church T-Shirt last year. Loved Church, felt he never got the chance to be what he could've been.

ambilevous said: two words. Alay Soler.

BlueAndOrange said: YUP totally bought a Hidalgo shirt.. thought he was gonna be around longer than a day.

MaryL1973 said: Yes, Paul Lo Duca because he was not the person I thought.

That’s quite a “team” we could field from these jerseys. 

Putz on the mound, Lo Duca behind the plate, Vaughn at first, Alomar at second, Matsui at shortstop, Hidalgo and Church in the OF.

Send J.J. away [Updated]

Update – 2:42 p.m.: Looks like this is all moot. Bart Hubbuch tweets that the Mets have informed Putz that they will not pick up his option.  They will buy him out for $1 million.

Update – 2:44 p.m.: I still don’t think they should bring him back, incentive-laden deal or not.  I think the team can find someone to fill that role at a much lower cost and with less of an injury history.

If anyone thinks it’s a smart move for the Mets to bring back J.J. Putz and his $9.1 million option, they need to take all their Mets gear and light it on fire.

Putz, who appeared in a mere 29 games for the Mets after coming over in an 11-player trade, was oft-injured and mostly ineffective.  He posted a 5.22 ERA and 1.636 WHIP, notching the same amount of walks as strikeouts: 19.

His reoccurring elbow injury, which the Mets had to have known about when trading for him, kept him out for a majority of the season.

For $9.1 million, there is no way on God’s green earth that the Mets could even think about bringing him back for the 2010 campaign.  That much for an injury-prone set-up man?  No way, J.J.

So good day, Mr. Putz.  Off you go to another team.  I feel bad for anyone who bought a Putz jersey before this season.

Putz out for season with elbow tear

J.J. Putz was expected to rehab with the Brooklyn Cyclones on Tuesday night.

Then, during Omar Minaya’s conference call, he told reporters that Putz was scratched from his scheduled appearance in Brooklyn to, “give him a little more time.”

In his post-game conference, Jerry Manuel told reporters that he didn’t believe Putz would return this year.  It was later revealed that Putz has a slight tear of his ulnar collateral ligament.

He will not need surgery.

Putz has been shut down for the remainder of the season.

Notes from conference call with Omar Minaya

SNY just carried Omar Minaya’s conference call with reporters (which was absolutely fascinating to listen to).  Here are the updates I tweeted…

• Oliver Perez heading to NY to get his knee checked on.
• @benshpigel asks about relation between Santana's injuries in ST and now. Minaya can't recall injury from ST.
• Putz scratched from Brooklyn appearance "to give him a little more time," says Minaya
• @nyp_joelsherman on the line now. Asking Minaya why they let Santana keep pitching with '09 in the tank.
• "That's why we're shutting him down now. ... After his last start is when he brought it up." -Minaya on Santana
• Minaya cannot recall Santana ST injury. Ya know, the one that almost cost him starting on Opening Day...
• "I think our medical staff did a very good job in getting him back out here in 11 months," -Minaya on Wagner
• "I have not spoken to Johan." -Omar Minaya

The reporters were fairly skeptical on why Santana kept pitching through 2009 with this pain since the season is essentially over.  And rightly so.

Notes: Perez back to NY, Evans and Misch up for Wagner and Santana, Putz scratched from rehab

-Omar Minaya just told reporters that Oliver Perez will head back to New York to have his knee checked on by doctors.

-David Lennon bumped into Nick Evans in Florida, which means he’s likely the player promoted to take Billy Wagner’s roster spot.  Pat Misch has been called back to the major leagues to fill Johan Santana’s spot.

-Also, J.J. Putz has been scratched from his first rehab appearance.  He was scheduled to pitch for the Brooklyn Cyclones tonight.  “To give him more time,” says Minaya.

Wright, Putz on track for return

David Wright was taking grounders at Citi Field and is on track to return to the Mets Sept. 1, the day after he is eligible to come off the DL.

J.J. Putz, who threw a simulated game on Saturday, tossing 19 pitches.  He will begin his rehab assignment on Tuesday with the Brooklyn Cyclones.  From Brooklyn he will pitch for the Binghamton Mets, then the major league club.

Though Wright should be in no rush at all to return, Putz has something to prove.  The Mets hold a 2010 club option worth $8.6 million with a $1 million buyout.

Yikes.  That’s a lot to pay a set-up man.

Rays and Marlins interested in Wagner

Based on an extremely small sample size (one inning of work), Billy Wagner looked awesome.

Since the pitcher is already on waivers, the rumors about what teams are interested are squeaking out.  Jayson Stark of ESPN.com notes that the Tampa Bay Rays and the Florida Marlins are two teams that scouts believe have expressed interest in Wagner.

The one hitch is the money left on Wagner’s contract.

There is $2.5 million left on the deal, with another $1 million buyout of his option for 2010.  Stark writes, “other clubs believe that the Mets will have to eat a major chuck of that money if they expect to land a decent prospect in return for Wagner.”

As a fan, I love Wagner.  I love his attitude on and off the mound.  But at this time, it’s time for the Mets to deal him.  Even though Francisco Rodriguez has shown signs of cracking and having a back-up closer (much like the plan was for J.J. Putz this year) wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

(Don’t forget, Putz has an option for 2010 as well, but it’s a little hefty to be paying that much for a set-up man.)

If the Mets can take most of Wagner’s contract on and dea l him away, they may be able to get a good, young player from a desperate team trying to make it in 2009.

I say the Mets pull the trigger on a deal if the right one comes along.

Wagner to Putz to K-Rod

Back in April, if you told me the Mets would be sporting Billy Wagner, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez in the same bullpen in August, I would have danced a jig and bought everyone a round.

Now that the Mets are days away from having this become a reality, I’m barely entertained by the idea.

K-Rod, as of late, has been all over the place.  One day he’s great, the other, not so much.  Putz and Wagner are coming back from long stints on the DL after surgery, so their ability is entirely a crapshoot.

Sitting in 4th place in late August, the idea of these three in the pen is more of a novelty and an audition.

Wagner has already been placed on waivers and Putz is going to try and show the Mets if they should pick up the option on the relief pitcher.

Wagner-to-Putz-to-K-Rod were the things Mets fans dreams were made of before the 2009 season began.  Now, it’s nothing more than an amusing storyline in a dismal season.

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!

Injury updates on Wagner, Putz, Beltran, Delgado, Reyes, Maine

Player: Billy Wagner

Update: Pitched in his first rehab game for the Single-A St. Lucie Mets.  He threw 10 pitches, eight of them for strikes in a perfect inning of work.  He struck out two.

ETA: Still a couple of weeks away.

Player: J.J. Putz

Update: Threw in the bullpen, 25 pitches, at Citi Field.  He claims he was “pain free” and hopes to be back within three weeks.

ETA: Three weeks, I guess.

Player: Carlos Beltran

Update: Tested out his knee by hitting BP before the games.  He was said to have launched one into the Pepsi Porch.  He’s still weary of running on it (i.e. playing the field).

ETA: Why not?  Three weeks for him too.

Player: Carlos Delgado

Update: Has been taking BP and has also been seen teaching Daniel Murphy the tricks of the trade at first base.

ETA: Month away.

Player: Jose Reyes

Update: Was scheduled to run bases, but due to a “setback,” did not.

ETA: Month or more.

Player: John Maine

Update: No action since Dr. James Andrews backed up diagnosis of no structural damage.

ETA: 2010.

Pitches / Plate Appearance for the Mets pitching staff

If you follow the blog or my tweets, you know that Francisco Rodriguez has thrown the most pitches out of the bullpen and Johan Santana has thrown the most pitches overall.

Here’s a chart of the Mets pitchers and their pitches per plate appearance.  Look who is “leading” the way…

Bullpen burnout

Much has been made of the workload of the bullpen lately.  Even Jerry Manuel has admitted to overuse.

“I've probably, to a fault, used them too much,” Manuel told David Lennon.  “What I have to do is probably trust the other people I have down there. If I'm not trusting them, then I should find someone else.”

Selecting the six main members of the bullpen, I took a look at games pitched in, innings pitched and pitches thrown.  No surprise Pedro Feliciano leads the way in games pitched in, but look who has thrown the most innings and pitches.

So Francisco Rodriguez, the closer and most highly paid pitcher in the pen, has thrown the most pitches, with 583 through June 21.  That’s great news.

K-Rod is sitting at 4.19 pitches/plate appearance through 139 plate appearances.  His highest in his career is 4.20 P/PA, when he faced 285 batters and threw 1,198 pitches in 2007.  He’s faced as many as 335 batters and thrown 1,352 pitches, both coming in 2004.  At least he’s somewhat used to it.

We’ve also seen Bobby Parnell’s season hit the skids lately.  He’s allowed six earned runs in his last four innings pitched, sporting a 13.50 ERA over those six games.

The answer to all of this bullpen usage is simple.  The Mets need to get longer outings out of their starters.  For that to actually happen, isn’t so simple.

We, as fans, don’t want to see repeats of 2007 and 2008 with the bullpen falling apart late in the game and late in the season.  Hopefully something changes before 2009 gets added to the list.

Fernando Nieve gets the start; Jon Switzer called up

Fernando Nieve, recently called up to replace J.J. Putz, will be tabbed for the start on Saturday.  Nieve will be pitching in place of John Maine, put on the DL last night with dead arm.

Nieve, a righty, has started five games with Buffalo and is 3-0 on the season.  He allowed 10 earned runs in 24 1-3 innings for a 3.75 ERA and a WHIP of 1.167.  Nieve has walked 10 and struck out 23, allowing 18 hits.

With Double-A Binghamton this season, Nieve made four starts and appeared in one other game.  In 18 1-3 innings, he has a 5.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.  He allowed 10 earned runs, walked six and struck out 19.

He pitched two innings of mop-up duty, ironically in a game that Maine started, back on June 26.  Nieve allowed one hit over the two innings on the bump, striking out two.

To replace Maine on the roster, the Mets called up lefty Jon Switzer.

Switzer is 0-2 in 25 1-3 innings with the Bisons.  He has a 2.13 ERA, allowing 10 runs, six earned.  He’s walked nine and struck out 29 batters.  Switzer has a 1.20 WHIP in 2009.

Previously in Boston’s minor league system last year, Switzer has pitched in the majors in four different seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays.  In 68 career games, he has a 6.11 ERA and a 1.794 WHIP.

Putz’s bone spur removed

J.J. Putz went under the knife at the Hospital for Special Surgery and had the bone spur removed from his right elbow.

Putz is expected to start throwing in six weeks and could return in 10-12 weeks.

I noted on Twitter, “I hope he wears it around his neck, a la Turk Wendell.”

J.J. Putz to have surgery, out 8-10 weeks

As expected, J.J. Putz will undergo surgery on his right elbow, according to WFAN.  Putz will have surgery on Tuesday.  It will likely keep him out for 8-10 weeks.

Update – 4:04 p.m.: Bart Hubbuch relays that Omar Minaya has now bumped it to 10 weeks minimum for Putz.

Putz, who was recently “demoted” to the 7th inning by Jerry Manuel, has been struggling with a bone spur in his elbow.  He received a cortisone shot in his arm and pitched well after, but since that wore off, the results have been messy.

According to Kevin Burkhardt, Omar Minaya will address the media at 4 p.m.  The team is currently touring Walter Reed Medical Center.

How appropriate.

As for who might replace him, Elmer Dessens is sporting a 1.29 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with Triple-A Buffalo.  In 28 innings, he’s allowed 18 hits and four runs.  He’s walked six and struck out 20.

** *** **

For more info on a bone spur, here’s my WebMD link for the day:

A bone spur forms as the body tries to repair itself by building extra bone. It generally forms in response to pressure, rubbing, or stress that continues over a long period of time.
---
Bone spurs can be surgically removed or treated as part of a surgery to repair or replace a joint when osteoarthritis has caused considerable damage and deformity. Examples might include repair of a bunion or heel spur in the foot or removal of small spurs underneath the point of the shoulder.

Putz back to NYC to see doctor, may need surgery

Honestly, is anyone surprised?

J.J. Putz revealed after Thursday’s loss that he has been pitching in pain for the past two days.  He announced he would not be traveling with the team to Washington, instead heading back to New York City to see a doctor about his elbow issues.

Putz has already gotten a cortisone shot for the bone spur in his elbow this season. 

Surgery is very likely Putz’s only option.

What should be called into question here is the evaluation of Putz before he came to the Mets.  Was he entirely healthy at the time of the trade?  Had he told the Mets everything that may have been ailing him?  Did the Mets do thorough enough of a job checking on Putz’s arm?

There are lots of questions here that may never be answered.

At this point, was the trade worth it?

Game Recap: Pirates 11 – Mets 6

Six runs on 10 hits should win you a baseball game.  Not the case when your starting pitcher allowed nine runs in 3 2-3 innings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (25-28) beat the New York Mets (28-24) by a score of 11-6.

Mike Pelfrey didn’t get off to a great start and never recovered.  Pelfrey allowed six hits and let in four runs in first inning alone.  He lasted only 3 2-3 innings, giving up nine hits and nine run total.  Eight of those runs were earned.  Pelfrey walked four and struck out three.

Sean Green turned in two innings of no-hit baseball, striking out one.  His ERA now stands at 5.96.

J.J. Putz entered for the seventh inning and allowed two runs to score on three hits, including a triple deep to right-center field by light-hitting Nyjer Morgan.

The Mets did get encouraging performances from Carlos Beltran and David Wright.  Beltran, returning from many days lost to the stomach virus, went 2-4 with a double and solo home run.  Wright reached base four times, with two walks, a single and an RBI double.

Fernando Martinez also picked up two hits, including an RBI double in the fifth inning.

Putz demoted to 7th inning, Parnell takes over 8th

The Mets acquired J.J. Putz in the off-season to be a shutdown 8th inning pitcher and bridge the gap to Francisco Rodriguez.  Putz has been anything but effective lately and has now been moved to the 7th inning, says David Lennon.

Bobby Parnell will take over the 8th inning, just like I had hoped for a few days ago.

Putz has been struggling with arm issues this season and it has shown.  He’s walked 19 batters this year, after walking just 26 in 2006 and 2007 combined.

I wrote this on Monday: “As it stands now, I’d be more confident seeing Parnell enter for the 8th inning, in the higher pressure situations.”

I’m glad Jerry Manuel agrees, for now.

“This is not long term,” Manuel told Rubin.