“Pagan has performed surprisingly well since he returned from the disabled list on July 10.  He has been a presence — and something of a force — in the leadoff position, and he has played center field characteristically well.”

Noble believes Pagan will continue to hit leadoff when Jose Reyes returns from the disabled list, though he may move from center to left in favor of Carlos Beltran.

Pagan is batting .326 with a .370 OBP when leading off the inning.

In case you missed it, yesterday evening…

In his recent Under the Knife report for Baseball Prospectus, injury-expert Will Carroll said it is unlikely Beltran will be able to play center field when he returns from the disabled, “though no one has said much about where he will actually play.”

…also, i think this decision on where he plays may also depend on what happens prior to today’s 4 pm trade deadline… that said, there is no way to know any of this until beltran gets on the field… but, i think it’s safe to say it will be some combination of beltran and pagan in center and left, with Jeff Francoeur in right, unless some sort of acquisition is made this afternoon…

By the way, Carroll also said, “Beltran made the informed decision (to return from the disabled list) based on the near certainty that he will need microfracture surgery and could miss much, if not all, of the 2010 season.”

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According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, “Pagan should rejoin the Mets as soon as tonight’s series opener against the Reds.”

Pagan had been hitting .333 with three extra base hits in 14 games for the Mets this season, before going on the disabled list June 1 with a strained right groin.

Mets GM Omar Minaya told reporters yesterday that Pagan could possibly play in three more rehab games before being activated.

Pagan had been hitting .333 with three extra base hits in 14 games for the Mets this season, before going on the disabled list June 1 with a strained right groin.

…i used to think pagan would replace Fernando Martinez, but, i mean, really, who knows… the team’s roster is such a mess, with so many holes, i have no idea how this will play out… i only know pagan is needed… he was hitting well before the injury, he plays hard and he’s versatile… i could accept the argument to demote martinez, or Argenis Reyes, or a bullpen arm and keep the extra bat, i could even understand demoting Daniel Murphy… in the end, i think it’ll be martinez, but nothing would surprise me…

Frankly, I have a feeling the Mets may end up sending martinez back to Triple-A, while promoting Angel Pagan, who is getting closer and closer to being ready for action.

Jerry Manuel told reporters before yesterday’s game that Martinez is feeling better than he did on Friday or Saturday.

Meanwhile, Jose Reyes is still not running the bases, despite being able to hit, catch and throw in St. Lucie.

There is still no hard rehab schedule for Carlos Beltran, who, from what I can gather, is still feeling pain in his bruised knee.

John Maine has yet to throw from a mound, as he continues to rest his shoulder and nurse his way back from a pinched nerve.

Lastly, as far as I can tell, Billy Wagner may be back playing for the Mets this season before J.J. Putz or Carlos Delgado.

Martinez ended the game last night with a pinch hit groundout.

…is anyone surprised…

Meanwhile, John Maine has been cleared to lightly throw a baseball every other day, but he has not been able to even exercise his sore shoulder since being shutdown last week.

Finally, Angel Pagan, who has been sidelined by a strained groin, should be ready to begin rehab games on Monday.

Alex Cora will be activated from the DL tomorrow, to take Pagan’s spot on the 25–man roster.

…in other words, yet again, the Mets are playing short… seriously, at this point, shouldn’t the Mets just start referring to it as the 24–man roster…

In a post to Twitter, SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt says Jose Reyes and Ryan Church will play in an extended spring tomorrow.

…from what i can gather, the goal continues to be bringing back reyes on Friday, with church likely out for at least another week or so…

Update, 5:55 pm:

Reporter Ed Coleman said on WFAN that Oliver Perez is still in St. Lucie getting treatment on his knee, and there are no current plans as to when he’ll make his next rehab start.

Angel Pagan

Jerry Manuel did not sound positive when talking to reporters about Pagan after the game, essentially saying this type of injury often ends up being more than just a day-to-day thing.

…that really stinks for pagan, who looked very good last April, then hurt his shoulder and missed the rest of the season, and who looked good the last week or so, finally getting another chance to play everyday, and then this… out again… plus, he is turning out to be an important part of this team, filling in for a banged-up beltran, playing the corners, leading off for Jose Reyes, etc…

…by the way, any time i hear groin injury i think of Cheers, when Sam Malone filled in on the local news to do sports, and did a rap for his monologue…

According to Gardner, Pagan, who was driving with a suspended license, was originally stopped for speeding, but after a license check, troopers learned Pagan has several warrants out for his arrest for failure to pay traffic fines.

Pagan has been rehabbing his surgically repaired elbow at the Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie.

Pagan will have surgery in Manhattan on Wednesday, and is likely to be out for 6 to 8 weeks.

…man, pagan can’t catch a break… last season, he looked great in spring, cracked the roster, then cracked his shoulder and missed the rest of the season… this spring, again he was looking good, and likely to make the roster, now this… sorry, man…

Angel Pagan will miss six to eight weeks if he chooses to have surgery on the bone spur in his right elbow, according to the team.

Original Post:

Pagan will return from New York on Tuesday, and discuss with team doctors whether to undergo surgery.

…this early in the spring, i bet he has surgery… this always seems to end in surgery anyway, and it would seem crazy to play through the pain and inflammation on and off for the next seven months…