Valentin Hurts his Pinky

[Guest abogdan]

Willie on WFAN: Jose Valentin hurt his hand in an "altercation." Unavailable tonight. MetsBlog has an earlier WFAN report saying Valentin hurt his pinky punching a wall in the clubhouse.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

abogdan wrote: Willie on WFAN: Jose Valentin hurt his hand in an "altercation." Unavailable tonight. MetsBlog has an earlier WFAN report saying Valentin hurt his pinky punching a wall in the clubhouse.

I believe that's called a "walltercation."

[Frayed Knot]

One version has him getting hurt while breaking up a fight.

[DocTee]

Reading the report on mets.com it sounds as if the altercation that Jose was breaking up occured over the AS break in Puerto Rico

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

And it seems Mr. Gotay made the most of his opportunity Thursday night.

[soupcan]

New York Times

July 13, 2007

Injured Hand Sidelines Valent�n
By MICHAEL SACK SCHMIDT

Amid the changes swirling around the Mets yesterday, the team announced that second baseman Jos� Valent�n had injured his right hand in an altercation in Puerto Rico during the All-Star Game break.

Valent�n said yesterday that, out of frustration, he thrust his hand into a wall at his office in Manati, P.R., during an argument about the sale of the baseball team he owns there.

Valent�n was taken for X-rays, which were negative.

�I lost control,� Valent�n said after the Mets 3-2 victory against the Reds last night. �I just have a little bruise on my hand. That is it. I should be back in a couple of days. There is no problem throwing or nothing. It is just a little painful.�

Valent�n, who is batting .243 with 3 home runs and 17 runs batted in, did not play last night. Rub�n Gotay took his place in the lineup and went 2 for 4 with a home run and two runs batted in.

Gotay, 24, has been an effective replacement for Valent�n, batting .342 in 37 games. Valent�n has played in only 44 games because of a partly torn ligament in his right knee. He has worn a brace since returning from the disabled list June 7.

Valent�n, 37, re-signed with the Mets for $3.8 million in the off-season. If he reaches 400 plate appearances, he will receive a $4.3 million option for next season. He has had 152 plate appearances with 74 games remaining.

Also, the Mets signed the veteran infielder Marlon Anderson to a minor league contract yesterday, and they designated Julio Franco, one of their primary pinch-hitters, for assignment. Anderson, a second baseman who played for the Mets in 2005, has often been used as a pinch-hitter.

Anderson was released July 9 by the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 23 games, he hit .231 (6 for 26). He reported to Class AAA New Orleans yesterday.

[Farmer Ted]

He should tuck that pinky in when drinking his tea. 400 ABs for the auto contract extension to kick in doesn't look likely with Gotay and Easley outplaying him and the two Andersons in NO (Marlon and Hernandez). Valentin's only up to 152 ABs now.