El Duque strains calf, may miss start

by anonymous on Oct 3, 2006 2:51 PM EDT

ESPN is reporting that El Duque suffered a calf strain and may miss his start tomorrow.

Willie Randolph announced that Orlando Hernandez might not be able to make his start in Game 1 of the division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Randolph said that Hernandez felt something in his right calf while running in the outfield Tuesday. Hernandez, who is 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA with the Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks this season, was scheduled to have an MRI exam this afternoon.

Source: ESPN

The Mets' postseason rotation is quickly becoming a mess. I hope Heilman and Oliver are ready to pick up the pieces.

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Gah, Jebus Why?

John Maine better get loose. The Mets won an awful lot of games this season with the likes of Dave Williams and Steve Trachsel on the mound, so I think they're prepared for this. Still, it sucks big time.

by Eric Simon on Oct 3, 2006 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

Maine will be okay, I think

he has generally pitched very well, and has always at least kept the mets in the game (his only start giving up more than 4 runs was when Pujols hit the 2 3-run homers) so I am confident he will give them the chance to win. Obviously, the loss of El Duque would be a lot greater in a 7-game series. Mentally, it might actually help the rookie to pitch the first game and not have to deal with the pressure of pitching in a clincher or must-win game midway through the series.

Also, I believe the mets still have until tomorrow to remove duque from their post-season roster for the ds.

This sucks big time, but I am not panicking yet.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 3, 2006 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

what now?

I don't know what happens to the rotation if Duque is unavailable for a week or two. If I were managing, I'd go with a regular three-man rotation of Maine (yes, he's the ace now), Glavine, and Trachsel, and hope for the best getting two games out of Maine and Glavine. But there are other options, like pulling Oliver or Heilman out of the pen for a 4th starter, or moving Oliver Perez onto the roster (though I think this would have to wait for the NLCS at this point). Other ideas?

by anonymous on Oct 3, 2006 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

Perez

Yea, this would have been helpful news before the Mets had declared their roster for the LDS. Carrying Oliver Perez instead of, say, Mike DiFelice, might have been a smart move.

by Eric Simon on Oct 3, 2006 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Dave Williams

I think I'd go with Dave Williams b/f Oliver Perez. He has better control which means you could use him to start or relieve. Perez could be downright frightening coming out of the pen in a playoff game with his Nuke Laloosh impersonation. He has a ton of potentional but he is really raw right now.

by millsy on Oct 3, 2006 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Best case scenario

The injury isn't serious and Hernández is merely pushed back. Instead of Hernández-Glavine-Trachsel, the new sequence is Maine-Glavine-Hernández.

Like that'd ever happen...

by Pony Country on Oct 3, 2006 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

Not nervousing about Maine

Other than the occasional gopher balls, Maine has been solid, and Willie can pitch by committee if he has to.

Maine has more strikeouts than hits, and 33 walks in 90 innings. Its those 15 taters that bother me, but they come with the bases empty and our guys are hitting, it may not be so bad. It's really just Drew, Nomar & Furcal we have to worry about.

by Rod Gaspar Fan Club on Oct 3, 2006 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

Horrorshow

Can anyone please tell me the status on Steve Trachsel? Is he even available?

Can they add Oliver Perez or Philip Humber to the roster to replace El Duque, because it's an injury?

If they go to Heilman, how many innings or pitches can he reasonably be expected to throw?

by elliot on Oct 3, 2006 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

Humber Is Out

Humber had not been recalled to the big leagues by Aug 31 so I am pretty sure he is out. Does anyone know for sure?

Oliver Perez or Dave Williams are the most likely additions. I'd go with Williams because he has good control so you can bring him out of the pen. Oliver is too much of a wildcard at this point.

by millsy on Oct 3, 2006 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

If El Duque is injured he can be added

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Oct 3, 2006 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Really

That is an intriguing idea.

by millsy on Oct 3, 2006 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

if you have an injured player before

rosters are set you can replace him with anyone in your organization of that same position(Pitchers and position players). Humber could be used if he replaces a pitcher, El Duque.

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Oct 3, 2006 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting

I thought they had to have been on your active roster sometime before Aug 31 in order to be eligible. Thanks for the clarification.

by millsy on Oct 3, 2006 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

np

This should be known as K-Rod rule, that how he got on the roster in the Angels WS year.

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Oct 4, 2006 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I can hear the Dog right now.

"What the hell was El Duque doing running in the outfield? Doesn't anyone in that organization realize that he was supposed to start a baseball game in a couple of days? Everyone knows running is dangerous. These atheletes, they can't be trusted to decide for themselves whether to stretch out or exercise or what have you. The Mets should have put a lid on this thing. Not only outfield running, but all running. It's ridiculous."

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Oct 3, 2006 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

awesome

Well played, Mr. Met.

by Josh @ Amazin' Avenue on Oct 3, 2006 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Isn't Running B/W Starts Standard?

I am pretty sure running between starts is a pretty standard activity. I guess they could have had him use an exercise but its not as though they can deep freeze them b/w starts ala Austin Powers to prevent injuries. They still do light throwing and leg exercises to keep their legs strong b/w starts.

FWIW - I ran a marathon last year and never injured my calf or anything else. This is kind of a freak injury.

by millsy on Oct 3, 2006 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry Mr. Met

I thought you were serious for a minute. OOOPS.

by millsy on Oct 3, 2006 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the laugh

Mr. Met - I needed a good laugh.

Thanks.

P.S. Breathing is even worse. If you check, every major injury occurred while the athlete was breathing.

by elliot on Oct 3, 2006 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

Albert Chen at SI predicts Bums in 5.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/albert_chen/10/02/burning.questions/index.html

Who will advance to next week?
The picks here: Yankees over Tigers in three; Twins over A's in five; Dodgers over Mets in five; Padres over Cardinals in four.

Why, you ask? Do you really need to ask?

An NL exec chimes in: "....the Mets are absolutely a mess without Pedro.

Of course. So we'll use a rookie for our ace, a couple of 40+ guys, and still kick ass.

by Rod Gaspar Fan Club on Oct 3, 2006 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

Pedro

Missing Pedro will have a huge impact on this team, but the Mets beat a lot of other good teams in the last three months with little-to-no Pedro, so they definitely have enough talent to get it done.

by Eric Simon on Oct 3, 2006 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

definitely

I honestly don't know that the Mets could win the World Series without 'Dro, but I think they have enough to get there. We will see, but I think we're still okay, particularly if Duque can pitch later in the DS or in the NLCS at least. Either Glavine or Maine will be fun to watch in game 1, I can't wait. Oh yeah, anybody out there in DC planning on watching the game tomorrow? I was thinking of cutting out of work a bit early.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 3, 2006 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder which NL exec that was

considering we smoked the NL all year without #45? A hater possibly?

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Oct 3, 2006 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Feh

Maybe what we'll see is what some people have suggested for years: no starter.

Instead have each bullpen pitcher pitch once through the batting order. No one can make adjustments, and the pitchers remain fresh.

If the pen is mightier than the starters, and it certainly looks that way, we may be forced into displaying this innovation. Who gets credited with a "W" doesn't matter.

by peeder on Oct 3, 2006 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

Then I recommend you go with "Fez"

Since it'll be more like a Shriner's convention/parade thing.

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Oct 3, 2006 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

it's already over.

Why not just give him the DVD set now?

by anonymous on Oct 3, 2006 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Might as well

Ain't gonna top that.

by Eric Simon on Oct 3, 2006 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

And now there's some issue with Trachsel

Apparently some personal matter that had him go back to California.

Good grief.

by peeder on Oct 3, 2006 5:33 PM EDT reply actions

All together now,

Lets Go MESS!
Lets Go MESS!

by peeder on Oct 3, 2006 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

It's getting perilously close

to Lima Time...

"He even tried to pimp it," Floyd said. "He's got no pimp." Said Wright: "I don't even know what that means."

by Billy Everyteen on Oct 3, 2006 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

If Jose Lima pitches for the Mets in the postseasn

I will not only not watch the game, I might tune out of the whole series!

by peeder on Oct 3, 2006 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish I could tune out of

THOSE EVER-PRESENT ASS CHEEKS.

ERIC !!

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Oct 3, 2006 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Cheeks

Yea, that ad was purchased network-wide on all of the SportsBlogs sites. Some folks rejected it for fear that it would turn off some users. I was not one of those people.

by Eric Simon on Oct 3, 2006 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I might not feel so bad about it

if I was sure they were female cheeks. I also don't really want to scrutinize it close enough to make sure, in case they're not.

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Oct 3, 2006 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Not that I'm homophobic or anything.

I'm just not that interested in tranny-man-cheeks.

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Oct 3, 2006 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

They are Female Cheeks

the accompaning video is pretty good.

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Oct 3, 2006 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

OK Doc - on your say-so, I hereby

accept the cheeks.

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Oct 3, 2006 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions

yikes

they are everywhere. metsgeek too! hard to make comments on the page at work.

Pedro offers you his protection.

by pj on Oct 4, 2006 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I know

Only six days left! You can always get AdBlock for Firefox and it'll be blocked.

by Eric Simon on Oct 4, 2006 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

maine will be fine

he has the best era on the team. One suggestion would be to add another relief pitcher so we can yank whoever starts when they start stinking up the place. How about bert I hear he is not on the roster (even though we traded nady for him) another bullpen arm could really help. besides maybe duque will miss a start but it puts him on pace to start game 1 next series if the mets make it (knock on wood)

hojo the rabbit

by hojo on Oct 3, 2006 6:57 PM EDT reply actions