Alex Cora leaves winter-ball game with back discomfort

According to Beisbol Invernal, via MetsBlog, Alex Cora was forced to leave a game for Criollos de Caguas with apparent back pain.

Reads Google Translator…

The Creoles also seen leaving the pitch with back discomfort alleged in the second inning for his valuable 'infielder', Alex Cora, who started last night in defending the run. He was replaced by Danny Gonzalez.

I love that ‘infielder’ is in quotes, as if he’s some sort of imposter.

But he’s worth $2 million with a vesting option for another $2 million, right Omar?

Cora contract details

As reported earlier, Alex Cora and the Mets have agreed to a $2 million dear, pending a physical.

Here are the contract details from Ken Rosenthal…

Cora can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses: $250,000 each for 80, 90, 100 and 110 starts. There is a $2 million option for 2011 that becomes guaranteed if he has about 80 starts next season.

No chance Cora makes 80 starts (again) for the Mets in 2010.  Unless 2009 happens all over again.  But that’s not possible.

…Right?

Essentially, this is a one-year deal for $2 million for Cora.  I like him back, but it’s still too much money.

Thanks, Nick!

Report: Alex Cora returning to Mets for $2 million [Updated]

Update – 2:48 p.m.: Bart Hubbuch confirms Cora is coming back for $2 million, pending a physical.

Original Post: According to a report out of WEEI, the Mets and Alex Cora are closing in on a deal worth $2 million, relays Adam Rubin.

The contract would also contain a vesting option for 2011.

He appeared in 82 games for the Mets last year, hitting .251 / .320 / .310 with one home run and 18 RBI.  His season ended when he decided to have surgery on the ligaments he had torn in both his thumbs.

Cora made the same amount of money last season.

Link: Rubin chock full of info

Adam Rubin’s latest blog post is teeming with info from day one of the GM Meetings in Chicago.

In brief…

• Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are likely too expensive.
• Mike Cameron is a longshot.
• The Mets really want to trade Luis Castillo.
• The free agent catching market is terrible.
• The Mets want to re-sign Alex Cora.
• Tim Redding and Jeremy Reed will probably be non-tendered.
• Johan Santana and Jose Reyes are healing.  Santana will pitch on his normal winter schedule, while Reyes is now walking sans-crutches.

For more, head over to Rubin’s blog.

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.

Valdez takes Cora’s spot on roster

As expected, Wilson Valdez has officially taken Alex Cora’s spot on the 25-man roster, reports Adam Rubin.

Cora, who will have surgery on both thumbs due to torn ligaments in each, will miss the remainder of the season.

Valdez was pulled from the Bisons game last night in anticipation of a call-up.  Valdez was 12-for-his-last-27 with Triple-A Buffalo. 

He hit .208 / .269 / .333 with three RBI in 26 plate appearances with the Mets in 11 games earlier this year.

Cora out for the year with two bum thumbs

Alex Cora will miss the remainder of the year as he will have surgery to repair torn ligaments in both his thumbs.

Yeah, Cora had been playing with torn ligaments in not just one, but both his thumbs.

Crazy.

First up for surgery, his right thumb.  Followed five weeks later by his left thumb.

Wilson Valdez was pulled from the Triple-A Bisons game in anticipation of a call-up.

Cora was a good bench signing who was forced into a major role due to the Mets injuries this season.  I wouldn’t mind seeing him back with the Mets, purely as a guy off the bench.

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!

What a snoozer

What was the most exciting thing about last night’s Mets game?  Probably seeing my Twitter friend Doug Whitehorn just miss catching a foul ball.

That says something.

The Mets lost their eighth of their last ten and are on the brink of a second consecutive season getting swept out of San Diego.

Bobby Parnell made his first major league start, lasting only 2 1-3 innings due to his pitch limit.  He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks, though one run was charged to him after he left the game.  He needed 68 pitches to get through seven outs, 42 of them landing for strikes.

Sean Green was the one bump in the otherwise decent bullpen effort, allowing one run in his 1-3 of an inning.

The Mets bats were again held quiet against a rookie pitcher they had never seen before.  The lone Mets run came on an Alex Cora solo home run in the first inning.  It was Cora’s first home run since April 29, 2007.

Johan Santana is on the mound for the Mets today as they try to avoid a sweep.

Subway Series recap [Photo]

In lieu of a recap, I’ll just post this image.  It sums it up pretty nicely…

The State of the Mets [6/26/09]

After a long time off, I’m back with another edition of The State of the Mets.

Today, I discuss the injury bug, Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans and update you on John Maine and Oliver Perez.

Game Recap: Mets 6 – Cardinals 4

The B-team notches a win.

The New York Mets (35-33) beat the St. Louis Cardinals (39-32) by a score of 6-4.

Tim Redding was great.  Sure, he gave up four earned runs, but that’s what you expect out of him.  Holding the Cardinals to only four runs is quite an accomplishment.  Seven innings for Redding, who was victimized by two home runs, finally earned his first win with the Mets.

Very nice, Redding.  Maybe you shouldn’t have started the 8th inning, lowering your “should have been” runs to three, but it’s OK.  I’ll take it.

Brian Stokes entered with a one run lead, a runner on first and Albert Pujols at the plate.  Stokes came through brilliantly, inducing a double play ball to get out of the inning and avoid any damage.

Love it.  Absolutely love it.  Were you watching, Jerry?

Francisco Rodriguez set the Cards down 1-2-3.

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

Two players had stand out nights for the Mets on a night where the team knocked out 14 hits. Luis Castillo went 3-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored and Omir Santos had a perfect night, going 4-4 with a run and an RBI.

What’s up with the catchers lately?  Whatever it is, I could get used to it.

Daniel Murphy picked up two hits, including a solo home run into the visiting bullpen in the 5th inning.  Alex Cora picked up two RBI on singles in the 6th  and 8th innings.

And Murphy has more home runs than David Wright.  Wow.

Cora has earned every single penny of his $2.5 million contract.  For a guy that was supposed to be a backup forced into everyday duty, he’s been nothing short of spectacular.

Game Recap: Mets 6 – Orioles 4

It’s never, ever easy.

The New York Mets (33-29) beat the Baltimore Orioles (27-37) by a score of 6-4.

Mike Pelfrey set down the first 11 batters that faced him before giving up a single to Nick Markakis in the fourth inning.  Pelfrey got into trouble in the fifth, but struck out Brian Roberts with the bases loaded before any damage was done.

Pelfrey let up two runs over 5 2-3 innings, both coming on a Markakis home run to right field in the sixth inning.  Pelfrey allowed five hits, walked three and struck out two.

Not a spectacular start, but Pelfrey did just enough.  He needed 109 pitches as he worked through the last few innings on the bump.

Sean Green relieved Pelfrey and threw 1 2-3 hitless innings.  Green hasn’t allowed a run in his last 14 innings.

In May, Green was awful.  In June, he’s been spectacular.

Bobby Parnell entered for the bottom of the ninth and allowed two hits to lead off the inning before being removed in favor of Francisco Rodriguez.  K-Rod walked in a run and induced a ground ball, allowing two runs to score, before striking out Adam Jones to end the game to notch a win for the Mets and a save for himself.

Whewwww.  Is anyone else worried about Parnell?  I am.

Fernando Martinez started the Mets off in the fourth inning with a walk.  After Brian Roberts booted a would-be double play ball by Carlos Beltran, the Mets strung together four hits and a sacrifice fly to plate four runs against Jeremy Guthrie.

The Mets again got on the board in the seventh, with what ended up being the winning runs.  The bases were loaded with two outs for David Wright.  Wright skied a ball to shallow right field, which send first baseman Aubrey Huff back.  Huff attempted to make an over the shoulder catch, but the ball fell to the grass, allowing Alex Cora and Martinez to score.

Cora, Wright and Schneider each had multiple hit games.

Again, whew.  Wright didn’t bust out of the box on the ball, as he should have been standing on second when this play was done.  There needs to be a better attention to detail.

It shouldn’t have been this close, but a win is a win.

Game Recap: Phillies 5 – Mets 4

A spectacular game, even if the Mets came out on the Mets came out on the short end.

The Philadelphia Phillies (34-23) beat the New York Mets (31-26) by a score of 5-4 in 11 innings.

Mike Pelfrey pitched six good innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run.  The seventh started with two straight hits, followed by a misplay by Carlos Beltran in centerfield to load the bases.  Sean Green entered and let all three inherited runners score.  Pelfrey was charged with four runs (two earned) after a David Wright error kept the door open for the Phillies in the 7th.

Pedro Feliciano pitched a shutout inning and Francisco Rodriguez contributed two innings in relief.  Bobby Parnell pitched the 11th and allowed a leadoff home run to Chase Utley, his second of the game, to break the tie.  It was the first home run Parnell let up in his career.

The Mets were hot early, scoring four times in the first three innings.  From there, the bats went quiet with runners in scoring position.

Pelfrey helped himself, going 2-2 with a double, run scored and one RBI.  Alex Cora picked up two RBIs with a single and a groundout.  Luis Castillo also picked up an RBI.

In the bottom of the 10th with Fernando Martinez at first after a single, David Wright smoked a line drive to right field.  Jayson Werth came over and made a game-saving diving catch.  If the ball had gotten by him, the game was over.

Do the Mets need to make a move? [Shortstop]

The first in a series of posts looking at the Mets and if they need to make a trade.  Am I pulling the emergency lever too soon?  Maybe, but it needs to be discussed.

With Jose Reyes is likely out until the All-Star Break, meaning the Mets must rely on Alex Cora and Wilson Valdez to carry them at short.  Can they manage? 

So far, Cora has been pretty good.  He is playing through injury, with a torn ligament in his thumb, so that might be something to keep an eye on.  Valdez is more known for his glove, though he’s already picked up four hits and three RBI in 13 at bats. 

Don’t expect either of those to continue.  Cora is a backup and Valdez can’t hit a lick.  The Mets might be interested in making a move, and a few are seemingly available.  Jack Wilson from Pittsburgh is an interesting option, especially since the team seems to be in a selling-mode.  The Pirates didn’t take much for All-Star Nate McLouth, the Mets might be able to get a bargain on Wilson.

The question here, like above, is what happens when Reyes is ready to return.  Wilson is a starting shortstop and outside of last year, has played over 135 games since 2002.  If Reyes is slotted to come back sometime in July, maybe the Mets can’t trade Wilson elsewhere when he returns. 

Above all, I’d like to see the Mets make a play for Mark DeRosa.  He’s a utility infielder, playing at all infield positions and both corner outfield spots.  The Cleveland Indians are tanking and DeRosa is supposedly being shopped around.  DeRosa is batting .264 / .332 / .433 in 2009, playing a majority time at third base. 

This is likely the most logical move for the Mets, as he can play almost any position.

With one of these trades Cora could be slotted back into his backup role for Reyes and Luis Castillo, who needs days off.

I don’t think the Mets can make it by with just Cora and Valdez splitting time, especially for the amount of time Reyes is supposed to miss.  I think the Mets may be best suited to trade for DeRosa, and if not, for Wilson, to fill in while Reyes is out.

Cora to DL; Ramon Martinez called up

Alex Cora has landed on the disabled list with a torn ligament in his thumb. Ramon Martinez has been called up and will start at shortstop.

Cora injured his thumb sliding into second base during the first inning of Sunday night's game in San Francisco.

Martinez made a handful of starts for the Mets at the end of the 2008 season had been with Triple-A Buffalo before being called up.

Game Recap: Marlins 7 – Mets 4

Another lead that slipped away.

The Florida Marlins (12-8) snapped their seven-game losing streak, beating the New York Mets (9-11) by score of 7-4.

The Mini Recap

Livan Hernandez nearly turned in a quality start, allowing three runs over 5 1-3 innings.  The Mets bullpen, actually just Sean Green, led the lead slip away.

The Mets bats, as usual, scored in the first inning, and couldn’t muster much after that.  Gary Sheffield had a two-run triple in the first inning. Alex Cora and David Wright added RBIs in the second and fifth respectively.

For the full recap, please read Mets Watch Lead
Slip Away In Loss on Baseball Digest.

Tatis at second?

Another Jerry Manuel confession or just words?

Manuel has said a few things and never followed through on them. This smells like one of those times.

Fernando Tatis played his first few innings at second base in the spring training finale against the Baltimore Orioles and now Manuel claims he will use him at second base to get him into the lineup.

"I would start him there," Manuel told reporters.

I call shenanigans. If Manuel was planning on playing Tatis there, why hasn't he seen any time there until the last few innings of spring training? That just doesn't make any sense to me.

The Mets also have Alex Cora for a reason.

Manuel, just play Cora as the backup second baseman. Maybe even Marlon Anderson. Find Tatis time elsewhere. Not every player is suited for every position.

The State of the Mets -- 2/13/09

Here is the fifth edition of The State of the Mets.

This week, I talk about the World Baseball Classic, some bonehead signings this off season and pitchers and catchers reporting for duty.

Enjoy.

The State of the Mets -- 1/15/09

Here is the second edition of The State of the Mets.

I cover Derek Lowe, Ben Sheets, Oliver Perez and Alex Cora.

Enjoy.

(Ed. note: I'm slowly improving this. Soon, you won't have to stare at my ugly mug the whole time.)