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Mets' Wright gets cortisone shot, return unknown

March 12, 2012 , ι By DAN MARTIN

LAKELAND, Fla. -- David Wright is expected to return to Florida on Tuesday, but when he's back doing baseball activities is still uknown.The Mets flew Wright to New York on Monday to have his sore... Read on

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Mets bullpen catcher arrested for alleged DUI

March 12, 2012 , ι By DAN MARTIN

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Mets bullpen catcher Eric Langill was arrested for an alleged DUI following a single-car accident Sunday night in Port St. Lucie.The 32-year-old had a passenger with him, but it is... Read on

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Mets bullpen catcher Eric Langill was arrested for an alleged DUI following a single-car accident Sunday night in Port St. Lucie.
	 
The 32-year-old had a passenger with him, but it is unknown whether it was a Mets player. Langill was released Monday.
	 
The accident occurred near the residential area where many of the players live when Langill allegedly had difficulty navigating a traffic circle. The incident happened after the team’s weekly outing at a local bowling alley.
	 
The Mets have not decided what they are going to do about the situation.
	 
“At this point we don’t have all the facts,” GM Sandy Alderson said at Joker Marchant Stadium. He said he was unaware there was a passenger in the car.
	 
“We will be talking to Eric before we decide. Obviously, we’re very disappointed this happened.”
	 
Alderson added they will look at how their bowling nights, which the Mets started last spring training as a team-bonding exercise, are handled going forward. He wasn’t ready to put a stop to them.
	 
“It does raise some concern,” Alderson said. “However, I was at bowling night and I was there when it concluded, substantially concluded, at 8:45 [p.m.]. This incident occurred at approximately 11:30 [p.m.]. That’s a significant amount of time after the event ended. Obviously, we want to make sure to a degree we’re having an official event, players and staff and others participating handle themselves responsibly.”
	 
According to TCPalm.com, reports stated that Langill attempted to leave the scene on foot and was stopped by witnesses.
	 
Langill, who was a minor-league catcher, reportedly told a deputy a car had cut him off as he was going home from a bowling alley and said he had had two to three drinks. He was taken to the St. Lucie County jail.

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Mets reliever Byrdak has torn meniscus

March 12, 2012 , ι By DAN MARTIN

LAKELAND, Fla.-- The Mets' injury problems continued to mount after the team learned Monday that reliever Tim Byrdak had been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee on the same day David Wright received an ultrasound-guided cortisone shot in his left rib cage.
	 
Byrdak will have arthroscopic surgery in New York on Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks, so the Mets will be looking for another lefty reliever, because GM Sandy Alderson believes the team will have a southpaw in the bullpen on Opening Day.
	 
“We have a number of options,” Alderson said.
	 
The GM mentioned pitchers already in camp (Robert Carson, Chuck James and Garrett Olsen), as well as Josh Edgin, a 25-year-old who hasn’t pitched above Single-A but moved to major-league camp Monday.
	 
The team could sign free agent C.J. Nitkowski, who worked out for the Mets last week, although Alderson said that wouldn’t happen for “a couple of days.”
	 
Byrdak’s injury will leave a hole in the pen.
	 
“Obviously, this will impact our left-handed situation, since he will miss some portion of the regular season and we’ll have to accommodate that,” said Alderson, adding that ideally the Mets would have a southpaw in the pen and “this injury notwithstanding, I expect we still will.”

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Wright going back to New York for Mets doctors to check on rib injury

March 11, 2012 , ι By DAN MARTIN

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Don’t hold your breath waiting for David Wright’s return -- or for the Mets to avoid making injury news.Wright is headed to New York to see team doctors Monday about his sore ribs... Read on

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Don’t hold your breath waiting for David Wright’s return -- or for the Mets to avoid making injury news.
	 
Wright is headed to New York to see team doctors Monday about his sore ribs and is expected to get a cortisone shot while he’s there.
	 
The third baseman is out until at least the weekend, but there is no timetable for his return.
	 
Wright is hardly alone in camp battling core-muscle injuries and manager Terry Collins admitted he was worried about the rash of similar oblique-related injuries.
	 
“You’d better believe it’s troubling and we have no answers,” Collins said. “They’re in a lot of camps… I think it’s a combination of everything: Dehydration, they’re so strong and work their butts off.”
	 
But they are trying to find some more precise reasons.
	 
“We’re backing off the swings we take in [batting practice],” Collins said. “I told the guys this morning, ‘When we stretch, there’s a reason why we’re doing it.’”
	 
Scott Hairston and Kirk Nieuwenhuis are among the other players that have suffered similar injuries this camp.
	 
As for Wright, GM Sandy Alderson said it was “possible, maybe even likely” that Wright would have an ultrasound-guided cortisone shot.
	 
Collins remains optimistic that Wright will be back soon.
	 
“Hopefully they give us the go-ahead,” Collins said of Wright returning to action, since he’s only been able to field grounders. “David’s been itching to take some swings.”
	 
Wright will be joined in New York by lefty reliever Tim Byrdak, who has been bothered by a sore left knee. The Mets don’t expect Byrdak’s absence to be lengthy, but they are thin virtually all over the roster and that includes lefty relievers. If Byrdak does miss significant time, fellow lefties like Robert Carson, Chuck James and Garrett Olson figure to get a look.
	 
Lucas Duda (back) also sat out again Sunday, although Collins said he would play Monday against the Tigers in Lakeland.
	 
“It’s definitely frustrating, especially since I need as much time in right field as I can get right now,” Duda said.

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Gee works on cutter in Mets loss

March 09, 2012 , ι ASSOCIATED PRESS

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Dillon Gee, who entered spring training in the Mets’ rotation after last year’s impressive rookie campaign, allowed two runs and five hits in three innings in a 5-3 win over the Braves on Friday.
	 
The right-hander threw mostly cutters while focusing on getting inside of left-handers, which the Braves have five of including switch-hitters.
	 
“That was the main goal, work the cutter inside of lefties and get that location down,” said Gee, who allowed one run in two innings in his first spring start March 5.
	 
Gee felt like he wore down through 2011, so he’s hoping a full spring in the Mets’ rotation will be good for his body.
	 
“I felt OK,” he said. “I think I’m still getting adjusted to sitting down and going back out, sitting down and going back out. It would take m a few throws to feel like I was loose again. But other than that I felt all right.”
	 
Ronny Cedeno put the Mets up early with a two-run single, and Matt Den Dekker broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run double in the eighth inning.
	 
Martin Prado had two doubles among his three hits and Jason Heyward had two hits for Atlanta's split squad.

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Pelfrey hit hard in Mets loss to Marlins, without Reyes

March 08, 2012 , ι ASSOCIATED PRESS

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey allowed four runs and six hits over 2 2/3 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Marlins on Thursday. Pelfrey walked one and did not have any strikeouts. “The... Read on

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey allowed four runs and six hits over 2 2/3 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Marlins on Thursday.
	 
Pelfrey walked one and did not have any strikeouts.
	 
“The biggest thing early, I didn’t get ahead,” Pelfrey said. “It’s kind of hard to pitch behind in the count. The sinker today was moving, but (it was) almost going sideways instead of down. I didn’t think it was that good (of) a day and I had a hard time controlling. I fell behind in a lot of counts. Obviously I didn’t make pitches.
	 
“I know there’s times where May wanted the ball away and I missed way in. He wanted it in and I missed away, so the command wasn’t good,” Pelfrey said.
	 
Marlins pitcher Carlos Zambrano struck out four, but gave up three runs and walked three in 1 1/3 innings.
	 
“Just an outing to build the arm,” said Zambrano, who was traded by the Cubs to the Marlins for fellow starter Chris Volstad in the offseason. “As spring training goes, it will be much better. I gave up three runs, but it doesn’t matter. It just matters that I need to work on my arm, my strength and my conditioning to be ready for the season.”
	 
Former Mets All-Star Jose Reyes was not with the Miami squad that faced his old team for a second straight day.
	 
Zambrano struck out the first two Mets batters he faced but struggled with his control after that. Jason Bay was walked on four pitches. Ike Davis, despite falling behind 1-2 in the count, also walked. Zambrano got ahead 1-2 against backup catcher Lucas May, but he hit a two-run double into the gap.
	 
“I was working on all my pitches,” Zambrano said. “In a normal situation, I would have pounded the strike zone and just do what I have to do. I walked two guys, but I was working on my pitches. The sinker was good today.”
	 
*
	 
Sandy Koufax was at Mets camp on Thursday morning. Koufax watched top pitching prospect Zach Wheeler in a minor league intrasquad game and also spoke with Mets relief pitcher Bobby Parnell about his delivery for a few minutes. ... Relief pitcher Pedro Beato was diagnosed with rotator cuff inflammation and could start a light throwing program Friday. ... Center fielder Andres Torres has a tight right glute and did not play Thursday. ... Free agent pitcher C.J. Nitkowski, who has not pitched in the major leagues since 2005, worked out for the Mets on Thursday.

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Santana stays on track to start for Mets on Sunday

March 08, 2012 , ι By MIKE PUMA

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Johan Santana can start considering his next start.The Mets lefty pronounced himself fit for Sunday’s scheduled appearance against the Marlins after throwing a bullpen session... Read on

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Johan Santana can start considering his next start.
	 
The Mets lefty pronounced himself fit for Sunday’s scheduled appearance against the Marlins after throwing a bullpen session Thursday without incident.
	 
“I was able to throw my bullpen without any problems and with good intensity and work on all my pitches,” Santana said. “And I felt pretty good.”
	 
Santana threw 29 pitches over two innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday, his first game action against major league hitters since undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder in September of 2010.
	 
The goal Sunday is three innings against Miami.
	 
“We’ll see how it goes,” Santana said. “I’ve been fine. Yesterday I played catch, and no problems. Today it was the same thing. I was able to throw my bullpen, so that’s a good sign. Hopefully the next couple of days I’ll recover and get ready for Sunday.”
	 
mpuma@nypost.com

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Santana feels fine after Mets debut

March 07, 2012 , ι ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mets pitcher Johan Santana felt fine a day after pitching two innings against the Cardinals in his first game action since Sept. 2, 2010.“He felt good,” Terry Collins said. “No matter if you’ve had... Read on

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Mets defeat Reyes-free Marlins

March 07, 2012 , ι ASSOCIATED PRESS

JUPITER, Fla. -- Jonathon Niese admitted he was anxious during pregame warmups for his first start. He thought it was a good thing. Niese used that nervous energy to pitch two hitless innings for New... Read on

JUPITER, Fla. -- Jonathon Niese admitted he was anxious during pregame warmups for his first start.
	 
He thought it was a good thing.
	 
Niese used that nervous energy to pitch two hitless innings for New York in a 7-0 win over the a Miami Marlins split squad that played without former Mets star Jose Reyes.
	 
“It feels good to get that adrenaline rush again,” Niese said.
	 
Niese faced seven batters striking out two, walking one while throwing 19 of 31 pitches for strikes.
	 
“His command was outstanding,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “He kept the ball down. He’s got outstanding stuff and when he pounds that strike zone he gets easy outs.”
	 
Niese, who went 11-11 last season, is working to develop a changeup and use it more this year, which is something Collins would be happy to see.
	 
“The changeup is the best pitch in baseball,” Collins said. “If you’re a pitcher you should have a changeup in your repertoire.”
	 
Reyes was with the Marlins split-squad in Miami for a game against Florida International University at their new ballpark.
	 
The Marlins managed just four hits against the Mets. They didn’t record their first until the fifth inning when Donnie Murphy doubled to left.
	 
“Everybody has their off days,” Murphy said. “We’re going to be fine. We don’t even have our whole team here. I’m not worried about it. Everybody is still getting their timing in and eventually will hit their stride and we’ll be fine.”
	 
Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez went 0 for 2 and left fielder Chris Coghlan went 0 for 3. Starter Sean West allowed three runs in 1 2-3 innings.
	 
Justin Turner led the Mets with a home run, three hits and three RBIs in three at-bats.
	 
“When you get opportunities like he did last year you make the most of them,” Collins said. “He showed everybody that he belongs in the big leagues. One thing he gives us is that he can play anywhere in the infield, which is going to be huge for us. He’s a baseball player in my mind and the perfect guy to have on this club.”
	 
Turner had two RBI singles in his first two at-bats before homering to left field off of Rob Rasmussen.
	 
The 22-year-old Ruben Tejada, who is expected to take over for Reyes at shortstop, was 0 for 1 with two walks and a run scored.
	 
“He’s in great shape and looks very, very good defensively,” Collins said. “His plate discipline has been great. He’s swung the bat good so he’s right on schedule.”
	 
The Mets scored three runs in the first two innings off of West before scoring three runs in the fifth sparked by Turner’s homer.
	 
Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas each had a pair of hits for the Mets.

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VIDEO: Mets in Madoff suit

March 06, 2012 , ι NYPOST.COM

How much will Mets owner Fred Wilpon have to pay to the trustees of the net losers in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme? CineSport's Justin Shackil and sports economist Patrick Rishe discuss.... Read on

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About the Author

MIKE PUMA Mike Puma became Mets beat writer for The Post in February 2010 after three years as a general assignment baseball reporter. The Fordham alumnus began covering Major League Baseball, concentrating on the Yankees and Mets, in 1998 as a reporter and columnist for the Connecticut Post. He has covered nine World Series and holds a Hall of Fame vote.

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