MET NOTES
BOSTON – The Mets are so concerned with the health of Robin Ventura that the third baseman will be returning to New York for an MRI today on his right shoulder.
The disabled list isn’t out of the question, but the Mets will not make that decision there until the results of the MRI come in, which could be as soon as today. Joe McEwing started at third against the Red Sox last night.
At the least, Ventura is expected to get a few days off to rest the sore shoulder. Ventura, who turned 33 yesterday, had surgery on the shoulder and his right knee in the offseason.
According to assistant GM Jim Duquette, this injury is unrelated to Ventura’s off-season surgery in which he had torn cartilage removed from the shoulder. Duquette said this injury occurred on June 25 on a head-first slide.
“It’s affecting his swing,” Duquette said.
Ventura, who didn’t participate in pre-game workouts last night, came into the game with a .235 average. His power numbers haven’t been awful, as he’s contributed 16 homers and 53 RBIs.
After having three days off for the All-Star break, Ventura went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Thursday.
“It’s gotten progressively worse over the past few days,” Duquette said. “We thought it might get better over the All-Star break.”
“I’m kind of waiting to feel better at the plate,” Ventura said. “It just hasn’t happened yet.”
Ventura said “everything” feels bad at the plate. The results on Thursday were particularly distressing because he had the three days off to rest the shoulder.
After hitting .301 with 32 homers and 120 RBIs last season, Ventura had torn cartilage removed from his right shoulder last December and had the lateral meniscus of his left knee cleaned up.
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Kurt Abbott had his epidural-like procedure in which cortisone was injected into his back. Bobby Valentine said the procedure went well and Abbott would be able to resume baseball activities at some point next week. Abbott, who is eligible to come off the DL tomorrow, will begin physical therapy early in the week … Darryl Hamilton went the Joe Namath route last night, saying he guarantees he will return. Hamilton has been on the disabled list since April 7 with a sprained left foot.
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As a precaution, Bobby Jones did some work on his right hamstring yesterday. Jones felt a little pain in his last start before the All-Star break a week ago against the Yankees. He doesn’t think it is serious.
Since returning from Triple-A Norfolk, Jones is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in five starts. While matching Pedro Martinez virtually pitch-for-pitch Thursday, he had his second eight-strikeout performance since his return June 23. He had his eight Ks on Thursday in six innings.
“I don’t like to hear that the Mets need to go out and get another starter,” Jones said.
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Before Jay Payton tied the game at two in the seventh, home plate umpire Angel Hernandez, punched him out on strike two.
“He punched me out pretty good,” Payton said. “I turned around and he was like, ‘Sorry about that.’ I was like, ‘Well, I didn’t even realize what happened.’ He punched me out.”
Pedro Martinez chuckled as well and then gave up the homer to Payton … Todd Pratt entered last night 0-for-28 since June 3. He was scheduled to start last night as Mike Piazza DH’d.