The John Delcos New York Mets Report Featuring Mets' commentary, analysis and news.

John Maine is one of the things the Mets hope to salvage from this dead season. Maine, who spent the bulk of the season on the disabled list, is the perfect example not to get too excited over the phrase, “will have surgery but is expected to be ready for spring training.

Maine underwent shoulder surgery last September, but was sidelined again with the generation of scar tissue which irritated the nerve and caused weakness in the arm. There has been a drop-off in velocity which Maine hasn’t regained. However, he’s looking at it as spring training when a pitcher gradually builds up his arm strength over five or six starts.

Maine will make his third start since coming off the disabled list tonight at Florida and will get another before the season ends. Maine is hoping get back enough strength to where he can look at going to his normal offseason program.

Maine is coming off a strong outing last Sunday against Washington in which he gave up two hits in five scoreless innings. He threw 75 pitches and could go as high as 90 against the Marlins. In his first start off the DL, he gave up a run in three innings at Philadelphia.

“I’m happy with it,” Maine told reporters about his progress. “I think I went out and did my job. I think you can always be a little more pleased with your performance when you look back at it. But I thought I did okay.

“I don’t go out there thinking it’s going to hurt. You can’t. It hasn’t hurt. I’m hoping it’s behind me.”

There had been speculation Maine would not be offered arbitration and would be cut loose. However, the pitching-depleted Mets will undoubtedly offer arbitration considering how well he has pitched. Maine can become a free agent after the 2011 season.

Maine took a step back last season after winning 15 games in 2007. He is 6-5 with a 4.13 ERA this season.

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NOTE: Something has come up and I don’t think I’ll make the chat room. Please carry on without me and have a great night.-JD

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Carlos Delgado has scrapped hopes of returning this season and returned home to Puerto Rico. He obviously doesn’t want to be around this teammates for the concluding days of this lost season, and most likely said good-bye for the last time.

My feeling it the Mets won’t bring back the injury prone Delgado for one more season, believing Daniel Murphy has shown enough to be entrusted with first base for 2010.

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Delgado signs with somebody and hits 30 homers next year. It also wouldn’t surprise me if he had a year like 2007 and the first half of 2008 when there were rumblings he should be traded or released.

Delgado is at the point of his career where you can’t realistically rely on him to remain healthy, and if he is, to produce the 30 homers and 100 RBI he generally has over the past decade.

Will Murphy be able to produce healthy Delgado-like numbers? Probably not right away, and maybe not ever, because Delgado was a special player. However, when the Mets can’t expect Delgado-like numbers from Delgado, it is time to cut ties and go younger.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

For one game, at least, the Mets played the way they promised during spring training as they rallied in the eighth and ninth innings to severely damage the Florida Marlins’ pennant aspirations.

Three players stood out: Tim Redding, Jeff Francoeur and Cory Sullivan.

* Redding has pitched well since joining the Mets’ depleted rotation, good to the point where he should be brought back to compete for the fifth-starter or long-relief role. Of all the throw-ins into the rotation, he has outpitched Bobby Parnell, Nelson Figueroa and Pat Misch. He also has a strong track record against Philly.

* Francoeur has been a joy to watch since coming over from Atlanta. He clearly likes playing in New York and hustles all the time. He should be rewarded with an extension. Given a full season, he could hit 20 to 25 homers next year.

* Sullivan is an absolute professional. Teams need role players such as him and the Mets would be wise to bring him back, as well as Alex Cora.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Carlos Beltran knows all about losing, having beginning his career with the woeful Kansas City Royals. This season has been a flashback.

“It was like this for many years in Kansas City. Every single year.” – Beltran

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

The 1967 American League pennant race was arguably the most gripping in history with Boston, Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit all in contention in the final week. For much of the season, the Angels were in it, and were the first to fade away. Next to go were the White Sox, who had a domineering staff but couldn’t score and runs.

On this day, Carl Yastrzemski hits his 43rd homer, but the Red Sox lose to Cleveland. Harmon Killebrew homers twice as Minnesota beats the Angels. Detroit’s Mickey Lolich threw a 1-0 shutout at the Yankees.

At the end of the day, Minnesota (91-68) led idle Chicago (89-68) and Boston (90-69) by a game and the Tigers (89-69) by 1.5 games.

The Red Sox beat the Twins on the season’s final day, but had to wait around for Detroit to lose to the Angels to clinch.

I followed that race with a transistor radio late at night and pulled for the Red Sox as I grew to like them because Tony Conigliaro was one of my favorite players growing up.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Tim Redding is pitching for a job in 2010. What are the other Mets playing for? Redding (3-6, 5.25) is 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in six outings since returning to the rotation, numbers that add up to effectiveness and worthy for consideration as a long-man or fifth starter. A .500 record makes it as a fifth starter, and that’s what he has been over the past month. He gave up two runs in seven innings last Saturday against Washington in more than a quality start. Actually, those are the numbers the Mets are seeking from Mike Pelfrey.

I like Redding as he’s a no-excuse kind of guy. He’s been stand-up and hasn’t thrown his teammates under the bus, which Mets starters would be justified in doing lately considering the offense. Over the last 16 games, the Mets have scored three or fewer runs 10 times. In that span, they have lost 13 games.

It has been draining, said manager Jerry Manuel, who for now, has a vote of confidence for next season.

“The losing is really difficult. It takes a lot out of you,” Manuel said. “You’re not playing for anything, but there is still a level of pride. You try to still give your fans hope that things will be OK.”

With his start tonight, third baseman David Wright will move ahead of Howard Johnson to set the club record for games at third base with 836. Wright enters the series on a 2-for-15 slide. He has batted .200 in 11 games against the Marlins this year.

The Marlins lead the season series 10-5.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

The Mets claimed Jack Egbert on waivers from the Chicago White Sox.

Egbert, 26 and from Staten Island, made two relief appearances for the White Sox in April, and gave up eight runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. Seems like he’ll fit right on in.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

The Mets open a three game series tonight at Florida with Tim Redding going against Ricky Nolasco.

Here’s the line-up:

Angel Pagan, LF
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Josh Thole, C
Anderson Hernandez, SS
Tim Redding, RHP

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09