Valentin could be through
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- March
- 17
For all those wondering why the Mets might keep Jose Valentin over Angel Pagan, I don’t think you have to worry about that anymore.
Valentin is going to NYC soon to receive treatment on a pinched nerve in the back of his neck. He said if an injection doesn’t work and surgery is recommended, he might retire instead of going through a long rehab program in the minor leagues.
“I’m going to be out again for three more months, come down there and get rehab?’’ Valentin asked. “By that time, it’s already four months into the season. What do I have to go down there and prove? Nobody’s going to give me a contract for two months just in case somebody got hurt.’’
Valentin said he was diagnosed with tendinitis in his shoulder prior to spring training, but since he started playing the pain became more pronounced and he was re-examined this week.
This entry was posted
on Monday, March 17th, 2008 at 9:03 am by John Delcos.
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Too bad for Valentin. But the chances of him having any impact were slim.
I mentioned this in another thread, but I still feel like this ST invite was Minaya doing Valentin a favor to help him get another job somewhere. Too bad he couldn’t stay healthy to land somewhere else.
I agree – it was a slim shot for him to make the club he had already stated that he would not accept a minor league assignment. Maybe after the treatment he will catch on someplace else. It is sometimes hard for ballplayers to retire when they still think they can contribute.
Valentine is another player who has stayed too long at the dance. I don’t think he is the only one on this team, either.
I just can’t fault a player for “staying too long at the dance.”
While leaving on top sells books and gets ratings for 30 minute TV spots on ESPN classic, if you put yourself in the player’s shoes you don’t want to walk away too early and spend the rest of your life wondering “what if.”
So I get why Valentin is hanging on… he just loves to play.
Valentin, from all accounts that I have read, is a positive influence, especially around younger players. Perhaps the Mets can find a coaching capacity for him since his chances as returning as a player for any team continue to diminish. I cannot imagine what it must be like to know that as a player, the skills you once had have now betrayed you, and the game is leaving you behind. I think it will be interesting to see this year how much of an impact Annie’s point of he is “not the only one on the team” comes into play. I personally expect a lot of flashes of “what was” from certain unnamed starting pitchers and left fielders. I just hope they can still be positive impact players.
Wow! That is no the luck of the Irish. It is better for the Mets if the know now that Valentin is done. One of the young kids has a great shot to step up.
http://www.recreateyourlifenow.com
They should keep Valentin around as a coach. Reportedly he’s been a positive influence on Reyes.
I think Valentin may still have value as an offensive player, but he’s too old and too much of an injury risk at this point to deserve a rotation spot over someone like Gotay or Pagan.
In other news: water wet, sky blue.
Sounds like a nice guy, would probably make a fine coach in the organization somewhere but… man… a dude probably should’ve packed it in after 2006 as the lightning started spilling on back outta the bottle.
Only thing sadder than a used-up jock who can’t admit that its the end is a major-league organization believing in their used illusions.
I don’t think it was dillusional for Mets to invite him to camp on a minor league deal. If it worked out fine. If not, no big deal.
sccop sounds just like minaya… nothing is a big deal. That’s why this team choked…. Your fandom is blind loyalty…. don’t tell others to be like you….
slop, how did my comment get twisted into your blind faith deal?
Anyway, did Mets give him any money or agree to give him a spot on team? No. So why is it a big deal to invite him to camp? They and all other teams invite guys like this to their camps. They weren’t counting on much and they didn’t get much. He wasn’t really part of their plans but if he somehow came in and did something great, he had a slim chance to make team. No harm. No foul.
By the way, you never did answer what is good about this team? Is there anything you can point to? Or are they destined to win 75 games?
“blind loyalty”... can’t you get anything right coop…..?
Another diversionary tatic from slop. I guess next will be spell check.
Mets stink. Mets have no chance. Minaya is awful. Willie is hopeless. How’s that, sloppy?
no, scoop, you tell me what’s wrong with the team and I’ll tell you what’s right about it. You prove my comment wrong and I’ll tell you the plusses…...
I’ve already stated many times the team has flaws. I’ll repeat myself-Old guys, fraile guys, lack of depth, potentially poor run production.
Now, where are your positives? Can your fingers type a positive?
Well, you sure can’t be specific can you…. Try specifics..
Left side of infield is the best in the game.
Backup catcher is excellent player. Should be starter.
Center fielder is excellent player.
First four starters are excellent.
Heilmann and Feliciano are excellent set up men.
Wise may be an excellent 6th/7th inning guy.
Sosa will be fine long man and would be a solid 6th starter if the Mets ever used their long man to start in emergency.
Manager got his players’ back. He has never knocked a player to the press as far as I know.
The closer is good until end of August.
Anderson/Easley make a great lefty/righty punch for pinch hitters.
Now where are your specifics?
it’s a miracle! Mets do have some good things going for them!
Well scoopcoop when are you going to keep your end of the deal or are you really a blind loyalist. Specifics. Where specifically ar ethey weak? You don’t have to answer. It will hurt your friends. at least your not a blind ignorant loyalist like your new friend metsfan-not….
well sloppy, since I had to ask you a dozen times to give something positive about this ball club, I think I’ll return the favor and ignore your request.
While I believe a player like Brady Clark would be more productive than Valentin, I don’t know if Clark’s production would be so much greater as to make Clark more valuable than Valentin, assuming the latter is healthy. I believe the Mets were more talented than the Phils last season, and they still collapsed, still lost the division. What they lacked more than anything was focus and killer instinct, and I believe Valentin is one of the FEW players in that clubhouse who has the respect of the other players and attitude necessary to improve that malaise. I’m conflicted on this b/c I know his best playing days are behind him, but since he would not be expected to be anything more than a bench player, one should not discount his ability to effect the team positively in more subtle ways.
I think scoop that you have proven me right that you are indeed a blind loyalist. I don’t want you to answer cause I don’t want to see JK and metsfan-not cry. By the way I predict that you will be the first one to turn on my man church this year….... I would’ve have predicted JK but he knows so little about baseball he wouldn’t know if Churchy did something good or bad until the stats came out…..
Gotta go and set the alarms so dictator metsfan-not doesn’t take me to bad metsfan-not jail…...
By the way, friend of mine was at game today and said that OP looked real good for a “head case” but Churchy looked like he was lost in deep space. I told him that couldn’t be. Churchy is ready for the big apple. I told him to just ask you guys and you’d explain it to him. He’ll be on next week or so…..
OP is a head case. That and his “sloppy” mechanics have gotten him in trouble many times. You don’t lead the league in unearned runs unless you let bad plays in the field, walks to the pitcher, etc., effect your concentration to the point where you give up runs that you should not.
He’s got alot of talent. If his focus would improve he’d be even better.
It would be impossible for me to be the first to turn on Church since folks like yourself have already done so before a real game is even played. My point w/him is that the trade is done. He had no say in it. So give the guy a chance.
I predict you’ll be the first to turn on him (turn positive that is is).
Believe it or not when the bell rings all Mets are supported by thius guy. That’s why i like Met games on the road. Met fans don’t boo Met players on the road, unlike the so called Shea faithful, who boo Mets with regularity….. Church gets the same support, maybe because of lower expectations as does Wright and Reyes. So you’re already riughtm exce tyou don’t understand criticism doesn’t make for non support, it makes for meaningless debate and entertainment…...