He made 106 pitches, 72 of which were strikes.

Most importantly, Maine was efficient and his pitches were free and easy with a lot of movement on his slider, and had his trademark movement up and away to the left handed hitter with his fastball.

Maine attributed the bite on his slider to a new grip, and told reporters the adjustment he made during last night’s game was to simply pitch to contact, saying:

“I was just trying to pitch to contact a little more. Walks always hurt me, I’d always give up a lot of walks, and that’s how they end up scoring…this start I just had a better slider, and that always makes your fastball better.”

…i can’t remember a start in the past two seasons where i have been as encouraged by performance as i was with Maine last night…i don’t doubt he has been struggling with pain and weakness in that shoulder but last night told me that he might actually be over his shoulder woes…he looked so good and the movement he had on his slider made it mostly unhittable…

Maine pitched to Wilson Valdez and Jeremy Reed.

…like we always say, it’s how he feels the day after which is most important in determining his status no matter how he feels right now…

…

In today’s Star Ledger, Colin Stephenson reports that while Maine says he still feels some tightness in his arm and that he is not 100 percent, he is pitching without any pain.

Maine went on to say that rest is what cured him, as Dr. James Andrews instructed him on July 29 to stop throwing for two weeks, and Maine said that made the difference.

He does regret not resting earlier, telling reporters:

“I probably should’ve (rested the shoulder) earlier but didn’t. “As soon as I was feeling better I started throwing off the mound and long tossing, I knew I was going to pitch.”

He says that resting during the off season will ensure he is ready for Spring Training.

…i don’t understand why the team would not know that either they rushed him or he rushed himself and had not had the proper rest after his surgery last year, but then again injuries and the management of them seem to be the theme of the past couple of seasons…

After yesterday’s game, Jerry Manuel told reporters that Maine might pitch one of the two games of their doubleheader against the Phillies next Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.

Maine hasn’t pitched since being shutdown on June 6 with, what doctors call weakness in his right shoulder, and he is 5-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 11 appearances this season.

In addition, Carlos Beltran might be activated in time for Tuesday’s game against the Marlins at Citi Field.

Beltran played all nine innings for the Cyclones last night at KeySpan Park, delivering a walk off RBI single in their win over the Spinners.

He is expected to play all nine innings once again today.

…i just wish i was posting this in the middle of July rather than the beginning of September…

In addition, Luis Castillo should be returning to the lineup Sunday, while Gary Sheffield remains a question mark as he continues to nurse a sore hamstring.

Billy Wagner pitched a perfect inning Friday for Single-A St. Lucie, where he will throw again tonight.

…the way i understand it, wagner will keep up this pace, then eventually move to pitching back-to-back days… he’ll do that for a bit, after which talk of him joining the Mets will begin… i’m still thinking mid-month…

Yesterday, J.J. Putz tossed 25 pitches in a bullpen session in Citi Field, where he will throw again Wednesday.

He told reporters he hopes to be back in three weeks, though he’ll know more following his session on Wednesday.

…i suspect putz will have the same schedule as wagner, basically… so, wherever billy is, j.j. will be a week or so behind…

Carlos Beltran took live batting practice on the field Saturday, and hit from both sides of the plate in a 20-minute session.

…from what i can gather, Jose Reyes will do light running today in St. Lucie, but he is taking it slow… as is John Maine, who is still idle, resting, and waiting out discomfort in his shoulder…

However, he has been hitting, throwing and running in a pool and has every intention of getting back on the field.

Beltran said the doctor advised against increasing his workload because the pain and bruise will not go away until he stops activity altogether.

However, “I want to get back as soon as I can,” he said.  “I wanted to try. I decided to do it… Right now, I’m not thinking about resting.  I’m thinking about how I can get back.”

That said, Beltran said he still plans to have another MRI exam before he plays in a rehab game.

Speaking of injuries…

Carlos Delgado hit in the indoor batting cage in Citi Field yesterday and told reporters he is feeling good, but he has yet to run full speed around the bases.

…from what i can gather, he is still on pace to return next month, as is Billy Wagner and maybe J.J. Putz… John Maine is still a mystery, as he will get a second opinion on his shoulder tomorrow…

…meanwhile, the buzz from Citi Field suggests Jose Reyes is also getting closer to a return… i heard from one person who said reyes could realistically play in a rehab game in a week or so… in short, it’s not impossible that he’s back around the same time as delgado…

…in the end, it sounds like things are going well for everyone, which is why i am more skeptical than usual… i mean, what are the odds they all come back, boom, in one shot, perfect and ready for action… in other words, put on a uniform, play in a rehab game, and i’ll start being excited… well, maybe i’m a little excited… damn…

The Yankees confirmed similar news about Chien-Ming Wang, according to MLB.com.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders if their teams will offer Maine and Wang contracts for 2010, or instead non-tender them.

Maine is eligible for arbitration in 2010 and 2011, after which he can be a free agent for the first time in his career.

…it stands to reason maine will earn roughly $4 million in arbitration next season, up slightly from this season…

Sherman writes, “Both teams could conceivably work out deals where the players are non-tendered and then re-sign at reduced rates with the chance to recover salaries in full if they pitch all year.”

…maybe… i don’t know… it’s not like he’s going to earn $10 million in arbitration… but, it is real money being hogged up that could be better used elsewhere… so sad… i like maine… i hate to think this is how his story could end here in New York… i hope he does well at the doctor, gets back and proves himself…

…that said, the reality is, he has pitched just 36 starts during the last two seasons, and he has not been the same since the summer of 2007…

After his workout on Thursday, Maine told reporters:

“I just go on how I feel. It doesn’t feel great…[Tuesday] it felt all right, but the days in between, it’s hard. It aches a little bit, but what are you going to do? There’s always a chance that you’re not going to go out there and do your best. It’s not too bad pitching; it’s just the days in between.”

…anytime a player has to visit Dr. Andrews, that usually spells trouble…

…Angel Pagan today… maine could be back within 30 days… J.J. Putz said yesterday he is ahead of schedule, as is Carlos Delgado, who the team is hoping will return towards the end of August… and Billy Wagner is likely to return by the end of next month, as well… i don’t know what to expect from Carlos Beltran or Jose Reyes, but that list above would go a long way in making up six games in the standings…