Cliff Floyd was able to walk off the field under his own power.May 29, 2004 - Cliff Floyd felt fortunate to escape from a collision with teammate Mike Cameron in the first inning of Saturday night's game against the Marlins with seemingly minimal effect.
Floyd suffered a left quad contusion and Cameron a bruised left shoulder after they collided just after Floyd caught Jeff Conine's inning-ending fly ball in left-center field.
When first asked if he might be able to play in Sunday's game, Floyd said no. But then he hoped that his leg would feel better after a night's rest.
"If I can go on the field and manage to do a half-decent run, I'm playing," Floyd said, weary of having so many injuries. "At this point now, pin me up, whatever, I'm playing."
Mets manager Art Howe was also relieved that the collision wasn't worse.
One-hitters in Mets history
May 23, 2004 - No Met pitcher has ever thrown a no-hitter. Tom Glavine's one-hitter on May 23 was the 27th one-hitter, and 22nd complete-game one-hitter, in Mets history. Glavine's opponent in the May 23 contest, Shawn Estes, threw the 23rd one-hitter in Mets history in 2002.
Complete list of Met One Hitters >>
Leiter lands on DL
May 20, 2004 - The injury report continued to be the most pressing storyline in the New York clubhouse on Thursday as Al Leiter was placed on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his left shoulder.
Esix Snead was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk but should only be with the club through Saturday. That's when Tyler Yates will likely be recalled to make Leiter's scheduled start against Colorado. As for Leiter, the move was not unexpected, especially after listening to the southpaw's less than enthusiastic description of his side session on Wednesday afternoon.
The move is backdated with Leiter eligible to come off the disabled list on May 27. The Mets have a pair of off days next week so Leiter would only miss one start if all goes well.
"We just think he needs a little more time," general manager Jim Duquette said. "At this point, with a lot of off days in the schedule, we should have a better feel next week."
Baldwin sent down
James BaldwinBaldwin, however, felt that his fate was determined before he even took the mound Saturday night at Minute Maid Park. The veteran right-hander gave up four runs on six hits in four innings. Combined with his poor effort last Monday in Phoenix, he was 0-2 with a 15.00 ERA in two starts.
He knew the club needed a roster spot for Matt Ginter, who was called up to make Sunday's start in place of the ailing Al Leiter. And that's why Baldwin felt even if he pitched well against Houston, he would have been shipped out.
Mets meet defeat in Houston
May 15, 2004 - James Baldwin had another rough outing Saturday night, raising questions about how long he will remain a part of New York's rotation.
Mets manager Art Howe said on Friday that Baldwin wasn't in danger of being shipped to the minor leagues regardless of how he pitched against the Astros. But the veteran right-hander, making his second start of the week, did little to enhance his chances of earning a permanent spot in the rotation as Houston defeated the Mets, 7-4, before a sellout crowd of 42,581 at Minute Maid Park.
The loss snapped New York's winning streak at three games. The Mets, however, remained 3 1/2 games out of first in the National League East by virtue of Florida's 4-0 loss to St. Louis.
Roberts clears waivers
May 14, 2004 - Grant Roberts cleared waivers on Friday and was outrighted to Norfolk, but that's not the end of the story. He says he will report to Triple-A, but is uncertain of what the immediate future holds.
Roberts was in Cincinnati on Friday morning and was almost literally on the operating table, where Reds team physician Dr. Timothy Kremcheck was about to clean up the frayed rotator cuff in Roberts' right shoulder. The Mets, however, stepped in at the last moment and asked that he not perform the procedure.
Jay Horwitz, the Mets' vice president for media relations, issued the following statement from New York general manager Jim Duquette prior to Friday's game.
"Grant Roberts cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk," the statement read. "Based on the opinion of our team physicians, it is our understanding that Roberts is able to pitch and therefore will be placed on the active roster at Norfolk. Roberts did advise us that he visited another physician.
Matsui may sit a spell
May 8, 2004 - Kaz Matsui may soon be getting a day off. It could be Sunday against the Brewers; it might be Monday in Phoenix. Art Howe isn't saying.
After watching his shortstop go 0-for-5 in Saturday's 6-4 loss to Milwaukee, though, the New York manager gave the strongest indication yet that he thought Matsui was in need of a rest.
"I'm thinking about giving him a day off," Howe said. "He's not centering the ball. He's struggling."
Matsui has played in all 30 of New York's games this season and had an 1,143 consecutive game streak in Japan. But Howe said during the spring and at times early this season that he would rest Matsui if he thought it was warranted. Now may be the time.
Homer record won't move Piazza
May 6, 2004 - Though Mike Piazza has slugged his way past Carlton Fisk into the record books, that doesn't mean he will be abandoning his place behind the plate any time soon.
Piazza remains New York's starting catcher and that's the way it will stay, according to manager Art Howe. While Piazza will get a little more time in the infield as well as a little more time off in the near future, the idea that he won't be calling games isn't a predominant one at Shea Stadium.
"I'll pick my spots," Howe said Thursday afternoon. "But he's a catcher first and a first baseman second. And he's doing a great job back there [behind the plate]. Eventually that [first] is where he will go somewhere down the road to play. And he'll probably play a lot of first base but I couldn't say when."
Piazza admits that his future is at first. He's started six games there already and gotten into a seventh as a late-inning replacement. But he's quick to point out that he still has a great deal of shelf life behind the plate.
SS Garcia out to impress
Danny GarciaAnd with the news that Jose Reyes will be on the shelf for at least another few weeks, it would seem that Garcia will continue to get the chance to show he belongs in the Major Leagues. He believes he does. Now, however, he wants to show Art Howe and Co. what he can really do.
When the Mets signed Kazuo Matsui this winter, it signaled an abrupt change for many of the middle infield prospects in the Mets system. Matsui would be occupying shortstop for at least three years while Reyes would slide over and spend the same amount of time at second base. At least that was the plan before Reyes went down with a lingering hamstring problem.
Clearly, the organization had not seen what it had hoped from Garcia in a September call-up last season, during which he struggled to hit .214 over 19 games. But he had three hits in nine at-bats this season heading into Saturday night's game at PETCO Park, looking a little more comfortable at the plate then he did late last year.
