Another day; another game without Carlos Beltran.
It’s fair to say now the Mets miscalculated in their handling of Beltran’s right hamstring injury. Had they put him on the disabled list after he missed his first four games—hamstrings are always tricky, manager Willie Randolph said—they could be looking at getting him back next week instead of maybe just having him go on.
The Mets plan to shut him down for this series and re-evaluate him in Atlanta before making a decision that could place him on the disabled list.
“We’ll see how it feels Friday and go from there,’’ Randolph said.
The best-case scenario has Beltran responding to the rest and being available this weekend in Atlanta, where the weather would presumably be warmer.
The worst-case would be for the Mets to push him as a pinch-hitter this series, and have him get re-injured and then go on the disabled list.
Should he not play against the Giants and still go on the disabled list it would be retroactive to April 22.
Beltran was initially injured, April 15, against Milwaukee. He missed four games, came back to briefly play Thursday and Friday in San Diego, and is now sitting again. Had Beltran not played in those two games, even if he goes on the disabled list it would be retroactive to April 16.
Given this, the Mets are pretty much handcuffed to keep Beltran around even if they don’t use him just to have him eligible to play sooner.
2 Comments
John – no lack of stories with the Mets on this trip – Zambrano, Beltran, Keith Hernandez, Bonds etc. Good reporting.
Is David playing hurt? In some ways he reminds me of Lennie Dykstra and his very physical play on the field.
Heard that Bonds was available for a few questions from the NY press – true?
Fans around here are complaining at the two losses in a row – however, Mets are still in first place and 12/7! Think this is going to be a rollercoaster season.
Hi Joan …
Wright tweaked his groin trying to get out of the way of a pitch over the weekend in San Diego and is tight. It’s not bad enough to force him to sit, but maybe a game wouldn’t hurt. ... If I were Willie Randolph I would think of resting Wright on Wednesday, because with a day off Thursday that would be two days of rest and he could probably use it.
John