Tag Archives: John Maine

Sep 02

METS CHAT ROOM: Game #133; Redding tries to stop slide.

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CHAT ROOM

CHAT ROOM

Actually, the headline is a misnomer. The only thing that will stop the slide is the end of the season. Tim Redding can only slow it down a bit.

The Mets have David Wright back, but he’s not in the line-up tonight. Jerry Manuel said he would rest him after his return. First, he said Wright would sit tonight. Then he said Wright would sit the first two games and sit tomorrow. Pick a plan, any plan.

Gary Sheffield is also out of the line-up, and with each game he misses it becomes more apparent the Mets missed their chance to unload him when they pulled him off waivers earlier this month. They might not have gotten much, but what are they getting now? Especially since the odds are long he’ll be back next year.

REDDING: Another stop-gap start.

REDDING: Another stop-gap start.

The Mets have lost 22 of their last 33 games to fall completely out of contention. They’ve been in a slide since before the All-Star break when John Maine, Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes went down with injuries. The pitchers fell apart in the second half when Johan Santana and Oliver Perez were disabled.

In all fairness, the season was gone before Santana and Perez. Their departures simply opened the way for guys like Nelson Figueroa, Bobby Parnell and Redding (2-4, 5.94) to join the rotation.

Redding pitched well in his last start, giving up three runs in 6 2/3 innings in a victory at Florida. He is 1-2 with a 4.40 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies.

Sep 02

METS NOTEBOOK/LINE-UP: Beltran update.

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* Center fielder Carlos Beltran will begin a minor league rehab assignment tonight at Brooklyn. His bone bruise is healing and the team said he could return next week at home against the Marlins or for the weekend series at Philadelphia.

BELTRAN: At Brooklyn tonight.

BELTRAN: At Brooklyn tonight.


A lot of people have written Beltran off for this season, but we’ll see. Things have changed before.

* One person we’ll definitely not see this year is John Maine, who threw in a simulated game yesterday at Port St. Lucie. He’s scheduled to pitch in a minor league rehab game Saturday.

Personally, I’m not counting on anything from Maine anymore. I believe the Mets should go into the off-season thinking he’s not in their plans. If he comes back that’s a bonus, but they should by-pass the opportunity to get somebody else in the hope Maine will return.

* David Wright took a lot of ribbing for his oversized helmet, but said he’ll keep wearing it. Wright returned from the DL Monday. Wright is not in the line-up tonight as manager Jerry Manuel said he wants to rest him to see how he responded to playing again. No qualms with that decision.

Here’s tonight’s line-up vs. Rockies:

Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Cory Sullivan, LF
Fernando Tatis, 3B
Brian Schneider, C
Wilson Valdez, SS
Tim Redding, RP

Aug 04

Next year’s rotation?

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Looking at what the Mets are throwing out there these days, it’s not hard to envision few changes with next year’s rotation. Can’t we write off a blockbuster trade because of the lack of minor league depth, and because we know they aren’t going to make another $100-million signing? John Lackey they aren’t going to get.

So, we’ll have Johan Santana as the ace, the struggling Mike Pelfrey still trying to piece it together, Oliver Perez because you know they can’t trade him, Jon Niese vying for a spot and John Maine if he’s healthy and they even tender him a contract.

Then we’ll probably see a different version of Tim Redding and Livan Hernandez, although, with few other options, I can see Hernandez Part II.

Jul 29

Maine examined ….

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MAINE: In happier times.

MAINE: In happier times.

The Mets could get disturbing news from Birmingham, Ala., when John Maine’s right shoulder is examined by sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

The Mets aren’t even thinking about Maine returning this season and his career could be in jeopardy. The pinched nerve in his shoulder isn’t getting any better. Last season there was brief talk about Maine being moved to the bullpen and that option could be revisited.