Mets Merized Online

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.

Get ready to settle in and enjoy the first game of the Grapefruit League Season tomorrow as the Mets take on the Atlanta Braves in game that will be televised on SNY at 1:05 PM.

Nelson Figueroa will start for the Mets, and here is the starting lineup..

1. Gary Matthews Jr. – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. Jose Reyes – SS
4. David Wright – 3B
5. Jason Bay – LF
6. Mike Jacobs - DH
7. Jeff Francoeur – RF
8. Ike Davis – 1B
9. Chris Coste – C

Notes:

The Mets tuned up for tomorrow with an intra-squad game this afternoon in which Jose Reyes electrified onlookers by stroking a two-run triple in his very first at-bat while batting third. Yeah it was against Tobi Stoner, but still… The triple sparked chants of “Jo-se, Jo-se, Jo-se” from the fans who were on hand, and invoked smiles on the faces of all the Mets coaches and Jerry Manuel.

Interesting to see that Daniel Murphy will be watching from the bench tomorrow while Ike Davis starts. You might remember that on Friday, Jerry Manuel said he hasn’t eliminated Davis from the competition at first base and that he could emerge as the starter. That’s all fine and dandy. but it still sounds like a bad idea to me.

We already know what to expect from Henry Blanco and Rod Barajas, so it looks like Coste, Santos and Riggans will each get some playing time as the Mets decide who goes to AAA to tutor young Josh Thole.

Nelson Figueroa will be competing with Jon Niese and Fernando Nieve for the fifth spot in the rotation. Who ever wins the job might still start the season in AAA and then get called up once the fifth starter is need. This will buy the Mets some additional time before deciding who the 25th man will be. It could come down to either Mike Jacobs or Frank Catalanotto.

Here’s a great Q&A I did with William Price of the Daily News, better known to all of you as The Bitter Bill. Bill was nice enough to answer some questions for us about the upcoming Mets season as well as some other things orange and blue. I’ve been a longtime follower of his blog, and you should be too, otherwise you wouldn’t have to miss gems like this little nugget he had in this mornings blog post.

As for Manuel, I took a shot at him the other day for comparing Jenrry Mejia to Mariano Rivera because they have similar cutters. But Mejia said yesterday he doesn’t even throw a cutter, rather his heater has so much movement it looks like a cutter. Good to hear Manuel is on top of things.

Poor Jerry, it’s only March 1st and already he’s fumbling his words…

Okay, here goes…

1. What are the two biggest keys for the Mets this season, and do you think they have a shot at unseating the Phillies and winning the division?

The first key is Pelfrey, Maine and Perez all staying healthy and all getting their acts together. There’s no room for error. The other key is David Wright rediscovering his power stroke. If he’s not a threat, the lineup is mediocre at best. As for having a shot at the Phils, yes, but it’s a longshot, everything must break right to have a chance.

2. As you wrote in your blog post last Friday, Jerry Manuel wants to bat Joey Kings, as you call him, third rather than leadoff. Good or bad idea?

It’s not a horrible idea, but I don’t like the fact that he will likely go back to leadoff when Beltran returns. Why mess around with him for two months? It doesn’t make much sense.

3. Who do you think will eventually have a bigger impact on the Mets between Ike Davis, Josh Thole and Jenrry Mejia?

Mejia. I’ll take a young pitcher any day of the week.

4. I think all of us can agree that the Mets could have had a better offseason. What one player that got away, would you have wanted to see on the Mets in 2010?

I think Lackey is the guy they should’ve went after. He would’ve taken so much pressure off Pelf, Maine and Ollie and our bullpen. True, it may have cost us Bay, but there were plenty of outfielders out there, but clearly not many big-time pitchers.

5. The Mets promised that they would correct the obvious communication gap last season between the medical team, the players, and everyone in the front office. Have they? And could it create more problems down the road? Do you think that kind of stuff really affects a players decision to sign with a team?

I can’t be sure if the problem is fixed, but the Beltran fiasco certainly makes it appear as if is hasn’t. As for players’ decision to sign with a team, unless the doctors are signing the checks, they are a non-factor.

How many homeruns will Jason Bay hit in 2010?  26

Will Omar Minaya still be the GM on July 15th?  Yes

Which TV Drama will best describe the 2010 Mets? 1. Heroes 2. Breaking Bad 3. Greys Anatomy.  No TV show comes close, but how about Hurt Locker? (Whew, I’m just glad you didn’t say Titanic.)

Besides Johan Santana, will any Mets starter win 15 or more games?  No

Have you ever lobby Jeff Wilpon for a front office position?  Does Mr. Met count as a front-office position?  (He most certainly does count as a front office position!)

Sweet Caroline for Mets sing-along: Good or Totally Sucks?  Awful. Can the Mets come up with anything original? Can we just bring back the Curly Shuffle for goodness sakes?

Whose uniform number should the Mets retire next?  They should retire No. 17 next, but Piazza will likely be the next guy. If not, it will likely be No. 5 in about 20 years.

What Star Wars character best describes Jeff Francoeur?  I’d have to say Chewbacca. He’s big, kind of goofy and doesn’t seem to care what anyone thinks of him. I wonder if he can make that noise.  (I see him more like Luke, sweeping in to destroy the Death Saber Star and save the Mets universe.)

Is Johan Santana better than Roy Halladay?  Roy who?

If you were stranded on deserted island and could have a lifetime supply of one of the following gastronomical delights, which one do you go for? (1. Nathans Hot dogs 2. Shack Burgers 3. Blue Smoke Pulled Pork Sandwiches)  I would have to pick the flat Harry M. Stevens beer with the plastic lids and nice cold Shea Stadium pretzel.  (Ahh, manna from heaven…)

You rock dude!

Thank you for taking some time out of your hectic day for us. We look forward to following the Mets via your blog The Bitter Bill at the Daily News. And for even more of Bill’s keen insights I urge you to follow him on Twitter.