Vic Black threw another bullpen session off a mound at Tradition Field on Monday, however general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters afterward that it is unlikely that Black is ready for Opening Day.
If Black begins the season on the disabled list then the Mets can backdate it to March 9, giving the righthander a little more time to strengthen his problematic shoulder.
This will give the Mets the opportunity to carry three left-handers in the bullpen in Sean Gilmartin, Jerry Blevins and Alex Torres. But I’m thinking that Gilmartin might be on the bubble when Black does return sometime around April 13, the Mets home opener.
March 25
Reliever Vic Black, who has not pitched since March 9 due to right shoulder tendinitis, soft-tossed off flat ground on Tuesday, but is still not ready to return to game action.
GM Sandy Alderson called Black a question mark for Opening Day and with less than two weeks left to build his arm strength, Black could join Bobby Parnell and Josh Edgin On the DL to begin the season.
“I’m not worried about it,” said Black. “As long as things progress OK and they let me go, I think I’ll be ready. But they have their own methods and their own checkpoints that you have to get to. So I’ll follow them and do what they ask.”
The only sure things in the Mets bullpen right now are Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia and Carlos Torres.
March 23
Reliever Vic Black is scheduled to throw on flat ground on Tuesday. Black completed his regimen of anti-inflammatory medication on Sunday, and gained clearance from medical staff to pick up a baseball.
Black recently had an MRI that showed no structural damage and was diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis.
With only two weeks to Opening Day, Black might open the season on the DL, writes Adam Rubin. Terry Collins expressed that concern on Friday.
If Black were to start season on the shelf, Buddy Carlyle appears to be in line to replace him.
