We have certainly seen what must be considered more than our share of injuries. While some on here rightly point out that the Mets’ doctors and trainers must be well-regarded and well-respected in their fields to obtain positions with a major league baseball team, it just seems that the team suffers far too many injuries. Many of these injuries are apparently not being immediately diagnosed correctly, and this often not only worsens the injury, but lengthens the time the players miss.
 Below are excerps from a recently posted article on The Star Ledger’s website, written by Brian Costa, who surely is in a better position to judge than we are. I think his comments speak quite loudly to this issue. And I also must point out that in spring training of 2008, we had players all over the place who had nagging injuries or perhaps were not in the shape they could have been.
 Is all of this bad luck? Perhaps, but the WBC cannot be blamed for spring 2008, and all of this certainly suggests that the Mets’ staff is, at the very least, not taking injuries seriously enough. Mr. Costa’s thoughts are well worth examining.
Â
 WASHINGTON — J.J. Putz was going to be fine after a couple days off. Pitching with a bone spur? No problem.
Jose Reyes would be fine after a few days of rest. Disabled list? Not a chance.
Carlos Delgado would play through his hip injury. After all, the injury couldn’t get any worse.
Again and again, the Mets have either seriously downplayed or grossly underestimated the extent of a player’s injury. And the result has been a more prolonged absence, either because the injury got worse or because the surgery needed to fix it was delayed.
 By the time the Mets released a statement on Reyes Thursday (after saying they would not have an update on Reyes Thursday) saying he had a tear in his hamstring tendon, yet would resume rehabbing in 48 hours, it was hard not to be skeptical. This is, after all, the team that put Ryan Church on a cross-country flight after suffering a concussion last year.
 …. consider the cases of these four players:
 Delgado: Injury was said to be soreness, then inflammation, then an impingement, then an impingement with a bone spur until, finally, it was a torn labrum, too. Either the injury was worse than the team initially thought or Delgado made it worse by trying to play through it and not going on the DL sooner — which would contradict what the team initially said, that he couldn’t make it any worse by playing.
 Reyes: Explaining the decision not to put Reyes on the DL on May 22, Minaya said: “Based upon the medical information, it shouldn’t take two weeks. Why would we DL him two weeks?” Reyes went on the DL four days later with tendinitis in his right calf. On Wednesday, he left an extended spring game in pain, and an MRI revealed Thursday that Reyes had a small tear in his hamstring tendon. It is not clear whether he sustained the injury during the extended spring game, or if he had it earlier and it was simply not detected.
 Putz: An MRI taken May 13 revealed inflammation and a bone spur — the same kind of injury, albeit in a different place, that ended John Maine’s season last year — but the Mets believed Putz could pitch through it. He did, but struggled considerably and caused the bone spur to break off into fragments in the back of his elbow. He said he felt “sharp pain” during a side session Wednesday, but was used in Thursday’s game before seeing doctors Friday.
Francisco Rodriguez: K-Rod might be healthy now, but it was stunning to watch what happened when he came down with severe back spasms May 23 at Boston. After speaking to reporters, Rodriguez had trouble standing up in front of his locker. He had been given a medical waist belt to wrap around his lower back, but there wasn’t a trainer in sight to help him put it on, so he had the team’s bullpen catcher, Dave Racaniello, do it. Yes, the bullpen catcher, asked to help the ailing $37 million closer. Then, moments later, K-Rod — still in visible and severe pain — was allowed to walk without any assistance from the clubhouse to a golf cart waiting outside. He never made it — not on his own, anyway — collapsing near a doorway before medical personnel took him out of Fenway on a stretcher.
Â
36 comments
mrose
6/6/2009-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
Wow. Great read. On medical staff sucks
rustyjr
6/6/2009-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
Kong am awesome op ed as usual
Kingman 26
6/6/2009-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks guys; I really am trying to contribute to make this fantastic site even better. And I am truly honored to be listed among the nine writers, who make up most of my favorite people from the other site, whose name I forget….
rustyjr
6/6/2009-3:14pm at 3:14 pm (UTC -4)
Hey kong any advice on my column- to long of snarky ?
Kingman 26
6/6/2009-5:42pm at 5:42 pm (UTC -4)
Rusty, I think your column is really cool, I have always enjoyed it, (as do many others) and I think that the guys who run this site wanted it here before I found you in the MySpace wilderness, and they are really glad to have it. Like Prismo’s daily weather, it is a GREAT site feature which helps make this site fact-filled, informative, fun, and truly by the fans and for the fans.
To me, you combine facts and humor in a really good way. It is absolutely filled with facts that, for the older folks like me, are great to be reminded of (OK, not always!) and the humor is pretty much always funny too. And on days like today, being around draft time, there are going to be more facts, but on some winter days, there are very few, so the length evens out.
I mean, Stan â€WE AIN’T MOVIN ON UP†Jefferson—where the hell else are we going to find facts and hilarity mixed quite like that!
I hope your escape from Philly is painless, and if you hear those banjos strummin and see Ned Beatty out on the woods, RUN!!!
metsfan4decades
6/6/2009-6:16pm at 6:16 pm (UTC -4)
Nooooo, not too long, Rusty. I love those Mets Day in Infamy posts. Don’t know how long it takes you to research all that but as a long time Met fan, I always like reading them to see who I remember…
And whoa, Kingman…..reading this post makes you really have to wonder about the Mets medical staff.
rustyjr
6/6/2009-3:04pm at 3:04 pm (UTC -4)
See this is what I don’t understand when you own a ferarri and you hear pinging coming from the engine and you feel the tranny slamming into gear wouldn’t you take it back to the dealer to correct the problem a.s.a.p ? I just don’t understand why the Mets front office and training staff continue to stick their head in the sand and act like all these players need I’d rest . Is this a financial matter where the wilpons don’t like paying for surgeries? Is it the training staff and doctors being unqualified? I believe this is a indictment on omar having depth in the minors to replace players when they go down with injuries. Anyone agree? Disagree?
stickguy
6/6/2009-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t assume that all info is released to the media. SOmetimes also it is a gray area (like with Delgado) where there is a realistic chance of playing through the pain.
Of course the mets don’t want to damage their investment, but long DL stints and surgery are always going to be the last resort.
SOmetimes injuries don’t show up right away eiter.
stickguy
6/6/2009-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
Well, if you are going to put it like that, of coure it looks bad! ANd you wonder how lawyers can get big malpractice settlements for seemingly minor injuries.
rustyjr
6/6/2009-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
I understand stick but what’s with all this cloak and dagger b.s? Sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry – especially with your better players
dirtysanchez
6/6/2009-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
This is something i hope Omar is looking in to. This is unacceptable.
rustyjr
6/6/2009-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
It just makes the organization as a whole look like a bunch of blithering idiots
QnsNative718
6/6/2009-5:26pm at 5:26 pm (UTC -4)
Did the Yanks fire their head trainer back in 2007 when their pitchers were all having issues? This certainly needs to be looked into.
QnsNative718
6/6/2009-5:26pm at 5:26 pm (UTC -4)
*Didnt
GravediggerHebner
6/6/2009-5:33pm at 5:33 pm (UTC -4)
Someone definitely got fired, may have been the whole staff, I can’t recall, but someone’s head rolled.
Mr North Jersey
6/6/2009-3:26pm at 3:26 pm (UTC -4)
Even the most die hard Mets fan would have to admit that the NY Mets inability to isolate and diagnose player injuries is at a minimum been found lacking. If it is due to players not being forthright or trainers taking a wait and see approach or just following front office guidelines there is a great need for change as the status quo just will not do.
Mr North Jersey
6/6/2009-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
Oh by the way Great post Kingman
rustyjr
6/6/2009-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
Very true N.J
GravediggerHebner
6/6/2009-3:43pm at 3:43 pm (UTC -4)
I have in the past had medical issues, that depending on how one looks at them, were misdiagnosed initially. The incorrect diagnosis made, then based on it the incorrect course of treatment followed. Then, when no improvement, a “new” diagnosis with “new” course of treatment. So I don’t think it’s all on the Mets medical staff, and while I would hesitate to call them incompetent (not that you have) I am concerned by their seeming trial and error approach.
But I also, more often, have had medical issues that were correctly diagnosed and treated properly and successfully the first time. The overall track record of the Mets staff would seem poor, and my layman’s diagnosis is that a new medical staff is needed, or at worst immediate outside second opinions should be sought in all cases. I don’t think these doctors and trainers are always wrong, but the public record suggests they’ve been wrong enough that change should be made.
As a disclaimer of sorts, in the mid-80′s in my teens I was briefly acquainted with Dr. Altchek’s son (he was dating my best friend’s older sister). I haven’t encountered the family since that time so I hope my bias is minimal.
By the way I am now suffering from a medical issue known as eye strain from reading the tiny font of this post. Thankfully I do not use the Mets’ doctors.
metsfan4decades
6/6/2009-6:20pm at 6:20 pm (UTC -4)
As someone who has long since given up the ghost and has resorted to bifocals and reading glasses, I too have a problem with that tiny print. The hazards or reminders that I’m not young anymore….LOL.
Kingman 26
6/6/2009-6:26pm at 6:26 pm (UTC -4)
I am sorry…I had little time and posted in a hurry and focused on not having any spelling/grammar/factual errors after my complaints about the other site, so when the letters got posted so small, I did not have time to figure out why and to change it.
I will do better next time!
wannybackstra
6/6/2009-4:21pm at 4:21 pm (UTC -4)
Speaking of injuries, the one that seems to be going around the press is the brain injury that is somehow caused by the one-source story (i.e. get someone to say something sensational and run with it despite its stupidity). Here’s Buster Olney’s latest:
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4236566&name=olney_buster
Keep in mind that in 2005 Jose had a .300 OBP and has been consistenly in the mid .350s since then, primarily by improving his pitch recognition. He’s also become much sharper on the routine defensive plays. While the numbers have been relatively stagnant since 2006 (though any shortstop would kill for them), there’s no reason to believe that as he enters his physical prime that more power won’t come and even better pitch recognition.
As another birthday has passed for me this week (the 34th to be exact), I am awfully discouraged to hear that one can not improve after the age of 26.
GravediggerHebner
6/6/2009-5:29pm at 5:29 pm (UTC -4)
Wanny thank you for pointing out that article. I had not seen it. I can’t read all of it as I’m not an “Insider” but I think the bulk of the relevant stuff is available for all.
I have so many issues with their points of comparison. First Mark Prior. As a pitcher, I hesitate to even compare him to a hitter. Reyes is not subjected to the specific physical stresses that a pitcher is. That aside it still strikes me as specious because Prior has essentially been continually injured or recovering from injury since 2004, and out of the majors since 2006. He’s the extreme of extreme examples IMO.
Second Jimmy Rollins. Inevitable that he comes up I suppose. ["I don't see a lot of evolution there," said one scout this week. "Jimmy Rollins struggled early in his career, but then he just kept getting better and better, and I'm not really seeing that in Reyes."]
After I read that I immediately went to baseball-reference.com where I am now using their “compare” feature to look at Reyes & Rollins numbers side-by-side.
Rollins improvement came in the home run category. Is this what we want from Reyes, to be a power hitter? As a lead off hitter I want them to get on base. In 2004, Rollins made a 28 point leap in OBP to .348, and since then his annual OBPs have been .338, .334, .344, .349. I see no improvement there at all, I see stagnation (the label they are putting on Reyes). In 2006, Reyes’ OBP had a 54 point leap to .354, and his annual OBPs since are .354, .358, .355. Also stagnation, I suppose, but at a higher level than that of Rollins.
The key difference, Rollins will turn 31 in November and Reyes will turn 26 next week. Rollins was 25 when he improved his OBP to the point where it has stagnated since. At worst, Jose is a lead off hitter who may stagnate at a slightly better OBP level than Rollins. How is this a problem? Oh yeah, Reyes may not hit 30 home runs once, before steroid testing got tougher. F@*k Buster Olney.
Oh yeah, Happy Birthday Wanny!
CaseStreet
6/6/2009-7:16pm at 7:16 pm (UTC -4)
ur having quite a day today. Excellent comment. Didn’t know about the compare feature on baseball-reference.
QnsNative718
6/6/2009-5:23pm at 5:23 pm (UTC -4)
Outstanding post, Brock!
QnsNative718
6/6/2009-5:27pm at 5:27 pm (UTC -4)
“I know fuc*in karate!”
Kingman 26
6/6/2009-5:36pm at 5:36 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Qns!!
“Have you heard the tapes? Have you even heard them? We’re guaranteed a record deal. Our stuff is THAT GOOD!!”
And from yesterday, yes sir, they most definitely said Saturday Night Bea***!!
oleosmirf
6/6/2009-5:39pm at 5:39 pm (UTC -4)
what we need is a reliable SP after Omar let Lowe slip away. However now that Delgado is out until September and Reyes until the all-star break, we need someone who can hit b/c Beltran and Wright are not enough considering how everyone else is sub par and Sheffield is starting to cool off again…
Martinez wont help us this season and Murphy and his .240 BA 4 Hr and 18 RBI along with his awkward defense is unacceptable at 1B. Delgado will be back and some point so Nick Johnson is only an option if we can get him for next to nothing. We have 2 SS Cora and Valdez who can fill in for the next 4-8 weeks until Reyes is back and our relief pitching is fine.
What we need is a power bat that can play the field but at the same time wont cost us one of our top prospects (expect for Murphy and/or Niese) I have no problem trading either one of those…
metsfan4decades
6/6/2009-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
I like your thinking. I more or less agree but I’m not sure I would think Niese and/or Murphy are expendable. It all depends on WHO we were getting back if either were traded.
trs86
6/6/2009-5:44pm at 5:44 pm (UTC -4)
Dang King I thought I was the only one here paid by the word. Regardless, incredible read. How many games have we played shorthanded the last 2 years? And then to lose by 1 game?
Kingman 26
6/6/2009-6:11pm at 6:11 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks TRS; I did keep the letters small so as to not take up even more space!
I had been thinking these thoughts, and when I saw Costa’s piece, it really enunciated what I had been wanting to say, but from someone who is actually a pro writer and has behind-the-scenes access!
Mr. Mets Butler
6/6/2009-5:51pm at 5:51 pm (UTC -4)
We’re better off with Dr. Doolittle at this point?
oleosmirf
6/6/2009-6:01pm at 6:01 pm (UTC -4)
going into the season our lineup was below average at C, LF, RF and 2B. Now that Delgado and Reyes are out we are below average at C, LF, RF, 2B, 1B and SS.
You cant win like that b/c unless all 4 of our core hitters are going strong, we cant win and that is what Omar has failed to realize in 07, 08 and now 09.
Kingman 26
6/6/2009-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
We are not below average at 2B or C.
And with Murph’s early production and Shef’s much of the last month, it is highly doubtful that we are below average in LF either.
trs86
6/6/2009-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
True that should read we don’t have above average players at 2B, C, LF, RF.
metsfan4decades
6/6/2009-7:00pm at 7:00 pm (UTC -4)
Even after all these new development/injuries, I still think we need to go out and get a #4 type starter. Our starting pitching depth is extremely shaky right now. If we knew Ollie would be back in a month with some semblance of competence, it would be different but we don’t know that. After Johan/Pelf/Maine, we’ve got Livan who has been good (but for how long?) and Redding who even after last night’s performance is still a question mark.
And if any of those starting 5 go down, what are our options?
- Niese – who has been having some problems so far this year in triple A.
- Figgy?
- New guy Broadway?
Doesn’t make me feel too confident, that’s for sure….