Morning News: Reyes update, K-Rod, Bay
The Mets won last night, which you can read about here. Tonight Jonathon Niese (7-7, 3.72 ERA) and the Mets continue their four game series against Hiroki Kuroda (6-9, 2.90) and the Dodgers in Dodger Stadium at 10:05 pm.
During last night’s victory, Jason Bay hit two home runs while driving in four runs. Bay extended his hitting streak to eight games, in which he is batting .366 (11-for-30) with three home runs and 12 RBI.
For full recaps of last night’s win, check out Blogging Mets, Mets Today, Brooklyn Mets Fan, the Mets Report, and Midwestropolitan.
Yesterday, the Mets officially announced the signing of RHP Miguel Batista and have assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo. Prior to being released by the Cardinals, Batista was 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA in 26 appearances and one start this season.
In case you missed it, Jose Reyes missed his third consecutive game last night with a strained left hamstring. Prior to yesterday’s game, Reyes had hoped to test his injured hamstring by doing some running drills, however, he did not feel ready to do so. Instead, he walked on a treadmill, fielded grounders, and took batting practice from both sides of the plate.
“It’s better than yesterday,” Reyes told the Star Ledger. “But it’s still not quite where it needs to be.”
Also, Terry Collins spoke with reporters before yesterday’s game, and said the Mets will meet with doctors today and discuss the possibility of placing Reyes on the DL. However, Collins is hesitant to do so, because it means Jose would miss the three game series against Philadelphia after the all star break.
“That’s exactly what we’re thinking, to be honest,” Collins told ESPN New York. “One of the things that’s on our mind is if he goes on the DL, he misses that Phillies series.”
To read more about Reyes, check out MLB.com, the Bergan Record, New York Post, and Newsday.
In addition, Collins stated that R.A. Dickey will throw a bullpen session today, but he does not believe Dickey will miss his next scheduled start on Friday.
Meanwhile, Sandy Alderson told the Wall Street Journal that even he has been “a little surprised in some instances” at the way manager Terry Collins has used Francisco Rodriguez in non-save situations this season.
“There’s a heightened sensitivity to it, obviously,” Alderson siad. “It would be silly not to admit that. But at the same time, you have to use him consistent with good baseball practice. You’re trying to win games. There’s a certain inevitability about how he is used in the course of the season, which is turning out pretty well for us.”
According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, two major league sources familiar with the Mets thinking say the Mets are shopping all three of Francisco Rodriguez, Jason Isringhausen, and Tim Byrdak.
Lastly, here are the standings in the National League East and the Wild Card coming into play today:
