The 38–year-old Dessens allowed five runs and nine hits in 12 innings pitched for the Mets earlier this season.

In a post to his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin explains why being promoted is extra special for Dessens and his family.

…hello, wow… that has got to hurt…

He has been admitted to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and will undergo surgery.

Niese will miss the rest of the season and is expected to be ready for Spring Training in 2010.

…that stinks… not just for the Mets, but for niese… a) the Mets now have no idea how to factor him in to their off-season and next-season plans… and b) for a young kid, who was seemingly just ready to turn the corner, this is a huge set back… good luck, jon…

Niese threw one warm up pitch after the play and collapsed in pain.  He was helped off the field by trainers and appeared unable to put any weight on the leg.

…this is completely absurd…

Update, 2:13 pm:

WFAN announced Niese has gone to the hospital for an MRI.

Gary Sheffield left the game with an apparent hamstring injury.

Update, 3:17 pm:

Following the game, Jerry Manuel told reporters that Niese most likely has a tear in the hamstring.

Meanwhile, Manuel said Sheffield felt discomfort in the same hamstring that had been given him trouble earlier in the season.

He said the team will have a better idea on Sheffield, ‘hopefully,’ when they land in San Diego tonight.

In a start for the Mets on May 13 against the Braves, Niese allowed five earned runs and seven hits in 4.2 innings pitched.

He then returned to Triple-A, where he went 5–3 with a 2.23 ERA, while striking out 54 batters.

…however, given last night’s injury to Fernando Nieve, it would seem, instead, the Mets will likely keep redding around, since nieve will most certainly soon end up on the disabled list…

…it seems most everyone believes Jon Niese will replace nieve in the rotation, while redding will bump to the bullpen…

In his last eight starts, Niese is 5-1 with a 0.96 ERA in Triple-A.

…i bet nieve gets put on the disabled list, Nick Evans is capped up to take his place on the roster, while keeping redding on the roster in the bullpen… then, next week, the Mets will promote niese to slot in the rotation, and then decide to either demote evans again and hang on to redding… or, keep evans and cut redding…

…technically, the Mets could go with just four starters through the end of the month, thanks to an off day next Thursday, but it does not appear they’re going to do that, which is smart… niese has earned a start, and it’s time to see what he can do…

Hernandez allowed seven runs and 10 hits in his previous start, and three runs in the first inning against the Yankees in the start before that.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, courtesy of ESPN.com, Hernandez is the first pitcher in Mets history to allow three or more first-inning runs in three successive starts, which no major-league pitcher had done since Mike O’Connor for the Nationals in July 2006.

…exactly… he gets totally roughed up early, of late, and though he finds a groove and gets back on track, with this Mets offense, it’s too little too late…

In his last three starts, he has a 30.00 ERA.

Jerry Manuel, on the state of the rotation, said last night:

“I’ll say this, over the break, we’ll decide what the rotation is going to be… We’ll just have to take a good look at it and see which direction we’re going to go.  I’m not saying somebody is in or somebody is out.  I’m just saying that we’re going to take a look at it.”

…manuel keeps saying, as long as the team gets good pitching, they have a chance to win every night… livan is not even giving them that of late… the reality is, for whatever reason, the Mets are 2–8 in his last 10 starts… and so, again, given the lack of offense, the Mets need to do something to give themselves a better chance…

…i bet the Mets go with Johan Santana, Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese and Nelson Figueroa following the All-Star break, since it seems like the Fernando Nieve Show is coming to a close as well…

Niese has a 1.04 ERA in his last six starts for Triple-A Buffalo, where Figueroa has seven consecutive quality starts and a 2.50 ERA.

By the way, Mejia has been placed on the disabled list with an injured finger, according to Brian Moritz of the Press & Sun Bulletin.

Mejia had been 0–3 with a 3.74 ERA in four starts since being promoted to Double-A Binghamton, during which he has 24 strike outs in 21.2 innings pitched.

Speaking of minor-league pitchers…

According to MiLB.com, Mets Triple-A LHP Jon Niese was named International League’s Pitcher of the Week.

Niese pitched a complete-game shut out in his last outing in Triple-A, during which he allowed five hits, walked two and struck out 10.

Niese is 4-1 with a 1.04 ERA in his last six starts in Triple-A.

Jon Niese

The Mets are 8–22 in games when the opposition scores first.

However, they’ve outscored opponents 36–12 in the first inning during games at Citi Field, where the Mets are 22–14 this season.

The Mets have 51 RBI from their catchers this season, the most in the major leagues, according to Elias.

Francisco Rodriguez has allowed 11 of the 35 first-batters he has faced in an inning to reach base this season.

Jerry Manuel has used 50 different batting orders in 71 games.

To vote for this week’s Fan Confidence Rating, click here.

Lastly, I started a Facebook account for me and MetsBlog, here.

Niese allowed five runs and seven hits in 4.2 innings today against the Braves.

According to Rubin, “It may not be a leap to suggest that Tim Redding will be activated and start Monday in Los Angeles.”

In an earlier post, Rubin does an outstanding job, as usual, giving an update on the farm system, reporting on Nick Evans, Wily Mo Pena and Angel Pagan, and prospects Jonathan Malo, Tobi Stoner and Sean Ratliff, among others.

Niese, on last night’s games, speaking to the reporters after the game:

On keeping his command:

“I told myself that is what I needed to do. Pound the zone and try to keep the ball down as much as I could. Keep my team in the game and everything else will take care of itself.”

Being able to challenge guys because of the size of the ballpark:

“I was always told this was a graveyard. I was told to pound the zone and good things will happen. So, that’s what I went out and tried to do.”

Getting through the sixth:

“I just tried to keep the ball down. I threw a cutter to the lefties. Fortunately I was able to get a ground ball to end it.”

On if he thought he needed to do well to get a second second start:

“No. I just took this game and tried to throw strikes, get guys out, and keep my team in the game.”

Keeping composure after misplayed fly ball:

“Things happen. I make mistakes and everyone makes mistakes. They battled the lights. I just had to go out their and keep pitching and not give up.”

Changes made after struggling in Buffalo:

“Well, my fastball command wasn’t there. I have been working on that. Working on throwing strikes where I want it. Keeping my off speed going. I’ve been going to video and saw what I needed to improve and took that to my bullpen and worked on it. Now just taking it to the games and it is working out.”

On if his experience last season helped him with this start:

“Yeah, I knew what to expect and just wanted to throw strikes and keep my team in it.”