JJ Putz Kaputz
Earlier today, Mets GM Omar Minaya announced that J.J. Putz took an MRI that revealed inflammation in the back of his right elbow. Additionally, it was reported that Putz has a bone spur in that same elbow.
Per Minaya:
“He’s had this spur before, and guys sometimes play with it.”
According to Minaya, Putz does not need surgery and will get a cortisone shot, which will make him unavailable for at least the next two ballgames.
For those who forgot, last year there was another Mets pitcher who had an inflammation as well as a bone spur in his throwing arm, though it was the shoulder and not the elbow. The comments were similar though, in the early stages of the injury. Something to the effect that the pitcher could continue to throw, and would not cause any further damage. Also last year, there was a reliever with an elbow issue, but his problem was originally diagnosed as “forearm tightness”. He’s on track to return to the team in September, if all goes well.
In March, we reported concern about J.J. Putz’s velocity. Yesterday, Jerry Manuel suggested that Putz’s problem was likely due to not enough work in spring training:
“I think maybe for him, out of all the guys that the WBC might’ve hurt, it could be him,” Manuel said of Putz’s participation with Team USA during spring training. “He’s shown flashes of stuff, but he probably needed all of spring training to get right.”
(Or maybe he was damaged goods when he was acquired in December.)
More recently, we suggested that Putz might have been overused. Indeed, Putz himself admitted to feeling “fatigued” as well as “sore”.
However, Mets manager Jerry Manuel quickly dispelled such notions on WFAN yesterday. One of his direct quotes, in answer to Mike Francesa’s question, “Putz … has he been overused, is he a little sore, where is he right now?” :
“No, he’s in good shape. I don’t think anybody’s been overused. I think what happens is a lot of times, early in the season, because guys get in games, but people forget that there’s off days … you know there’s off days so they say ‘well he’s been in this many games and this many times and he’s gonna be wore’ … But there are times like we’re in now, that you don’t have off days, so those are the days that people kind of get confused on that.”
The Urban Dictionary has a fairly acceptable definition for kaputz. (Please note that you will encounter adult language by following that link.)
So no Putz for the next 2 days, which may be just what the doctor ordered as he can use the rest. But much like Delgado’s hip, I’m sure this won’t be the last time we hear about Putz having to deal with pain in his elbow. Putz very well may have developed this problem while with Seattle and is something the Mets inherited as part of the offseason trade, but I still don’t blame the Mets for pulling the trigger on the deal. After all, Putz’ numbers from the last 2 months of 2008 showed he was back to his dominating form, even if there was a drop in velocity, and Putz showed at the WBC and during portions of April (when not subjected to overusage) that he can be a shutdown 8th-inning pitcher. But the saturation of work Jerry has subjected him to has definitely caused Putz to breakdown, and who knows now if he’ll be able to recover enough to give the Mets the formidable 8th/9th inning tandem they had envisioned.
Also, word is that Reyes will miss tonight’s game with a “stiff calf.” Maybe it’s the same stiff calf that caused him not to slide into 3rd base on Castillo’s grounder yesterday, or the one that disallowed him from busting it out of the box as he admired his hit off the wall in the 12th. Whatever the case, Reyes needs/deserves the benching, and will hopefully be “healthy” again come Friday.
I lurk around here from time to time, but I never posted. It seems like the Mets PR is just like the Dems PR – it is very annoying when most of the fanbase eats it up without asking critical questions. If you can see through Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank, you should be able to see through Omar and Jerry. We’re all Americans and we’re all Mets fans – we all want to succeed/win. But that doesn’t excuse our “leaders” for being horrible at their jobs and more concerned with spin than anything else!
Sometimes it seems the Mets front office is running a political campaign, rather than trying to win the division. They just want to be liked.
By the way Joe I love this blog! And MetsPolice too. Hold these bums accountable!
Damaged Goods.
Hopefully, the rest of the baseball world now smartens up and realizes…..this is why the Mets were able to get him so cheaply over the winter.
Don’t ever say “Mets” and “cheaply” in the same sentence. This team pays through the nose repeatedly in an effort to give us a chance for meaningful games in September! Hush up and be grateful for all the wonderful things this corporation has provided you!
And hey, this isn’t a political blog … but …. yeah, you’re right. 100%.
And speaking of, anyone else notice similarities in the oratory styles and media management / manipulation between Jerry Manuel and Barack Obama?
I think Jason is so spot on it’s scary: “Sometimes it seems the Mets front office is running a political campaign, rather than trying to win the division. They just want to be liked.”
And indeed, Joe, I do see the similarities between B.O. and Jerry. In fact, rumor has it that Jerry uses teleprompters for each of his ‘media briefings.’ Who knows what would come out of his mouth if he didn’t.
That said Jerry has not wilted ala Willie under glaring tabloid microwave heat.
Hmm isu, need more data but rumblings about Putz and injury have been floated. But then King felix and Soriano also had similar headlines. At various points in the last 2+ yrs.
That said, Why not Dl Delgado and Putz? I’d like to see Conor Robertson. Also what is up with Bobby? Is this a transition issue…and has he dropped his velocity again (from usage/new role?). I like this guy, especially as a bullpen asset and key to closing the book on Heath Bell and Matt Lindstrom. I’d like to see him try out Putz’s splitter.
If the Mets didn’t run into the AAA Pirates at just the right time, you’d be seeing a much different Manuel in those postgame conferences. He’s already been described as “testy” by a few journalists over the past few weeks.
As for Parnell I think it’s a transition issue. He’s never before been in a situation of pitching at max velocity every other day. This is basically an experiment occurring outside the lab, and we don’t know what’s going to happen.
“cheaply”
All we are is a Putz DL stint/Carp call-up away from this deal blowing up in our face, like a Vince Coleman firecracker.
Actually, I’d take Heilman right now as the #4 starter, in lieu of $36-40M for Ollie and the Replacements.