First of all the game is at 1PM, so why not see the doc either at 9AM or in the afternoon ? It’s not like Reyes is going to go a full 9 today. Why can’t the sawbones come to Mets camp to see Reyes or even co-ordinate with the Mets training  and medical staff to handle this in camp?   Besides it’s Thursday, everyone knows that doctors take off on Wednesday to play golf. 

Reyes says this had absolutely nothing to do with his legs that his hammy is dandy so that makes this trip to the doctor even more curious.

You would think with the teams track record on medical issues and the fragile psyche of  it’s fan base the front office would handle this a bit differently.  

So now let’s add Beltran’s knee, Escobar sore arm, Frankie Rodz pink eye to this mystery doctors appointment of Reye’s to the legend of the Mets front office reign of error

It’s that time again when my head is so full of shit…..errrrr I mean minutia that I have to do a purge, a cleansing of the mind if you will, so as always this becomes a bumpy ride with a lot of detours so as the late great Bob Murphy would say “fasten your seat belts”

Does anyone really care what Tiger Woods has to say today? And why does the MSM feel they need an explanation for Woods dirty deeds? They only people Le Tigre` should make amends with is his wife, family and most importantly his sponsors who I’d say Woods fears the most at pissing off. Sure Tiger makes a bundle on the PGA Tour but his empire was built on his ability to hawk products and that has been severely damaged and his imagine is most likely beyond repair. Besides, nothing gets settle with the Mr. and Mrs. Woods until they both appear on Oprah. I could care less who Tiger was knockin’ boots with but I will say this, if he were my son in law or brother in law, he’d be doing this presser today with a wired jaw.

No training and medical staff has ever been under more scrutiny like the Mets staff, seriously can you name the trainer or team doctor of any other team in sports? So much as the focus this spring is on the players, there is as much or even more focus on the medical and training staff. With that, the staff has come up with a slogan “Prevention & Recovery”, it seems there are signs with this motto all over the St. Lonesome complex. It means that the med/training staff has made a conscience effort to do everything in their power to keep the players on the field and out of the MRI tube. The staff will focus more on stretching and agility exercises and working on areas that are more conducive to playing baseball and less emphasis on weight training. I’ll take this as a huge positive as it shows the organization detects a big flaw in the training program and they made a big adjustment. See I can be optimistic……..some…………what………….      

When I first heard that Eddie House was going to the Knicks for Nate Robinson as a C’s fan I was pissed, because I’m a big Eddie H fan but after thinking it over this deal could be the big jolt the team needs. Robinson is younger than House and can be a instant offense guy that House used to be and that’s the big issued here because as much of a House fan I am, the old shooting guard ain’t what he used to be. With Nate Robinson on board the Celtics now become the most entertaining team in the Association. Adding Robinson’s personality to KG, Perk, PP, RONDO and Big Baby could just energizes the Celtics to Banner 18.

Jerry Manuel will make his first spring statement today. There are a few Manuel stories in the fish wraps today bottom line is the J-Man Comedy Tour will be canceled if the Mets have a bad first month of the season, and that’s no joke!

“YOU KNOW WHO I AM ? LOOK AT ME BITCHES!!!!! YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I’M JOHAN SANTANA!!!! THE BEST THERE IS, THE BEST THERE WAS, THE BEST THERE EVER WILL BE!!!! (Thanks for the loan Brett Hit Man Hart)

It’s Here! It’s Here! No not the new phone book but something better, The Bloomberg Sports Statistical and Analytical Tool to help you win your Fantasy League.  The Draft Kit is available for $19.95 and gives you updated player info throughout spring training, interactive draft tools, multi-stat comparisons and a whole lot more. The In-Season Tool gives you all that plus up to the minute player updates with stats and news for $24.95 or get both for $31.95. If you’re a serious fantasy player you should check out this product.

Hummmmmmmmm Jeff Francoeur……..very interesting this Frenchy character………..

I am half way through reading Willie Mays, The Life, The Legend by James Hirsch (Simon and Schuster) and I’m enjoying every page. I‘ve always liked Mays and I remember when he came back to the Mets even though he was not even half the player/immortal he was (I’m up to Mays and the Giants playing there last season in NYC and Leo Durocher leaving the team and the rough transition that Mays had from Durcoher to Bill Rigney and dealing with the deterioration of the Giants on and off the field) and so far in my reading, I’m still trying to get over the naive Willie Mays who was babied by Leo Durocher and coddled by Horace Stoneham. The early chapters are fascinating and Hirsch’s writing is compelling as he shows Mays going from a high school kid to a Negro League star and then barnstorming the South to being signed by the Giants as a 19 year old and the whirlwind move from being a Minneapolis Miller to a New York Giant.

Rod Barajas, yes we are waiting with baited breathe for a decision on whether Rod Barajas wants the Mets minor league deal or return to the Blue Jays with a minor league deal. I’m sorry but I have some paint I have to watch dry.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh I feel better now

Still sifting through the fall out of the Beltran situation. I’m trying to figure out the who, what and where of this recent shit storm to hit the Mets:

Carlos Beltran

Beltran will turn 33 years old by the second week of the 2010 season and he has what looks like chronic osteoarthritis in his right knee. Hopefully the arthroscopic surgery performed on him will alleviate the pain and clean out loose cartilage that was floating around his knee. The post op outlook is Beltran will be out 12 weeks and then resume baseball activity. So earliest we will see Beltran in a Mets uniform is May.  There is no replacement for Beltran as 25-30 HR 100+ RBI and his coverage in CF can not be replaced. As it stands now, Angel Pagan will be the CF’er unless the Mets go out and sign Rick Ankiel or hope the Highlanders re-sign Johnny Damon and release Brett Gardner. In other words the Mets are fucked.

Mets Medical Staff

More embarrassment for this group. Obviously, Beltran has no faith in them as he went to his own doctor to have the surgery done. Now the team is circling the wagons by releasing a statement that Dr Altcheck, the Mets team doctor was consulted by Dr. Steadman, Beltran’ surgeon of choice, to show they are all on the same page, which is of course bullshit. The medical staff of the Mets should have been addressed after last season but the club decided to bring back the whole staff. Mets players show what they think of that decision by going outside the organization for medical treatment. What an endorsement.

Mets Front Office

Who is in charge? It’s not Omar that’s for sure. I will bet a dollar that David Howard is the voice behind the conference call today to wipe the egg off the teams face after this miscommunication. One thing we do know is,the organization had its pants pulled down on them in public again and it again calls for Freddy Skill Sets to step up and take is incompetent son out of the baseball loop. Put aside the on field problem with no Beltran, this episode again makes the Mets look like amateurs. Just when the fan base was feeling a tad optimistic with the signing of Jason Bay and the self control the front office has displayed with the overrated talent on the free agent front, this just wipes away any goodwill. It’s SOM Same Old Mets.

Hey don’t worry, Bengi Molina is on the way YAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will have much more on the Beltran saga and other Mets news tonight on Pro Baseball Central at 9PM ET on Blogtalk Radio. My guest will be Joe Fiorello of Disgruntled Mets fan and a fellow member of the BBA. You can join in the conversation as well by calling in at (646) 595-4462.

All hell is breaking with the Mets as we have learned that Carlos Beltran has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to relieve osteoarthritis. From reports it looks like Beltran has been working out to be in shape for spring training and started to feel pain in his knee.

The biggest story is not just the surgery but it seems Beltran did this on his own going to his own doctor, Dr Richard Stedman in Colorado. It’s unacceptable for a player to not let the team know he’s going for surgery and to make it worse, he doesn’t use the team’s physician. This just cements the feeling that the Mets players have no faith in the Mets medical staff.

Now this is not end of the world news as Beltran will be out about 3 months so for the first month of the season Angel Pagan can handle centerfield, so there is no need for the organization to make a panic move for a centerfielder.

What this does though is make you question how the organization looks at Beltran in regard to not coming to the team about his knee and using an outside doctor to perform the surgery and how does this effect Beltran to getting an extension of his contract, something he has been hinting at.

Since this news is still breaking, I’ll have some more on it tomorrow

The SF Giants have cut ties with talented but injured LHP Noah Lowry but turning down his option of $6.25 M for 2010.

Lowry has not pitched in two years as he suffered from an arm injury and then had surgery to remove a rib that interfered with his circulation. Lowry accused the Giants medical staff of not properly diagnosing his injury.

According to Lowry’s agent he is sound and has been throwing three days a week and ready to resume his baseball career.

The Mets have to put a call in to Lowry’s reps and ask about him. Before his injury he was one of the top young pitchers in baseball and if he is healthy, he would a  great add to the Mets starting staff.

NEWS: FREDDY SKILL SETS METS ARE NOT FOR SALE!

You know what,  if this is true then Bernie Madoff did a real half assed job of stealing. If you’re going to rip off rich people then damn it leave them fucking destitute. First I’m calling bullshit to all this “the Skill Sets are in good shape financially and the Mets are not for sale” Yeah right, that’s why they are selling off players and taking back cash like they were empty Budweiser cans. That’s why they would rather trade off Billy Wagner as to not have him take arbitration and then get stuck with him for millions of dollars. That’s why the payroll will go DOWN next season. That’s why Omar Minaya is now a “cheaper to keep her” rather than divorce her GM and the whole inept front office will be back for the same reason. Hire Bobby Valentine? Are you nuts? He would want to be paid in American currency not Mr. Mets bucks. So you will get another season of Jerry Manuel’ stand up act and the Bingo Traveling All Stars in 2010. Oh yeah , please get your season ticket renewals in soon or Freddy Skill Sets will have to hitch hike home from Aspen.

NEWS: JOSE REYES MAY NEED SURGERY

The shocking part of this story is the Mets medical staff found out now and not the night before opening day 2010. Around here that’s called progress.

NEWS: HIGHLANDERS CLAIM CHRIS CARTER FROM RED SOX WHO WAS HEADED TO THE METS

Look, it was the right move for the Highlanders as it forces the Red Sox to keep Carter on the 40 man roster and not free up a space for another pitcher (Paul Byrd?) but it’s still a scumbag move by the home office of scumbags, the Highlanders. It doesn’t change the Billy Wagner deal but it does hurt the Mets as they wanted to see what they have in Carter as either a first baseman or an outfielder. I’m sure Daniel Murphy and Angel Pagan just became big Highlander fans.

NEWS: PAT MISCH IMPRESSIVE IN FIRST START AS A MET

Finally a bright light in this dismal season as Pat Misch pitched a beauty at Wrigley yesterday. Misch pounded the shit out the strike zone and got groundball out after groundball out. He only struck out two batters but he threw strikes and pitched to contact and let his fielders do the work, outstanding job. But of course this being the Mets of 2009 a good job gone bad is the norm but it’s tough to get on Brain Stokes who has be terrific at the back end of the pen that last few weeks but I guess when you’re used nearly everyday this will happen.

NEWS: DJ AM THROWS OUT FIRST PITCH AT METS GAME, FOUND DEAD A WEEK LATER

I’m starting to wonder why friends are offering me Mets ticket for free.

NEWS: SCOTT KAZMIR WEARS A HALO

So now what do I do with my RAYS KAZMIR 19 t-shirt? I’m thinking of having a week where I wear all the shirts and jerseys of players no longer on those teams. For the Mets I have ALOMAR 12, VAUGHN 42, ALPHONSO 13. Then I have Giants jersey SHOCKEY 80 Rangers JAGER 68 it’s like my own little old timers day.

The trade of Kazmir is not a shock as the rumblings have been there that Kaz and pitching coach Jim Hickey did not see eye to eye and that was proven when Kaz went to Rick Peterson for help after his shoulder injury. No one claimed Kazmir as his contract and injury record make it a prohibited claim but that never stops Artie Moreno of the Angels, now there is an owner committed to winning.

NEWS: METS STILL IN THE BRYCE HAPER SWEEPSTAKES

Well, maybe. The Mets are 12 games behind the Nats for the worst record in baseball and 11 back of KC for the next spot. After that there are seven teams all jockeying for a spot in the 2010 First Year Player Draft Jamboree. I don’t see either Washington or KC giving the big bucks to Harper. The one team that would worry me is Baltimore who if the standings finish like they are today, would pick 3^rd and might meet the demands of Harper. So we have to root for more loses Mets fans so new owner Jay-Z can make his big splash at his new job of Mets CEO.

Where do we begin to make sense of the latest calamities to befall our team? Let’s start with Jose Reyes.

I’m trying to make sense of how and when Reyes suffered this tear in his hamstring. After not hustling, J-Man sat Reyes the next day and we all rejoiced that Manuel was showing Jose who was the head Gangsta’ in Charge. But then he didn’t start the next day and we all said “WOW J-Man is going hard core on Reyes’ ass” but the word from the inner sanctum of the front t office was that Reyes had a sore leg. That was May 15^th. After that, Reyes sat out three games and then jogged a bit in LA and said he’d give it a go. So he started on May 19^th played the full game at shortstop and had a hit. Good to have you back Jose. The next night in LA, Reyes took is customary place at short and the lead off spot but something wasn’t right his leg was still bothering him and he came out of the game after one at bat. He was sent back to NY and it was revealed he had tendonitis behind his knee. The debate raged to DL or not DL, whether ‘tis nobler to let the player rest and recover or push him to the brink of making a nagging injury into a catastrophe. The Mets and their training and medical staff chose the later.

So instead of resting Reyes, the Mets sent him to St. Lonesome to “Rehab” (the next Mets player who gets injured should pull an Amy Winehouse and sing “I don’t wanna go to rehab, I said no, no, no) and during that rehab (or so we think because this will be covered up) Reyes suffered a torn hamstring tendon.

Now if I owned the Mets (how much fun would that be, not only would you never hear Sweet Caroline ever again, Neil Diamond would be permanently banned from ever coming to Gil Hodges Park that’s right I’d change the ball park’ name as my first order of business but I digress….) somebody is getting fired here. Either a trainer or a doctor or a front office person because the player who is the catalyst for my offense and my one of my top defensive players is out for what is a conservative estimate of 4-6 weeks. Was he misdiagnosed? Was it improper rehab instruction? Someone has to explain that to me and it better be convincing as their ass is on the line.     

Same with J.J. Putz. The guy goes from bad mechanics to a bone spur that just needs a cortisone shot to now to surgery? Com’on can we get our act together here?

As much as I want Omar to make a big move, I don’t want to trade any of the remaining top prospects in the organization and frankly I don’t know if he has the chips to trade with. I’m sure he’d love to move Ryan Church but what would Church bring back in return? Could you send Church back to D.C for Chrstian Guzman or to Oakland for Bobby Crosby? If you can, do it.

No way they want to deal off F-Mart and I never want to hear the names Bradley Holt, Jenrry Mejia , Wilmer Flores or Jefry Marte. I don’t know if any or all of these kids will turn out to be big time players but I ‘d rather keep them and make do with what we have or take on a big salary (I know Jeffy I know, what am I thinking ?) which would take less trade bait to do. Whatever, happens Omar, John Rico and Tony B have their work ahead of them as the Braves and Fish are on their heels.

Bravo Beltran:

“The reality of this is, coming here to Pittsburgh and getting swept, me, I feel embarrassed,” said Beltran, who homered and doubled in his first game since Saturday. “I don’t think it’s fun. I think we should find a way to play better and to focus more on what we need to accomplish…. “We have to play better. There’s no doubt we have to play better. I mean, we have to take this personally. It can’t happen. It can’t happen to us being able to come here and lose three games just like that. It just can’t happen. Three games with this team - I know they’re a big-league ballclub - but we’re better than them. We’re better than them. And we know we’re better than them, but we have to do something about it.”

Finally someone stepped up in that clubhouse. I’m trying my best not to go ape shit on my boy D-Wright but if you are just going to give the same bland vanilla answers to question after games like yesterday where your club is embarrassed then it’s best to shut the fuck up.