Injury Updates

[Frayed Knot]

* El Duque back tonight obviously.
Haven't heard who has gone down but I assume it's the once-used Vargas

* Mota (not an injury I realize) is eligible Wednesday and all indications are that he'll be activated then

* Valentin - as early as late next week

* Alou - Eligible to come off DL on Tuesday. Will work out at Shea on Monday and the decision could be made then

* And there's been a Pedro sighting in South Florida. "Looking Good, feeling Good Bobby Ray" is the spin du jour.
Will start throwing off a mound "in June" (which could mean 6 days from now ... or maybe 36). August 1st still seems like a good bet.

[DocTee]

Good news all around... I'm interested to see the roster juggling over the next 10-12 days.

[Centerfield]

Shawn Green has a break in a small bone in his foot. Day-to-day...DL a possibility per the SNY report.

Good news is that Valentin may be back in a week or so according to Gary and Keith.

[Gwreck]

Centerfield wrote: Shawn Green has a break in a small bone in his foot. Day-to-day...DL a possibility per the SNY report.

I say DL him and just keep Gomez around for another 2-3 weeks. Don't see a big problem as long as Alou comes back.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, that's not good Mcnews. Unless you're Carlos Gomez.

Ben Johnson and/or Ricky Ledee might have mixed feelings also.

[Frayed Knot]

Green hoping not to be DL'd.
Sounds like he'll sit the weekend and be evaluated on the off-day Monday.
Could be that he'll wind up being "swapped" for Alou by Tuesday if he can't play through it.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Centerfield wrote: Shawn Green has a break in a small bone in his foot. Day-to-day...DL a possibility per the SNY report.

When/how did that happen?

[Frayed Knot]

Foul ball off his tootsie at some point in the middle of the game.
Didn't leave immediately, but I guess it started barking more as time went on.

[Guest iramets]

Radical idea #4: Now that Alou and Green have shot themselves in the foot, How about the new outfield is Beltran, Gomez and Endy, and the backups/pinch-hitters are the old guys (with Milledge coming up in case of further injury). Just call it money spent, and for the last 2/3s of the seasons, just accept that you've got a lot of salary sitting and some cheaper contracts (other than Beltran) starting.

[Elster88]

Endy is not an everyday player

[Benjamin Grimm]

Elster88 wrote: Endy is not an everyday player

I guess that settles it then.

[Frayed Knot]

A theoretical swapping of Alou/Green for Chavez/Gomez would represent a whopping loss of power.

For all the Endy-love amongst Met fans these days, he's got 16 career HRs (~1,750 ABs) including all of 5 in ~450 ABs during his "new & improved" NYM stint. And at age 29, it's not like he's likely to find some new power in the near future.
Who knows what to expect from Gomez, but it's not like he hit for a ton of power in the minors.

In all, it's not exactly what you like to see out of your corner OFers.
Alou + Green meanwhile produced approx 70 + 50 HRs in their last 1,700 or so ABs

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, I don't know about playing Endy AND Gomez every day, but if you're getting power from your other two outfield spots, I think it's worth considering.
Mookie Wilson was an everyday player, and he didn't have much power either.

I think given the age of Alou and Green, Endy will get plenty of starts in the outfield this year. He'll find his playing time. I just don't think it's fair to simply dismiss him as "not an everyday player."

[Elster88]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Well, I don't know about playing Endy AND Gomez every day, but if you're getting power from your other two outfield spots, I think it's worth considering. Mookie Wilson was an everyday player, and he didn't have much power either. I think given the age of Alou and Green, Endy will get plenty of starts in the outfield this year. He'll find his playing time. I just don't think it's fair to simply dismiss him as "not an everyday player."

It's fair to dismiss him as an everyday player if there's been no evidence of it in his career.

I'm not going to accept him on your word any more than you will dismiss him on mine.

But do I really need to make the case against his playing everyday? He's basically a fourth outfielder and I would've thought most people would think the same.

And I like Endy

[Benjamin Grimm]

If he's their third best outfielder he should play every day. And if he's not, he shouldn't.

And if Alou returns and plays like a 40-year-old, then Endy might very well be their third best outfielder.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think most such changes occur gradually, rather than radically. I'm more intrigued by Green being bumped to the bench, where he provides the late-inning lefthanded pop that we need, and Endy into the lineup, where he provides the contact, OBP, glove, and arm that we need.

Alou is another story. He's hit the ball hard from day one.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Endy has been a solid contributor for the Mets during his time in New York. However, I believe (as does Elster88) that he is best suited to be a fourth outfileder, late inning defensive replacement, left handed pinch hitter, or pinch runner. Alou and Green have both hit pretty well this season and have certainly done nothing to lose their starting roles.

The teams depth and bench should be vastly improved with the return of Alou and Valentin. I would be getting pretty nervous if I was Newhan or Gotay. Mota's activation should give the bullpen further depth.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm not arguing that he's better than Green or Alou. (Although he may be.)

I'm just saying that just because he hasn't played every day, it doesn't mean he can't.

Was Mookie Wilson a whole lot better than Endy Chavez is? I don't think so, and HE played every day for a championship team.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I realize that the more he plays, the less likely it is that he'll maintain the .837 OPS. But I think the team has an interest in subtly dialing up his appearances to see how much they can get away with.

That said, with his OPS+ at 128, Green's at 133, and Alou's at 124, nothing radical is called for.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I guess my point is that both Green and Alou have been hitting this season and have subsequently done nothing to lose their role as starters. Endy has done a great job and his numbers closely mirror those of Green and Alou, though Green has supplied far more power.

player	AB	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Alou	110	2	.318	.374	.445	.819
Green	169	5	.314	.373	.485	.858
Chavez	74	1	.324	.378	.459	.837

The three of them look pretty interchangeable thus far. It's a great situation for the Mets to find themselves in. I can see Endy getting some starts for Alou against tough righthanders. Alou would probably remain fresher with additional days off and Endy will still get ample chances to contribute.

Damn these tables take a long time to construct.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, if they so far equally good hitters, it would suggest to Randolph to try and sneak Endy in a little bit more here and a little bit more there until the three are approaching equal PT, as he's a far superior fielder, a far superior arm, a far superior baserunner, and a far less fragile fella.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

That was why I stated it would probably be good to give Endy some starts for Alou against tough righthanders. It appears he may need to take a few starts for Green to allow the small fracture in his foot to heal once Alou is back.

I'm just glad that there will be a marked improvements in the quality of the pinch hitters available to Randolph once Valentin and Alou return.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Now, while I'm not supporting the changing of the guard for either guy, I just don't really think it's a question of anybody having to do somthing to lose a job. If somebody else is bringing more to the table, he gets the better seat.

After seven innings tonight, Endy has brought three hits, five total bases, a stolen base, a caught stealing, and a double robbed from the other team with a diving catch.

Nice.

[Elster88]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: If he's their third best outfielder he should play every day. And if he's not, he shouldn't. And if Alou returns and plays like a 40-year-old, then Endy might very well be their third best outfielder.

I think you're taking the whole concept of an "everday player" a lot more literally than I meant it. And I think you realize that too. Am I wrong?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yes.

An everyday player is one that plays every day.

How else can I interpret it?

[Elster88]

I don't believe you.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Fine.