Mets Merized Online

Here are some questions I asked of Mets beat writer, Brian Costa of The Star Ledger, during his live chat yesterday.

Joe D: Will Bobby Parnell get lost in a numbers game and start the season in Buffalo? Will he ever revert back to starting as opposed to relief?

Brian Costa: I don’t think he’s in danger of not making the team, but in that bullpen right now, nothing is certain. He may one day become a starter, but I wouldn’t expect it to happen anytime soon.

Joe D: Has anybody taken a leadership role in the clubhouse in the absence of Beltran and the departure of Delgado? What can you tell us about Bay?

Brian Costa: I think Wright has steadily become more of a leader. He’s not a guy who’s going to stand up and shout or anything, but you can see him going over to the mound when a pitcher is struggling in a game and talking to guys on a one-on-one basis in the clubhouse. Bay is a great guy, but I wouldn’t expect him to be a loud voice in the clubhouse, partly because it’s not his nature, partly because he’s the new guy.

Joe D: What more does Nelson Figueroa have to do to earn a spot on this team, and would the Mets risk losing him and designating him before opening day?

Brian Costa: Figueroa has had a great spring, so if he keeps that up, that’s all he can do. But it’s not just about what he does. There are things out of his control that will determine whether there’s a spot for him. I don’t think the Mets want to risk losing him, but the priority is to take the best 25 for Opening Day.

Joe D: With Barajas and Blanco starting on the Mets, and Thole and Coste in Buffalo, where exactly does that leave Omir Santos? Is there any buzz regarding a possible trade or will he simply be released?

Brian Costa: No, there’s no reason for them to release him. They’re open to trading him. If they don’t, they’ll probably carry three catchers in Buffalo.

 Joe D: Do you think the Mets will let Carlos Beltran walk when his contract is up? Just before his surprise surgery, there were rumblings about an extension and him ending his career as a Met.

Brian Costa: Way too early to say. We don’t know how Beltran will recover from his injury. We don’t know what F-Mart will look like in 2011. And from Beltran’s side, who knows how the whole surgery debacle will impact his thinking?

Joe D: Luis Castillo delivered a nice offensive season last year and we can probably count on similar production this year. Yesterday, he made a great play ranging to his right toward second base, and I’m wondering if there’s a chance we can see improved range from his this season?

Brian Costa: Sure, he can improve, but his range is still limited.

Joe D: What’s the story with Kiko Calero? Is he healthy and how does he look? Will he be an option in the 2010 bullpen?

Brian Costa: I didn’t see him pitch Sunday, but he appears to be healthy. He might need some time to get his arm in shape, but he’s definitely an option for the bullpen.

Joe D: I have already seen a significant improvement with Wright’s power and wonder if it’s a product of HoJo’s mantra of pulling the ball which goes against last year’s spring training edict by Manuel of going to the opposite field.

Brian Costa: I think that certainly helps. Honestly, I don’t see Wright’s power as a huge question mark this year. I think last year was an aberration and he’s too good to have another year like that.

You can follow Brian Costa via his Twitter where he posts frequent updates from Mets camp.

In a sign that Mets shortstop Jose Reyes might be out closer to eight weeks rather than two weeks, the Mets are reportedly looking at Cristian Guzman as a possible temporary replacement.

Rich Coutinho of ESPN reported via  Twitter,

The Mets may be looking for another SS since Reyes could be out a few weeks- I am hearing the name Cristian Guzman has been discussed.

I like Guzman and he’d be an obvious upgrade over both Ruben Tejada or Alex Cora, but of course it all depends on what the Mets would have to give up to get him from the Nationals.

Guzman hit .284 with six home runs, 74 runs and 52 RBI for the Nats last season, but made 20 errors at shortstop in 135 games. However, he gets to many more balls than Alex Cora who doesn’t have good range.

As most of us Mets fans know by now, Jose Reyes is expected to start the season on the disabled list due to an overactive thyroid. He is expected to cease all activities for 2-8 weeks.

Both Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya have said that Reyes will most likely be replaced with 20-year old Ruben Tejada, who played in Double-A last year, this according to the New York Daily News.

Tejada batted .289 last season and hit five homers in 488 at-bats in the minors, and claims he’ll be ready to play in the bigs.

“It’s baseball,” Tejada told the Daily News. “Everywhere I play the game normal. I’m ready for everything.”

The Mets could also use Alex Cora, who was re-signed for $2MM in the offseason, but manager Jerry Manuel seems to prefer Tejada.

To me, Alex Cora seems like the better bet because of his experience and all the hard work he put into last season when Reyes first went down, but Manuel is prepared to bypass the steady Cora for the light hitting untested youngster.

Updated 3/11 12:50 pm

Reyes Will Be Okay, But Needs To Completely Shut It Down For A Few Weeks…

In a surprise development to the Mets and Jose Reyes’ agent, the shortstop will remain in New York for several weeks and open the season on the DL.

Test results to determine the extent of Jose Reyes’s hyperthyroidism confirm that his levels are still too high for physical activity, according to a release by the Mets.

Doctors have told him to rest and make changes to his diet. These steps, along with medication, should allow his thyroid levels to return to a normal level. At that time, Reyes will be able to resume baseball activities. When this might happen is still very uncertain according to a conference call by Omar Minaya.

This will not be treated with medication and they do not have a specific timeframe.

The fact of the matter is that Reyes is will have to be out for weeks as opposed to days said Reyes’ agent, Peter Greenberg who is also on the conference call.

Even if he does return to physical activities, he will still have to go into some sort of extended spring training to be in condition to play everyday. For now, he has been ordered to completely shut down all activities.

Get well soon, Jose.

Thanks to Matt Cerrone for his live updates on MetsBlog of the conference call.

Updated 3:20 pm

The Reyes situation has just gotten a little more clearer and less muddled after GM Omar Minaya talked with reporters in response to comments that Jose Reyes made that he was fine.

“I had a conversation with our doctors, a conversation with his representative and we’re all in agreement that he has elevated thyroid levels.”

One of Jose Reyes’ agents, Chris Leible, confirmed the call with Minaya and said there is no communication issue.

“We’re on the same page with the Mets and we’re waiting for the test results.”

Also, according to a report by Adam Rubin, a source told him that Reyes may not even need any treatment and that just a simple dietary change could be the only course of action.

Updated 11:20 am

According to David Waldstein of the New York Times, Jose Reyes has a ‘mild and perhaps temporary case of hyperthyroidism,’ which might not require treatment, as stated by his agent, Peter Greenberg.

“We’re waiting for the final results tomorrow,” Greenberg said, “but all indications are that it’s the most minimal case of hyperthyroidism possible.  The doctor was very pleased and so is Jose.”

According to Waldstein, Reyes could be cleared to play within days.

Maybe this isn’t nearly as bad as the Mets doctors let on…

Original Post 1:30 am

Hours after the New York Mets issued a statement via SNY that said Jose Reyes has an overactive thyroid, the star shortstop said “No way, my thyroid is fine.”

Here we go again…

In a story that gets stranger by the minute, Reyes told ESPN Deportes’ Enrique Rojas that he’s fine.

“The specialists who took care of me in New York have told me that I’m fine and that there’s nothing wrong with my thyroid. The test [taken to follow one conducted during his physical] showed that I’m fine. We just have to wait for the results of the additional test. The [doctors] found inflammation in my throat and no medicine to treat the thyroid or any other condition has been prescribed.”

Last week doctors cleared Reyes to play Friday, but team doctors in New York wanted to take a closer look at him and scratched him from his scheduled game and had him fly to New York for more testing. The Mets said on Tuesday that Reyes is expected to remain in New York while the results of additional blood tests are used to determine his treatment after tests confirmed he has an overactive thyroid. The additional test results aren’t expected back before Thursday.

This is the second time in as many months that the Mets and one of their players have had conflicting reports about their health, diagnosis and treatment, the other being Carlos Beltran.

It looks like this will become yet another media circus, as once again it appears that somewhere between the player, the doctors and the Mets there is a total breakdown in communication.

In a span of three hours, both the Mets and Jose Reyes have issued statements regarding this alleged thyroid condition, and each version is a complete contradiction of the other.

Why does this keep happening?

According to Yahoo! Sports, All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez returned to New York Mets camp on Monday after being hampered by conjunctivitis for more than two weeks. He also threw a very successful bullpen session this morning at Port St. Lucie.

Rodriguez had been told to stay away from the team until the pink eye cleared, but the contagious infection took longer than expected to improve. He was sick when he reported to New York’s spring facility, but his eye went undiagnosed until just before full-squad workouts began on February 25th.

The right-hander said he went to the doctor on Friday and was cleared to return Monday, although he still is infected. He continues to take eye drops and isn’t allowed to wear contacts yet.

“It feels much better,” Rodriguez said. “It’s still a little uncomfortable, but it’s good to be around. I was cleared to be around the guys, so it’s fine.”

While away from the team, Rodriguez found anyway he could to throw and was limited to playing catch with his brother, Edward, in the driveway of his home, but Rodriguez said he is not worried about his progress. He told reporters that he probably only needs one bullpen session before pitching in a game, and is looking forward to getting back into a regular routine.

Rodriguez last stepped on a mound about a week ago when he emerged from hiding for a light bullpen session.

“It’s not the same thing playing catch as doing bullpens, being on the field and doing field drills,” Rodriguez said. “It’s completely different, but the good thing is I played winter ball and I am good.”

Rodriguez first had conjunctivitis in his left eye but it quickly spread to the right eye. He said his entire family back in Venezuela has conjunctivitis as well, and now his brother has it in both eyes.

Rodriguez plans to wear prescription sunglasses for a few weeks until his eyes feel completely healthy.

“The first couple days the infection was really strong, and I kind of lost the vision,” Rodriguez said. “It made it a little blurry, but right now I don’t have that, so it’s good.”

Good to know that K-Rod is back to camp and is slowly feeling better. Hopefully we will be able to get a look at him soon in a spring training game once he feels comfortable on the mound once again.

According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, Kelvim Escobar has ceased all pitching activities and is still feeling weakness in his shoulder.

“When I tried to throw last week, it was weak,” Escobar said. “It didn’t feel right. … I will take my time and do my exercises.”

Escobar said he was ashamed he’s not able to contribute. He’s sure to open the season on the disabled list.

“It’s tough coming to a new team,” Escobar said. “You don’t want to be in the position I am right now. I have pride, and sometimes I feel embarrassed being in a position like this.”

It doesn’t sound like we’ll have Escobar back anytime soon if at all. Just last week, Escobar said not to count him out from returning by opening day. Obviously, that’s not going to happen now. He was reportedly throwing on flat ground, but now has stopped picking up a baseball entirely. His $1.25 million contract is guaranteed for the 2010 season.

Only 24 hours after being cleared to play in todays game against the Marlins, shortstop Jose Reyes has been scratched again because of concerns about his thyroid levels. He will be going to New York for further testing instead.

Adam Rubin of the Daily News, who has been closely following this story, gives this latest update:

It may be an imbalance in thyroid levels with Reyes. He is headed to New York. Test is Monday. Reyes said he’s had no symptoms and feels fine. He said doctors believe it’s an overactive thyroid. The test will be Monday, and result not available for 48 hours after that. Reyes will not be permitted to do physical activity until then.

Reyes was cleared to play in todays game, but local doctors were overruled when the results were reviewed in New York. Reyes as well as the Mets team doctors are very concerned.

“I have to be concerned about it and find out what’s going on. This is important. We’re not talking about my leg. We’re talking about my health, so I have to be concerned about it.”

The test results could take 48 hours to come back.

The New York Mets have confirmed that they reached an agreement with right-hander Kiko Calero on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. The Mets announced the move in a statement this afternoon.

The 35-year-old Calero pitched for the Florida Marlins last season, going 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 67 relief appearances. He allowed 36 hits with 30 walks and 69 strikeouts in 60 innings, leading the Marlins’ bullpen in ERA.

Calero is 14-12 with seven saves and a 3.24 ERA in 313 career games. In 302 2/3 innings, he has surrendered 236 hits with 126 walks and 324 strikeouts.

According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, Calero is guaranteed $850,000 if he makes the team, and can earn an additional $650,000 in performance incentives.

Anyway you cut it, this is a solid pickup for the Mets. There is no doubt he will be in the bullpen and be a solid late innings reliver as long as his shoulder holds up.

Update 2:25 pm

Adam Rubin reports that Jose Reyes has been cleared to resume playing after a second visit for bloodwork. Reyes is likely to just take batting practice today, then enter the lineup tomorrow.

Original Post 10:58 am

Jose Reyes has been scratched from today’s game against the Cardinals to go see a doctor for a follow-up to his physical.
According to Adam Rubin, Reyes said that the initial physical raised a small concern with doctors, so he needed to do additional blood work this morning. He’ll visit the doctor again at noon for results. Reyes added that he has no physical problems. “I’m fine,” he said. “Nothing serious.”

Reyes, also later added that the visit has nothing to do with his surgically repaired right leg and that he is not sick and feels great.

Despite the worry-warts and sensationalists that are in full bloom today in the Mets blogosphere, this is all routine and even Mike Pelfrey had to follow-up with a second round of blood tests as well.