John Maine Placed On 15-Day DL
John Maine got placed on the 15-Day DL with a mild strain of his right rotator cuff, according to Anthony DiComo of Mets.com. Billy Wagner suffered a stiff left forearm last Tuesday in Florida which created a need for another bullpen arm. Wagner will have an MRI on the forearm this Tuesday in New York, and he isn’t expected to pitch again before at least Wednesday. The Mets filled the hole by selecting the contract of Double-A closer Eddie Kunz from Binghamton. To make room, they placed John on the disabled list. The move is retroactive to July 29 and will force Maine to miss his scheduled start on Aug. 8. But he will miss only one start.
DiComo lists these as options for the Mets to fill Maine’s spot in the rotation, “Though the Mets could pitch Oliver Perez on Friday and use a spot starter for Saturday’s game against the Marlins — a sequence that would allow them to call up top pitching prospect Jonathon Niese — manager Jerry Manuel said that he would be more inclined to give Perez an extra day of rest and use a spot starter Friday. Claudio Vargas is the likely candidate to take Maine’s spot in the rotation.”
I agree with Manuel wanting to give Ollie an extra day because Ollie was moved up a spot in the rotation to take Maine’s place today. Otherwise, you are looking at having Perez moving up a spot in the rotation for two consecutive starts. It’s better that Vargas starts even though you never know what to expect, but you don’t know with Ollie either. I can’t wait till Johnny’s back.
