MIAMI _ If one couldn’t see a problem with John Maine by how his pitches were smoked, one definitely sensed his anguish if they could read lips.
Sometime this afternoon, we might find out the Mets’ distress level when they get the results from Maine’s MRI exam.
Maine, who reported soreness in his right shoulder prior to the game, left with stiffness in it during the fifth inning of last night’s 7-3 loss to the Florida Marlins.
“I said I was sore, but capable of pitching,’’ said Maine.
That was good enough for the Mets to give him the ball, but by the fourth inning pitching coach Dan Warthen was growing concerned.
The Mets let him go out for the fifth, but quickly knew he wouldn’t finish.
“I didn’t like that his arm angle dropped,’’ Warthen said of Maine’s body language, figuring compensation for the shoulder could lead to problems elsewhere. “We were worried he might blow out his elbow.’’
Warthen, who said the discomfort is not in the rotator cuff area, verbally sparred with the pitcher in the dugout after he was pulled, telling him the team wasn’t going to take the chance.
That’s what manager Jerry Manuel told Maine during an animated discussion on the mound.
“I’m fine,’’ Maine told Manuel.
“No, you’re not fine,’’ Manuel shot back before pulling the pitcher moments after giving up a home run to John Baker and a long fly to opposing pitcher Ricky Nolasco.
Angry in front of the lip readers on television, Maine played the good soldier later.
“I felt some soreness,’’ Maine said about being pulled after 4 1/3 innings. “I thought I could pitch through it, but they were protecting me.’’
Maine expressed optimism he would make his next start this weekend at Houston, but Manuel wasn’t making any promises.
“If there is any pain,’’ Manuel said. “John Maine will miss a start.’’
Maine said he’s felt some soreness for a little while, but it isn’t related to the dead arm feeling he had, June 30, at St. Louis.
The Mets have off days Thursday and next Monday, so even if Maine doesn’t pitch, they can juggle their rotation without bringing up help from the minor leagues.
The Mets gave Maine a 2-0 lead in the second on Fernando Tatis’ RBI triple and Damion Easley’s single.
However, Baker’s homer on the first pitch after Manuel opted to leave in Maine sliced the Mets’ lead to 2-1 in the fifth, and the Marlins tied it in the sixth off Carlos Muniz on Cody Ross’ single.
That would be the first of six runs given up by the bullpen in 3 2/3 innings.
Muniz didn’t help himself when he couldn’t get over to cover first on Josh Willingham’s infield hit in the sixth.
The Mets regained the lead, 3-2 in the eighth on Tatis’ run-scoring grounder, but the bullpen imploded for five runs in the bottom of the inning.
The Marlins quickly tied it, 3-3, against Joe Smith on Willingham’s double and Dan Uggla’s single.
Enter Scott Schoeneweis, who gave up a single to Wes Helms that put runners on the corners.
Ross’ single gave the Marlins the lead for the first time, and Baker’s infield hit loaded the bases.
Schoeneweis then wild-pitched in a run before giving up a two-run double to Robert Andino.
By this time, the Maine had left the bench and his shoulder was packed in ice and the Mets had something else to worry about.
PHOTO: AP
5 Comments
I’m not as concerned as some. If Maine’s shoulder was such an issue they would have gotten him down in the trainer’s room ASAP.
That being said, cross-fingers throughout the day b/c w/o Maine the Mets are out of it. They can afford to have Pedro be iffy for the 5th spot but not for the 4th w/a “I don’t know” pitching the 5th.
Given the off days Thursday and next Monday, Mets will juggle their rotation and keep Maine out.
I do agree with scoop that it was very strange to see John just sit on the bench upset after being pulled rather than go straight to the locker room for treatment. That being said maine was throwing 88 mph fastballs according to the guns on the Marlins telecast prior to being pulled so something was up. Not to mention John Baker (Who ?) went yard and ricky nolasco he went deep to right.
The one thing i worry about is the Omar trying to make a reactionary move in the wake of this.
Omar has been quite saine when it comes to trades at mid-yr since he took over. I’m hopeful, Mets won’t do anything stupid.
If it takes all day to find out the diagnosis of Maine’s woes, that will not be a good sign.
If Omar makes a trade for a SP, that will also be a bad sign.
Any idea how many times Maine has started with
the same amount of soreness and been okay? How many pitchers make their starts 100% healthy in late July?
I will not panic.
I will not panic
I will not panic
I will not panic.
Yet.
I think the reason he did not go to the trainers room is that they knew what this was already. They pulled him because they were worried he could hurt himself by changing his delivery (it did look like he was not coming totally over the top). An alteration in his motion could lead to stress elsewhere in the shoulder.