Per KFFL,
 ”Bart Hubbuch, of the New York Post, reports New York Mets OF Ryan Church (hamstring) is scheduled to play in an extended Spring Training game Tuesday, June 2, and is expected to be activated from the disabled list Sunday, June 7.”
 It’s not all doom and gloom in Mets Nation. Church being reactivated could not have come at a better time. We’ve been riding the Sheffield wave lately, but I think it’s plain to see that Shef should not start everyday. He’s 40 years old and is playing through pain.
Courtesy of ESPN –
“Sheffield described the pain behind his right knee as similar to what forced Jose Reyes onto the disabled list. Only in Sheffield’s case, he plans to fight his way through it rather than take an extended break, the NY Newsday reports.”
 IMO, Shef has been the glue that’s held this Mets lineup together these past few weeks. Primarily used as a clean-up hitter, Sheffield is hitting .269 with 5 homers and 20 RBIs. His OBP is .406 and he’s Slugging .472. He’s been a pleasant surprise but I fear at the steady rate that he’s playing, he’ll quickly show he is indeed a 40 year old man.
 That’s where Church comes in, along with Fernando Martinez.  When Church joins the team this Sunday, Emil Brown should be sent down to the minors and Fernando Martinez should stay. He could spell time with both Sheffield and Church. That way, Shef could get the rest he needs if he wants to last the season, and Church could ease back in and not have to put added strain on his hammy.Â
 Or maybe not. Should F-Mart be sent down to the Minors, where’s he’s guaranteed a chance to play everyday, and build as a Mets Starting Outfielder of the future? Â
Your thoughts…Â Â Â Â
85 comments
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
While of course keeping an open mind to the arguments against it, I would take the course of making FMart the every day RF and fashioning a platoon of sorts with Church and Sheff. That would keep Sheff rested, reduce Church’s opportunity for his next injury, and allow the Mets a better glimpse into the future. If FMart falls on his face he can of course always be sent down.
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
Of course, this jumps the gun a bit. Church is “scheduled to play his first extended spring training game.” Remember what happened to Reyes in his.
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:14pm at 3:14 pm (UTC -4)
Lol, No kiddin. Well this report came out a few days ago. I think if anything happened it wouldve come out. I thought today would be a good day to shine some good news… lord knows we need ot.
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
Ah yes, “June 2.” Poor reading comprehension on my part. I also haven’t heard any negative reports on Church down there. Happy Happy Joy Joy!
jaydh
6/5/2009-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Woo hoo, get that .272avg/.680ops back in the lineup!
But seriously, I think Sheff is hurting and may hit the DL himself once Church returns.
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
I dont think he’s quite there yet. A few days rest should help… At the same time, we’ve been told that before about some other players. Look how those turned out.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah.. we should play dead since we have no hope…
trs86
6/5/2009-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
Teach Church to play 1B. There. I said it. LOL.
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmmmm…
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
Not the first time this was said. He’s a good fielder, no reason to think he can’t handle it.
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
Outfielders are generally outfielders because they weren’t any good in the infield. Read that, stone hands.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-3:35pm at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
You mean to tell me what we have to wait 40 more years to win a WS?? I’m going to kick your ***!!
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
or because they have speed, and not everyone can play in the IF. Especially a CF, which Church came up as.
I don’t think Church or Beltran would be classified as having “stone hands”
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
outfielder hands are MUCH different than infielder hands. there are not very many outfield/infield types. oh boy, here come the mark derosa chants.
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
CHurch did play a game (yesterday?) successfully. No pain, etc. So barring setbacks (always a possibility with the Mets), Sunday looks promising.
I am concerned the Sheff is about to blow up. But I also think they need to give Church regular duty to get back on track.
I vote for sending Martinez down for now, and letting Reed take a couple starts per week for Sheffield. Martinez will be back once Gary has to hit the DL.
They already cot there 400K worth out of him, but they might as well push him hard now and get whats left. Then move on when he implodes.
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
So when that happens, would you opt for Minaya to go after a bat? Cant have Beltran and Wright as your only big boppers. Or maybe you can and rely on the small ball?
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
small ball is fine. It’s not like Sheffield has that much power.
Or call up Wily Mo if you want someone with some pop.
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
Well he is 2nd on the team in homeruns with only 108 abs. Lets not sell him short.
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
roughly a 25/year pace, but he has been tailing way off with extended PT (Losing your legs kills power).
Not exactly replacing 2002 Bonds here!
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
lol. Given the circumstances of this team, he is a viable part of it.
wannybackstra
6/5/2009-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
“only in Sheffield’s case, he plans to fight his way through it rather than take an extended break.”
Was this the Newsday taking a shot at Jose Reyes? Or did Sheffield take a shot at Reyes?
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
Jose’s game and Sheff’s game are totally different. For Reyes, his leg is his weapon. For Sheff, it’ll be nice to run at full speed, but he doesn’t need to do that for his HR trots… I hope..
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:58pm at 3:58 pm (UTC -4)
Not to nit pick, but hr hitters need strong legs to hit. Same goes with pitchers in a sense too. The power is in the legs…
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
Gotta be Newsday.
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
and no one said that SHeff has a torn tendon. Just that he i ssore in the same area.
and Sheff is happy to trot around at 1/2 speed. Doesn’t quite work for Jose.
dirtysanchez
6/5/2009-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
Yay churchyyy
now we just have to find a way for manuel to let him play everyday…
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
back to the dog house churchyyy
Mr. Mets Butler
6/6/2009-6:44pm at 6:44 pm (UTC -4)
no he needs to play
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:26pm at 3:26 pm (UTC -4)
I have come up with my grandest scheme of all. Bear with me here.
If the Mets can add 1 legit back (a salary dump, without giving up top prospects) do it. Question will be, where does he play? Answer, wherever he plays!
So get the bat, and adjust as needed.
So, what if all they can snag is a 3B How about, your new SS, David Wright!
I bet he can handle the spot, and for sure it helps the offense.
Just til Jose comes back. Look, Mitchell and HoJo did it, and even Tatis more recently. And DW is quicker than any of them.
Just don’t ask who the 3B they get is, but it opens up more possibilities, and more important, eliminates one of the black holes in the B.O.
With any bat you add, you can’t look at it as replacing Reyes (or Delgado). It is replacing the player he moves to the bench.
so if you find a LF, you can’t look at it as an upgrade over Valdez or Reyes. It would be the difference over Sheffield.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
so if you find a LF, you can’t look at it as an upgrade over Valdez or Reyes. It would be the difference over Sheffield.
????
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
you got it.
Say the line up today is Valdez and Sheffield. Now, trade for Holliday.
You then have Holliday and Valdez.
All you gain is what Holliday adds over what Sheffield gives you. Valdez is still playing.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-3:45pm at 3:45 pm (UTC -4)
But you can put Sheff in RF and Holliday in LF.
So, line up is Valdez, Sheff and Holliday rather than Valdez, Sheff and FMart/Church
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
same concept. He is replacing someone else, not Valdez. So you can’t look at the production increase expected as an improvement over Valdez.
And counting on Sheff to play everyday for the rest of the year (or what would be considered FT) is a big, big risk.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-3:54pm at 3:54 pm (UTC -4)
But Reyes’ production is not HR or RBI based. There’s not many people who can replace him. IMO, what we need is some Power in the line up. We’ve got good speed and can fill in while Reyes is gone, but we need someone to replace Delgado’s production.
Joe R
6/5/2009-3:58pm at 3:58 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. Plain in simple we need a slugger. Someone to give us 20 HR 100 RBI’s. I mean listen if we replace Delgado’s numbers we are basically only missing Reyes. Cora will do a valant job in the meantime.
dirtysanchez
6/5/2009-3:35pm at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
let me get what your smoking stick lol
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
Gonna have to start calling him Thai Stick Guy.
just kidding 8)
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
Nah, I think he’s smokin some of that Harlem Purple Haze…
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-3:43pm at 3:43 pm (UTC -4)
Sticky icky icky guy?
:-O
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-3:45pm at 3:45 pm (UTC -4)
Sticky icky oooooooh weeeeee…
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:51pm at 3:51 pm (UTC -4)
I have a real good story about Harlem, a Mets game and the cops. Too long to tell here though..
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
I both enjoy and find merit in all your schemes Stick. But David Wright at SS? You’ve lost me on this one.
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:44pm at 3:44 pm (UTC -4)
Desperate times Hebs. If you don’t have players to go around, and are short offense, you sometimes have to go out of the box.
It makes more sense I guess if you have 1 super batting prospect, but he plays the same position as an established guy. If you need the bat, you figure out how to play them.
So, say Omar can make a deal of a quality bat as a salary dump, for a nothing prospect, that cover for Delgado. If it happens to be a 3B, do you dismiss out of hand?
I personally think DW could do quite well at SS if he had to. But if that bothers you, how about a short stint in LF? 1B?
Anyway, the true black hole (other than the original, Castillo) in the order is SS. In my mind, the best way to fix it is with a SS that can hit, not jus ttrying to do a marginal upgrade elsewhere (in effect “hiding” the weak bat).
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
Even though most observers agree that he hasn’t earned it, we are talking about the two time reigning gold glove third basemen. If the Mets acquire a 3B, perhaps that person should move to SS or LF.
What’s old friend Melvin Mora up to these days?
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
OMIGOD I just looked at his stats. While I imagine that Baltimore would like to shed the contract, their is no production there at this point. Wow. 148 AB, 4 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, .677 OPS. Church’s return gives us that.
Joe R
6/5/2009-3:54pm at 3:54 pm (UTC -4)
Haha I would hope.
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
Lol, I can imagaine you saying “OMIGOD” like a prebuscent girl, Grave.
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-4:09pm at 4:09 pm (UTC -4)
As long as she lisps because she’s wearing braces (and little else) you’ve got the right picture.
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
lmao..
stickguy
6/5/2009-3:54pm at 3:54 pm (UTC -4)
You have to look at it from a team perspective, and it depends who it is.
Say the Red Sox decide to donate Mike Lowell to the Mets (Theo feels sorry for Omar).
You gonna play him at SS? Or even LF?
I’m just brainstorming for ways to put the best team on the field until Jose gets back (so they can win enough games to stay in the playoff chase).
ANd thinking outside the box a bit (I know, not Omar’s specialty) might be needed. And way better than trading Holt and F Mart for Mark Derosa!
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-4:00pm at 4:00 pm (UTC -4)
I agree on the Lowell isn’t going to play SS or LF part. I just don’t see him A). available; or B). as a viable acquisition.
Especially having established that Omar doesn’t demonstrate outside the box thinking, while us discussing it is fun, it is unlikely to happen.
That’s why I’m thinking more about guys like Melvin Mora, Bobby Crosby or Jhonny Peralta. They are (relatively) expensive contracts on last place teams that at least have if not can play SS.
gategem
6/5/2009-4:29pm at 4:29 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s some food for thought:
“Ray Oyler was the Tigers’ main shortstop during the regular season (1968, but he didn’t play much in the World Series.
Oyler was not a good hitter, and manager Mayo Smith wanted to get Al Kaline’s bat in the line-up along with the other three main outfielders, Jim Northrup, Willie Horton and Mickey Stanley. Kaline was hurt part of the year and was kind of the fourth outfielder.
So Smith moved Stanley to shortstop and had Kaline in right, Northrup in center and Horton in left.â€
BTW it worked out fine.
Joe R
6/5/2009-3:51pm at 3:51 pm (UTC -4)
There is a huge difference in the athletic ability it takes to play each position. Moving from short to 3B ok. Moving from 3B to short is something totally different. I dont think David would be able to play short. Moving from side to side and being able to stay on your feet and make a throw is not easy. You can easily be embarassed by simply falling down on your face. Its difficult. the one plus is David seems to throw better when on the run without time to think about it!!lol
Joe R
6/5/2009-4:01pm at 4:01 pm (UTC -4)
I must admit with all this doom and gloom the only way i put a big smile on my face is picturing Omar an our newly acquired slugger standing together at the press conference!! Try it for 5 seconds…It feels real good!
trs86
6/5/2009-4:01pm at 4:01 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, but don’t hold your breath.
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
I am suffering through the replay of yesterday’s game on SNY in the futile hope that today’s 4:00pm Omar press conference will produce something worthy of announcing, but apparently it’s just the recall of Fernando Nieve as posted in an updated thread by TRS.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-4:07pm at 4:07 pm (UTC -4)
Omar: I’m here to announce that we have acquired Albert Pujols from St. Louis Cardinals. We have in return sent couple unnamed prospects and couple Shea memorabilia.
YAY!!
Joe R
6/5/2009-4:09pm at 4:09 pm (UTC -4)
Yay!!
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-4:10pm at 4:10 pm (UTC -4)
I remember that press conference. That was April 1st.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
I wish Omar would pull that off….
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
Can you say “Understatement”? lol
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
Trade lube, anyone?
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
lol.. youre on a roll, my man.
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
The way things are going for our Metsies right now, I have to laugh to keep from crying.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-4:22pm at 4:22 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t worry, it’ll get better as the Mets sweep the Nats and Phillies loses all 3 games this weekend. And then Mets sweep them again next week. And then Mets sweep the Yanks while Phils gets swept by the BoSox….
YAY!
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:25pm at 4:25 pm (UTC -4)
The Phils will get swept by the BoSox or Gary Sheffield needs BoTox? Can’t quite read it.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-4:27pm at 4:27 pm (UTC -4)
There’s Always ’09!
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-4:28pm at 4:28 pm (UTC -4)
BoTox, BoSox… whatever that can sweep Phillies…
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-4:26pm at 4:26 pm (UTC -4)
Speakin of, Im headin to the Mets game at Yankee Stadium next Sat. Reeeally hope the Mets turn things around by then, cuz theres nothing worse than being around douchebag Yankee fans when the Mets arent doing well. I plan to go liquored up regardless.
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
I’m going to that one too. Sitting in the bleachers. Was all happy that it was going to be Johan vs. Someone. But because of the rainout, I believe it’s going to be Livan. Oh well. At least we’ll be able to hit home runs there. Everyone does.
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
Yea thats right, Johan was to pitch that game. Im in sec. 434A. Hopefully its with the “Bleecher Creatures”.
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:42pm at 4:42 pm (UTC -4)
I’m in the bleachers. I’m in section 202 or something. It’s two sections over from the Mohegan Sun Sports Monstrocity in Center Field. I just hope I can see all the way to left field with that thing in the way.
If you haven’t been to the NYS yet, you need to walk back there. They have seats right next to the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar. If you are sitting in any of those seats, you litteally can’t see from straight away center, to either left or right field (depending on which side of the bar you are sitting).
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
I guess we claimed Pat Misch off waivers too, per sportspyder.
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:17pm at 4:17 pm (UTC -4)
Pat Listach?
GravediggerHebner
6/5/2009-4:19pm at 4:19 pm (UTC -4)
I remember when he was rookie of the year. He’s 41, he could probably help us at SS right now.
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:20pm at 4:20 pm (UTC -4)
Pat Tabler?
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-4:24pm at 4:24 pm (UTC -4)
Change your Screen name to TA’09!!
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:32pm at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)
Should it be TA’09 or There’s Always ’09?
Back on Mattsblog, it was There’s Always ’09 last year when we were horrible in June.
QnsNative718
6/5/2009-4:29pm at 4:29 pm (UTC -4)
Sajack?
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:32pm at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)
New England “Pats”?
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
TA’09!
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s what Kevin Burkhardt has on his twit… ter… (sorry I just had to do it)
Based on Omar’s press conference “JJ Putz likely out 3 mos. Resume babeball activities in 6 weeks. Omar wouldn’t put any timetable on Reyes”
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:39pm at 4:39 pm (UTC -4)
I remember a Saturday morning in October 2006. I was down in the dumps. The Mets had just lost Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS two days earlier, and I was in a parking lot at FedEx in Elmsford, NY waiting for them to open. It was around 9AM and Chris Russo came on the FAN. He said something that I shook my head at on that day, but has proven to be very true. He said, “Mets fans…it will never be this easy every again. You will never have this kind of cake walk through your league ever again.”
He was so right. I can’t change my name back to TA’09. However, I will change it to TA’07.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/5/2009-4:42pm at 4:42 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks!
There's Always '49
6/5/2009-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
I am willing to be our very own message board Confidence Rating Meter though. Rather than having people vote, I will log on with my confidence rating that particular day in the form of the year that i give