Mets baseball blog

Mets remain positive on Beltran

Carlos Beltran sought a second opinion on his ailing right knee from DR.Richard Steadman yesterday, assistant GM John Ricco said, to review the diagnosis of a bone bruise that Mets doctors provided.

There's no indication that anything severe such as microfracture surgery - which Steadman's Vail, Colo., clinic specializes in - may be required, Ricco added.

The collective bargaining agreement allows for players to seek a team-funded second opinion, and Ricco suggested that agent Scott Boras preferred that Beltran see Steadman. "There's no reason for us not to be in favor of that," Ricco said. Continue

Mets continue losing ways

Fernando Nieve came crashing back to reality. The Mets dipped below .500 for the first time since May 5 as a result. And if you're thinking the core will be back soon with a life preserver, not so fast, said Jerry Manuel.

"I'll tell you, I haven't gotten anything favorable at this point," the manager confessed after the Mets lost to the Brewers, 10-6, Monday night, referring to any indication Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes or Carlos Delgado will be back soon. "This might be what we have to deal with for a while. What I have to do is figure out a way to get this group to play at its highest level." Continue

Mets swept by Yanks at Citi Field

By the end, the place was overrun with Yankees fans and Yankees chants, and the Mets were left to slink back to their clubhouse with all of that venom echoing in their ears, with a haunting sense of foreboding lingering to their souls.

In their immediate past was another loss, this one 4-2 to the Yankees, this one given a humiliating exclamation point when Mariano Rivera drew a bases-loaded walk against K-Rod to drive in an insurance run. The Yankees came into Citi Field and took no mercy on the bleeding Mets.

And now things really get fun. Continue

Bad News Mets get crushed by Yanks

No matter how many times CC Sabathia said he felt fine and no matter that he threw a clean bullpen session earlier in the week, Joe Girardi wasn't going to be convinced his ace's arm was sound until he had more proof. Early in Friday night's game against the Mets, the Yankee manager got it when he peered up at the Citi Field scoreboard and saw the velocity readings as Sabathia throttled the Mets. Continue

Mets make it 3 of 4 vs Cards

Is the Great Johan Santana Scare officially in the past?

At a time when the achy, breaky Mets are desperate for positive developments, Santana posted his second straight strong start, further distancing himself from his debacle in the Bronx two Sundays ago. And in doing so, Santana helped the Mets take a series for the first time in three weeks.

In the Mets' 3-2 win over the NL Central-leading Cardinals Thursday afternoon, Santana (9-5) fought through early trouble, neutralized Albert Pujols and allowed two runs (one earned) in seven innings. Rest assured, he again looked nothing like the guy who gave up nine runs in three innings against the Yankees. Continue

Mets rout Cardinals

Oliver Perez might have to settle for returning in a relief role after two more rehab starts. After all, Jerry Manuel can't justify pulling Fernando Nieve from the rotation right now.

Nieve tossed six scoreless innings, Nick Evans belted a two-run homer in his first start this season and David Wright went 4-for-4 as the Mets routed the Cardinals, 11-0, Wednesday night at Citi Field.

The Mets (36-34), after getting shut out and mustering only two hits Tuesday, and despite lacking Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado, had a season-high scoring output. They pulled back within 11/2 games of Philadelphia and avoided dropping to .500 for the first time since May 6. Continue

Pinero dominates Mets

Joel Pineiro had the kind of night pitchers dream about. He had the same number of hits as the opposition got off him: two.

The Cardinals righthander buried the Mets in an avalanche of sinkers Tuesday night as he shut them out, 3-0, at Citi Field. He got 22 ground-ball outs and needed only 100 pitches to complete the gem.

"That was a classic today," St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa said. "What a clinic he put on."

As Pineiro carved up the Mets, he conjured one of the more painful recent memories for their fans. This performance was eerily similar to the one he put on in the final week of the 2007 season. It was a make-up of a rainout on the last Thursday of the season and Pineiro helped the Mets along on their historic end-of-season collapse by tossing eight scoreless innings. Continue

Mets team effort results in win vs Cards

Jerry Manuel's charges answered his call.

Moments after Carlos Beltran became the ninth player to join the Mets' phone-book sized disabled list yesterday afternoon, Manuel said it was time for those left behind to "step up to another level."

Boy, did they. Overlooked reliever Brian Stokes stepped higher than anyone, but Stokes was far from the only second-tier Met to take it up a notch in a tense 6-4 win over the Cardinals at Citi Field.

The Mets also shook off Beltran's trip to the DL and a no-injury car accident involving Jose Reyes with huge contributions from a host of unlikely characters, including Tim Redding, Omir Santos, Alex Cora, Daniel Murphy and Luis Castillo. Continue

Beltran heads to DL

The core is down to one player: David Wright.

Carlos Beltran became the latest Met to land on the disabled list, when an MRI exam on Monday revealed a worsened bone bruise in his right knee, GM Omar Minaya said. Beltran's loss for at least 15 days, and potentially through the All-Star break, leaves the lineup dangerously thin. Three-quarters of the "core" is on the DL, with Beltran joining Carlos delgado (hip) and Jose Reyes (hamstring). Continue

Parnell kills Mets again

Bobby Parnell's stock rose as quickly as the 100 mph fastball he occasionally flashes, with Jerry Manuel even anointing the rookie the primary set-up man once J.J Putz needed elbow surgery. Now, Parnell is plummeting just as fast.

A half-inning after Brian Schneider belted his second mammoth three-run homer of the series, Manuel asked Parnell to protect a one-run lead in the seventh. Parnell surrendered a two-run homer to B.J. Upton and all four batters he faced scored. Continue