John Maine’s comeback became official yesterday when Jerry Manuel said the right-hander would start the second game of Sunday’s day-night doubleheader at Philadelphia.
Maine, who has been on the disabled list since June 7 with a pinched nerve in his throwing shoulder, will probably be limited to 60-70 pitches against the Phillies.
Maine threw a bullpen session yesterday at Citi Field and will likely face hitters in a simulated game tomorrow in his final warm-up.
“It feels good,” Maine said yesterday after his bullpen outing. “Strength-wise, it’s not quite 100 percent. But as far as the pain, it’s just not there. I think with a good offseason, I’ll be able to put it behind me. It should go away and should be fine.”
Considering Maine has missed the final month of last season due to shoulder surgery before sitting out three months this year, the Mets might choose not to tender him a contract this December as an injury risk. Coming back for the final month to prove his worth to the Mets wasn’t Maine’s motivation, though.
“The season’s still going on,” he said. “I just wanted to pitch.”
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A week after calling up catcher Josh Thole, the Mets made their only other September promotion yesterday when right-hander Tobi Stoner had his contract selected from Triple-A Buffalo.
Stoner, who will wear jersey No. 29 and start out pitching from the bullpen, is scheduled to piggyback Maine’s start Sunday at Philadelphia with Maine on a pitch count.
Stoner was 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 16 starts at Buffalo after going 2-2 with a 2.68 ERA in seven starts at Double-A Binghamton to start the year.
With their season long since over and the desire to cut costs still high, the Mets don’t expect to make any other September call-ups.
The most notable snub was Buffalo reliever Eddie Kunz, a former first-round pick.
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A spokesman for Rawlings said yesterday that David Wright plans to go back to the S100 helmet that he abandoned last week in Denver after one much-ridiculed game.
The company is working to produce a helmet with a smaller shell and expects to deliver it to Wright by the end of next week.
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With GM Omar Minaya presiding, the Mets held a pregame ceremony to dedicate a room at Citi Field for five-decade employee Jim Plummer, who died last year.