John Maine underwent successful arthroscopic shoulder surgery today at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery. Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek and Mets Team Physician Struan Coleman removed a lesion from the back of his shoulder socket.

The Mets said Maine will begin throwing again in December.

Posted under New York Mets

Sometimes you might not want to talk about what I have posted. Sometimes, there are other things on your mind. That’s the reason for this post. I call it “Loose Threads,” for obvious reasons and it is here for you to vent, offer an opinion or ask a question about things not already on the board. Maybe you want to talk about something other than the Mets. That’s OK, too.

I will post it regularly. Hope you have fun.

Posted under New York Mets

John Maine will have surgery today to shave down a bone spur that irritated muscles in his right shoulder. He said it’s not a complicated surgery and would be ready for spring training.

“It needs to get done,” Maine said. “It’s a simple surgery, nothing major. No attaching or reattaching of anything. We’ll take the rehab seriously and I’ll be good to go for spring training.”

Maine should begin his rehab program in December and is expected to long-toss by the start of the new year.

Maine was activated down the stretch and hoped to pitch out of the bullpen, but manager Jerry Manuel wisely chose not to go that route.

Posted under New York Mets

In early June there was no way Carlos Delgado would return to the Mets. The team would undoubtedly give him a $4 million buyout as opposed to picking up his $12 million option.

Then he had a week in one afternoon at Yankee Stadium and never looked back. While the Mets floundered in September, Delgado sizzled, hitting .340 with eight homers and 22 RBI. He finished the season batting .271 with 38 homers and 115 RBI.

Those numbers warrant a return for 2009.

“I’d like to be back. I like this group of guys,” Delgado said. “I think they’re a great team. There’s a lot of talent here. In my stage, you don’t want to be bouncing around any more than you absolutely have to. The decision is in their hands.”

Since the Mets would pay Delgado $4 million regardless because of the buyout, it’s really only an $8 million investment they would be making. That’s not much in the grand scheme of things. The Mets have five days after the World Series to make a decision.

Delgado said he’d like to play several more years, but considering his off-year in 2007 and how long it took for him to get started this season, the Mets would be wise to make him earn the extension and not do anything until the end of 2009.

Should the Mets go the buyout route, there aren’t many appealing options in the free-agent market. Here’s what’s available:

Rich Aurilia (37)
Hank Blalock (28) – $6.2MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) – $12MM club option for ‘09 with a $4MM buyout
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (38) – $22MM club option for ‘09 with a $5MM buyout
Wes Helms (33) – $3.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.75MM buyout
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29)
Daryle Ward (34)

Should the Mets bring him back or not?

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Last night was a spur of the moment decision. My thinking was I had to let you guys know I wouldn’t disappear in the offseason, so I got the idea of the Chat Room. I was thrilled with the outcome.

The question is how often should I do this in the off-season and when is the best time?

I’ll need your help on that and what else you’d like to see in the off-season. Please let me know what you’re thinking.

In the interim, please check in regularly for what’s going on with your Mets.

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I have enjoyed Mets Chat Room immensely and don’t want it to fade away. I’ll be keeping the blog open throughout the winter and hope you’ll join me.

What happened this season? Who is to blame? Who stays? Who goes? Let’s talk about all that tonight.

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Mets GM Omar Minaya held court this afternoon. He stated the franchise’s mission statement, but said he had no immediate answers on the team’s most pertinent issues.

In summary: “Our goal is to get to the World Series, win the World Series, and continue to win it, but the bottom line is we can’t even get to the playoffs so we need to find a better way to work hard at this. … It’s been two years a row now, but we didn’t get over that hurdle. You never feel good when you get this far and don’t make it.”

This didn’t come out good, but I knew what he meant. He didn’t want to go into immediate rip mode.

On getting over the hurdle: “Why is it we can’t get over that hurdle? I don’t have an answer right now.”

On Jerry Manuel’s status: “We’ll review what we want to do. We’ll discuss his whole status. That’s going to take a couple of days. I don’t see it being done with a day or two. It’s going to happen sooner than later.”

No doubt the bullpen needs to be improved, but he didn’t lay all the blame on the pen:
“I don’t think it’s one area. To put it on one area wouldn’t be fair. You have to ask yourself how can you score five runs this weekend? It’s a team effort.”

Posted under New York Mets

If you have a question, I’ll try to give you an answer. I’ll post in the morning and plan to answer by the end of the day.

Here’s what we got the first day of this feature.

1. Jon asks: Since there’s no way to acquire all the players needed to fix the Mets, “Should I just stop caring now?’’

Answer: No. You’ve come this far, you might as well hang on. Seriously, they came within a game of the playoffs in a mediocre division. Assuming their bullpen can’t be that bad again, and having Ryan Church healthy for a full season, if the Mets for the most part keep the status quo they should be better.

2. RMKMets wonders whether all the demoralizing losses have caught up with the Mets.

Answer: I don’t think so. I don’t think that kind of malaise will impact every body, and that there will be enough of a turnover so it won’t happen.

3. PG wonders where Mookie was on Sunday.

Answer: I’ve asked, but was told he couldn’t make it. Nobody would say why.

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Johan Santana was voted the NL Pitcher of the Month this afternoon. He was 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA in September, including a gutty effort in Saturday’s shutout of the Florida Marlins that only delayed the eventual agony.

Santana gave up nine runs on 39 hits with 47 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings. He only walked 13.

With the way Santana finished the season, it is hard to believe he was booed in the first half. He’s been lights out since early July.

-Since July 4, was 9-0 with a 2.09 ERA in 17 starts. He allowed three runs or less in 16 of these starts.

-Santana was 6-0 with a 1.47 ERA in his last nine starts at Shea.

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The Mets were 55-38 under Jerry Manuel, a record good enough to bring him back. GM Omar Minaya is meeting with ownership today about Manuel’s contract. An announcement could be made this week, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.

Minaya on Manuel: “Jerry did a very good job in a tough situation, overcoming injuries to [John] Maine and Billy [Wagner]. … I was very pleased with the job he did.”

I’ve been saying Manuel should return. Agree? Disagree?

Posted under New York Mets