The Mets won their fifth game in six tries last night, besting the Cardinals 2-0 in a rain-shortened five-and-a-half inning affair. Tom Glavine picked up his 297th career victory, his 25th career shutout and his 56th career complete game. The Braves destroyed the Nationals and the Phillies lost to the Reds, so the Mets' lead over both of their division rivals stands at 3.5 games. The bats are still scuffling in a major way, but the starting pitching continues to be a strength even if the bullpen isn't as tight as it could be. Some news and notes for this Thursday:
- Future All Star Fernando Martinez has landed on the disabled list for Double-A Binghamton with what is being termed a "right hand contusion". He had been selected to play in the All Star Futures game on July 8th in San Francisco but that certainly appears to be in jeopardy.
- Pedro Martinez threw batting practice yesterday in Port St. Lucie in lieu of his scheduled bullpen session. Bullpen coach Guy Conti expected the rehabbing Martinez to throw only fastballs, but Pedro surprised everyone by utilizing his entire arsenal. There is some concern that Martinez is over-excited about his progress to this point so the Mets are expected to hold him back a bit so as to avoid risking re-injury of the shoulder. Otherwise, excellent news for the Mets.
- In the same article linked above, Adam Rubin reports that Endy Chavez is progressing nicely with his rehab and expects to begin running next week with a lead time for his return to action around three weeks.
- Jose Valentin's knee still is not 100%. His right knee is still balky, and Valentin himself has indicated that he wouldn't be able to play at all right now if not for the brace he has been wearing. Asked if the brace had anything to do with Valentin's inability to make a couple of key defensive plays during Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals, Willie Randolph responded, "He wasn't wearing a brace on his hands".
- Michael Salfino has a nice article at SNY.tv about the recent conclusiong of interleague play and how the two leagues stacked up against one another.
- Former Met Wally Backman, now managing in the South Coast League, lost his cool again.