Lastings Milledge Enflamed Facing Ex-Teammates

Former Mets outfielder Lastings Milledge -- now playing with the lowly Nationals after being kicked out of town for political incorrectness -- returns to New York in the midst of a 14-game hitting streak in which he is hitting .375.

Though his average for the season sits at .258, Milledge is hitting at a .306 clip since coming off the disabled list, with five homers and three triples in 75 at-bats.

For those needing a refresher course, the Mess traded Milledge for off-and-on injured outfielder Ryan Church, part-time catcher Brian Schneider, a Marv Thornberry rookie card and a half dozen slightly used Chesapeake Bay crab pots after Milledge appeared in a rap song by childhood friend Manny D in which the words "ho" and "niggah" were uttered.

That he was merely 21 when the song was recorded perhaps gives him a slight excuse for the offensive language, but no one shall ever forgive him for the unspeakable crime against nature of high-fiving fans along the third baseline rail after hitting a homer.

John Rocker could not be reached for comment.

Brian Cashman Lets Paul Byrd Pass to Red Sox

Say what you will about the speculative firing of Mets General Manager Omar Minaya, the next baseball executive to walk the plank in New York may be Brian Cashman of the Mets crosstown rivals.


That gleam reflecting off the forward deck of that sinking Yankee clipper ship on the East River Waterfront is coming from the hardened steel sabre of Yankees Co-Chairman Hank Steinbrenner, who watched as Cashman failed to claim Indians hurler Paul Byrd off the waiver wire, thus allowing Byrd to fall to Boston.


How convenient for the Red Sox, whose precarious five-game wild-card lead over the Yankees had just been been seriously jeopardized by the loss of starter Tim Wakefield to his all-too-familiar shoulder problems.


What can Cashman be thinking?


All the Red Sox had to pay was a bag of balls, six cans of chowder and a David Clyde rookie card for Byrd, a playoff experienced, veteran starter with a 1.46 ERA and 4-0 record since the All-Star break. Though 37, Byrd already all season had been a perfectly serviceable option, but suddenly is even more valuable since discovering he can stop surrendering homers by not tipping his pitches.

This is Cashman's second dubious decision, since he, Gene Michael and Stump Merrill were believed to have ganged up on Steinbrenner to talk him out of signing free agent home run king Barry Bonds.

Cashman opted instead to trade for Xavier Nady of the Pirates. There's nothing particularly , wrong with Nady -- and Bonds comes with his share of baggage -- but Cashman had to give up prospect Jeff Karstens to acquire Nady, and all Karstens has done since leaving the Yankees is pitch 15 scoreless innings, including a two-hit complete game.


Bonds would have cost Cashman nothing more than a major league, season pro-rated minimum of $150,000, yet would have been an unmistakable force in the middle of the lineup, providing a desperately needed spark in the Yankees flat, demoralized lineup.

Hopefully Cashman has an explanation that will become evident in the next few days. It had better be good.

Jimmy Rollins Returns to Phils Lineup From Bench

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has wiped the slate clean -- at least for now -- and restored benched leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins to his rightful spot at the top of the batting order. Rollins had been told to take a seat in the dugout Thursday after being tardy.

"Jimmy was late getting to the yard," Manuel was quoted as saying in The New York Post. "I called him in and talked to him. That's all I got to say. It's an in-house thing between him and I."

It's the second time Rollins has found himself in Manuel's doghouse for a day, having been benched June 5 for failing to hustle on a dropped pop fly.

Rollins was ordered to take a seat Thursday after he showed up late for the Phillies 3-1 loss to the Mets, then claiming he was following the team bus to Shea Stadium from his hotel but was held up in traffic. It was the second time he was late this season.

"...You can't change the (traffic) lights," Rollins said, refusing to apologize to his teammates.

Mets Tap Ex-Yankee to Replace Pedro Martinez

Brandon Knight -- a 32-year-old ex-Yankee veteran -- has been called to Shea Stadium to take the place of starter Pedro Martinez, who remains on indefinite bereavement leave following the death of his father in the Dominican Republic.

Knight had a 5-1 record with a 1.60 ERA for the Triple A New Orleans Zephyrs.

Huston Street Might Be Next To Go

Athletics closer Huston Street could very well become the next player dealt by notorious wheeler-dealer Billy Beane. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Dodgers have been actively scouting the hard-throwing righty in recent days. The Mets and Reds are also reported to have an interest in Street, a fan favorite in Oakland.

Mets Seek Matt Holliday as Token Anglo American?

An MLB Rumor is circulating that Mets General Manager Omar Manaya is attempting to acquire Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday, adding his name a roster with such names as Carlos Delgado, Luis Castillo, Argenis Reyes, Fernando Tatis, Jose Reyes, Endy Chavez, Carlos Beltran, Chris Aguila, Ramon Castro, Moises Alou, Claudio Vargas, Carlos Munoz, Tony Armas, Duaner Sanchez, Johan Santana, Oliver Perez, Pedro Feliciano and Pedro Martinez.

Wait a minute. Does Manaya know what he's doing? What's Matt Holliday's Latin venue of derivation?

Oh, of course, Colorado.

Randy Wolf's Preference May Not Include New York

With pitchers CC Sabathia and Rich Hardin off the market, speculation has intensified that the Yankees and Mets will continue to press for the acquisition of lefty Randy Wolf from the Padres -- but Wolf may have a thing or two to say about that.


Though Wolf's 14-team no-trade clause is widely believed to leave both New York teams as a possibility, the Southern California native native has had diminished interest in pitching for an East Coast team since leaving the Phillies, having recently explained to MLB.com that he left guaranteed money on the table for the chance to pitch along the Pacific.

"I wanted to play here and I thought I would be a good fit here," Wolf was quoted as saying.

Wolf -- whose one-year $4.75 million contract expires at the end of this season -- was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, attended Pepperdine University in Malibu and owns a mansion in the Hollywood Hills not far from the home of former San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds.

Wolf indicated he would consider staying in San Diego, which is little more than a two-hour drive from his residence, depending on traffic.

Wolf currently owns a 6-8 record with a 4.38 ERA , and has notched 12 quality starts in 19 appearances. The Mets are also rumored to be interested in his services, but West Coast teams may discover they have an edge.

Fernando Tatis Still Plays Baseball

Fernando Tatis, basically known for nothing more than his elephant ears and hitting two grand slams in one inning off Chan Ho Park like 40 years ago, apparently thinks he has something left.  He went 3-5 with a homer and two doubles Thursday night to lead the surging Mets to their 6th straight victory.  

Tatis sat out 2004, 2005, and 2007 and online played a combined 81 games in 2003 and 2006, but he's hitting .303 for the Mets this year.  Good for him, I guess.

Jose Reyes Lifts Mets Steals Toward Top Rankings

With speedster Jose Reyes on pace to steal more than 60 bases this season, the Mets have 79 so far as a team, second only in the majors to the Rays with 96. At the same time the Mets have allowed the fewest steals in the majors, just 30.

Meanwhile, the reports of first baseman Carlos Delgado's death have been greatly exaggerated, with the slugging Puerto Rican having hit four homers with 15 RBI in his last 10 games.

Jerry Manuel Might Be Insane

New York Mets interim manager Jerry Manuel wasted no time showing his players who's boss.  One batter into his first game, he was forced to remove Jose Reyes because of a tight hamstring.  When Reyes tried to stay in the game, Manuel did what any rational human being would do -- threaten to stab Reyes:

"I told him next time he does that I'm going to get my blade out and cut him.  I'm a gangster. You go gangster on me, I'm going to have to get you.  You do that again, I'm going to cut you right on the field," said Manuel.

Jeeeeesus.  Four minutes into the game and he's threatening to murder his superstar. It's too bad Manny Ramirez is not on the Mets.  Who wouldn't want to see Manuel react when Manny cuts off a throw from his own center fielder, interrupts the game to urinate in the green monster, or high fives an opposing fan in the middle of a play?  

If Jose Reyes is going to get stabbed next time he doesn't want to come out of the game, will Billy Wagner be summarily executed after his next blown save?  This guy is great.  Major League Baseball needs more Jerry Manuels, and so does every other sport.  

Mets Acquire Trot Nixon from D'Backs

The Mets acquired Trot Nixon from the Diamondbacks for cash or a player to be named. He had been hitting .309 with 10 homers at Triple A Tucson and will be in uniform in time for tomorrow's game.

Injuries to Moises Alou and Ryan Church left the Mets thin in the outfield, so Nixon should significant playing tisee me.

Mets Willie Randolph Asks: 'Where Is the Love?'

During a recent practice session during a home stand against the Dodgers, Mets manager Willie Randolph looked up from the batting cage to see portly Dodgers broadcaster Charlie Steiner ambling over

"Charlie, come here," Randolph called to him. "Give me a hug. I need it."

As the two former Yankees employees embraced, Randolph was in the process of surviving his first MLB rumors gauntlet, spared from being fired by a sudden spurt of player productivity and what would turn out to be a short lived revival in the standings.

Now Randolph finds himself in trouble again as the team continues to fall short of the .500 level, is seven games out and leading only the lowly Washington Nationals.

"It's a bad feeling to get your butt beat," Randolph admitted afterwards.

As Newsday columnist Johnette Howard noted in the next day's editions: Randolph might have added: "Again," as his most recent 10-inning, 5-4 humiliation in Arizona marked the sixth straight game in which the Mets have blown a lead.

Steiner -- host of The Beat on XM Radio channel 175 -- has steadfastly defended Randolph on the grounds that Randolph doesn't swing the bat, throw the ball, make the catches or run the bases; his players do.

The problem is that Randolph sets the tone in his clubhouse, and his clubhouse is run like a retired millionaires club: "millionaires," because they are millionaires; and "retired" because they are retired, at a rock bottom minimum of 27 per game.

The Mets have no vibrancy, no spirit, no fight and no tenacity, and because Randolph seems unable to instill in them any sort of cohesion, character or drive, a change must come in the name of making a change for the sake of a change. You're bright, you're experienced, you're knowledgeable and capable, Willie, but your methods for whatever reason just aren't working and it is time for you to go.

Doctors Concerned Over Ryan Church Brain Trauma

The diagnosis for Mets outfielder Ryan Church remains hopeful, though doctors are refusing to trivialize Church's risk of significant traumatic brain trauma following magnetic resonance imaging that was less than entirely conclusive.

Though Church has been released from Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, he remains a carefully monitored outpatient as he is manifesting potentially lingering post concussive syndrome. Of greatest concern is that Church continues to have memory loss, a symptom frequently accompanied by loss of concentration, headaches, dizziness, depression and a stressful reaction to bright lights, especially direct sunlight.

Church sustained his second concussion this year when he collided with Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar in a baserunning mishap in Atlanta 10 days ago, with Church taking Escobar's knee to the head so violently that Church has no recollection of the incident, according to the team.

If Church fails to return to normal soon, he likely will be placed on the disabled list, though the Mets are trying to avoid that out of concern that once taken out of action, he might quickly recover but could not immediately return to play. Church is essential to the team, as he plays effective defense while batting more than .300 with a team-leading nine homers.

Though the concussion continues to be evaluated as "mild," the injury is not entirely predictable, with Church's worst case scenario seeing him missing significant playing time, such as Brewers third baseman Corey Koskie. Koskie has missed all of this season and last due to similar but presumably much more severe head trauma, even though Koskie's impact was seemingly slight compared to that endured by Church.

Even if Church quickly recovers, he must make a decision as to whether he desires to continue to expose himself to further injury, the ramifications of which could be very severe.

Top 10 Classified Ads Clipped by Willie Randolph

10. Become a tractor trailer driver; make big money in three weeks.

9. Immediate openings for McDonald's swing managers. Must pass drug screen.

8. Make money stuffing envelopes at home.

7. Hiring men's 900-line phone actors now. Must be able to impersonate women. Gay helpful.

6. Top dollars for actors in self-mutilation You Tube videos. No crazies, please!

5. If you can draw this dog, the Norman Rockwell Art School needs you.

4. How would you like to earn $250,000 a year and work just one day a week?

3. Boys, girls make money, have fun while seeing the country selling magazines.

2. You may already be rich! Sell the gold in your teeth!

1. Buy palatial homes in best neighborhoods for as low as three dollars, then sell for millions!!!

Mets Skipper Willie Randolph Twists in the Wind

Most observers have scoffed at the possibility that Mets manager Willie Randolph will be fired when he returns to New York from the team's current road trip, but former Blue Jays manager Buck Martinez has not ruled out the possibility -- at least by inference.

"I know what he's going through," Martinez said during a recent broadcast of XM Radio's morning baseball show, which Martinez co-hosts with Mark Patrick. "I went through the same thing."

Martinez -- who was 20-33 during his brief tenure as Blue Jays skipper in 2000 -- noted that he found himself in Randolph's position eight years ago when rumors swirled about Martinez's pending dismissal and Martinez received no reassurances from ownership while the team traveled. Warned that he would be called into the front office upon his return, Martinez was fired shortly after arriving.

Randolph has watched the Mets -- in fourth place at 23-23 -- struggle with a mediocre .500 record since last year's All Star break, with managing partner Fred Wilpon reportedly refusing to return Randolph's telephone calls while the team travels.

Wilpon's silence has led to MLB rumors that Randolph will be dismissed during a meeting with Wilpon scheduled next week in New York.

Moises Alou's Problem Rooted in Pain

Outfielder Moises Alou is about to make his return to the Mets. He is recovering from surgical repair of a sports hernia. A what? A sports hernia occurs when there is a weakening of the muscles or tendons of the lower abdominal wall. This part of the abdomen is the same region where an inguinal hernia occurs, the inguinal canal. When an inguinal hernia occurs there is sufficient weakening of the abdominal wall to allow a pouch, the hernia, to be felt. In the case of a sports hernia, the problem is due to a weakening in the same abdominal wall muscles, but there is no palpable hernia.

The predominant complaint of athletes with a sports hernia is unilateral groin pain, though bilateral pain may also occur. The pain is usually noted during exercise, but if the patient continues to exercise with pain, it may occur during other activities. The onset is typically insidious, but in a third of cases the athlete may describe a sudden tearing sensation.

Insidious onset is often described by runners, while sudden onset is more common in ice hockey and soccer players. Athletes who present with an insidious onset often say their pain occurs at lower thresholds of activity as they continue to train or compete. The pain is most typically well localized to the conjoined tendon but may involve the inguinal canal laterally. A significant number of athletes describe pain in the abductor region and occasionally in the perineum or testicles.

The pain is most often unilateral but may be felt bilaterally. It is common for athletes to describe symptoms, unresponsive to conservative treatment, that have been present for a number of months. The pain increases with sudden movements, acceleration, twisting and turning, cutting, and kicking, and it may be provoked by coughing and sneezing.

By definition, a clinically detectable hernia is not present, so the physical findings of a sports hernia are often subtle. In an athlete who has stopped training or competing, the only physical sign might be a tender, dilated superficial inguinal ring on the affected side. Examination for this entity in males is done by inverting the scrotum with the little finger. Local tenderness over the conjoined tendon, pubic tubercle, and mid inguinal region is common and may be exacerbated by resisted sit-ups. A small cough impulse may be detected by an experienced physician but is not diagnostic. Physical exam results are often complicated by multiple pathologies, particularly adductor tendonopathy.

Ekberg, in a prospective, multidisciplinary evaluation, found that 19 of 21 athletes who had pain for longer than three months had two or more separate pathologies. The authors suggested that an adequate explanation of an athlete's symptoms might require several diagnoses. In addition, Lovell found that 27 percent of his study's 189 athletes who had chronic groin pain also had multiple pathologies; in those found to have a sports hernia, 26 percent had a secondary diagnosis. Identifying any coexisting pathologies is important in an effective management plan.

The inguinal canal, which carries the spermatic cord in males and the round ligament in females, is a passage about four centimeters long that runs obliquely downward and medially parallel to and just above the inguinal ligament. The anterior wall of the canal consists of the external oblique aponeurosis and the internal oblique muscle. The posterior wall is formed by the fascia transversalis, which is reinforced in its medial third by the conjoined tendon, the common tendon of insertion of the internal oblique and transversus, which attaches to the pubic crest and pectineal line. The superficial inguinal ring lies anterior to the strong conjoined tendon.

Disruption to the conjoined tendon is a feature of the operative findings presented by the majority of authors. Gilmore describes a disruption to the groin characterized by three surgical findings: 1) a torn external oblique aponeurosis causing dilatation of the superficial inguinal ring; 2) a torn conjoined tendon; and 3) a dehiscence between the torn conjoined tendon and the inguinal ligament, constituting the major injury.

Hackney found a weakening of the transversalis fascia with separation from the conjoined tendon in all of his 16 cases. Simonet, et al, found tears in the internal oblique muscles in the 10 elite ice hockey players studied. Malycha and Lovell describe an incipient direct inguinal hernia with an associated bulge in the posterior inguinal wall extending anteriorly in 80 percent of cases in their series of 50 athletes.

Yet another pathology is proposed by Williams and Foster, who present a less complex disruption involving a small tear in the external oblique aponeurosis at the site of emergence of the terminal branches of the anterior primary rami of the iliohypogastric nerve. These findings reflect a spectrum of injury to the inguinal canal in athletes who have persistent groin pain.

Other researchers suggest that these injuries occur because adductor action during sporting activity creates shearing forces across the pubic symphysis that can stress the posterior inguinal wall. Consequent repetitive stretching of, or a more intense sudden force to, the transversalis fascia and the internal oblique can lead to their separation from the inguinal ligament. This mechanism may also account for the common finding of coexisting osteitis pubis and adductor tenoperiostitis in these patients.

There are no diagnostic tests that can be used to detect a sports hernia. The diagnosis is made by the patient's history and physical examination. Radiographic investigations are important in diagnosing the sports hernia, principally to exclude coexisting pathologies with overlapping symptoms. Plain radiographs may demonstrate osteitis pubis, adductor tenoperiosteal lesions, symphyseal instability (demonstrated by flamingo views), hip osteoarthritis, and bone tumors.

A bone scan can be helpful in making a diagnosis of active osteitis pubis, tenoperiosteal lesions, and stress fractures. Two studies have suggested the usefulness of herniography in diagnosing a hernia in athletes with unexplained groin pain. Intraperitoneal injection of radio-opaque contrast followed by filling of the peritoneal sacs enables an assessment of the integrity of the posterior inguinal wall and inguinal canal.

Smedberg et al, described the sensitivity of herniography in detecting true direct and indirect herniation; however, hernia or weakness of the posterior inguinal wall was also found in half of the asymptomatic groin sides.

Fricker suggests that in these cases, given the natural history of the condition, bilateral repair may be appropriate. Such a view is controversial and needs further evaluation. Many authorities do not routinely use herniography in clinical practice because its effectiveness in detecting sports hernias has not been clearly demonstrated. In addition, clinicians generally do not favor its use because of its low specificity and potential morbidity. Finally, a negative herniographic result in the face of strong clinical suspicion should not be a contraindication to surgical exploration. Dynamic ultrasonography may be the best noninvasive method to demonstrate posterior wall defects.

But could the symptoms be due to something else? As has already been suggested, a range of musculoskeletal conditions may mimic the sports hernia, including osteitis pubis, adductor tendonopathy, stress fracture of the pubic rami, and ilioinguinal or obturator neuropathies. Osteitis pubis is characterized by local tenderness of the symphysis, and a bone scan typically shows increased uptake on the delayed views of either or both margins of the symphysis. Bone scanning will also confirm most diagnoses of pelvic or hip stress fracture. The pain seen with adductor pathology is usually localized to the area of injury and provoked by resisted adduction.

There are no treatments that have been shown to be effective for sports hernia other than surgery. That said, the initial treatment of a sports hernia is always conservative in hopes that the symptoms will resolve. Resting from activity, anti-inflammatory medications, ice treatments, and physical therapy can all be tried in an effort to alleviate the patient's symptoms.

If these measures do not relieve the symptoms of a sports hernia, surgery may be recommended to repair the weakened area of the abdominal wall. Because of the lack of objective findings on physical examination and the absence of a definitive diagnostic test for sports hernia, surgery is often considered only after a trial of nonoperative treatment. However, conservative treatment is rarely effective, while surgery appears to be beneficial.

In patients strongly suspected of having coexisting pathologies that contribute to functional disability or whose coexisting pathologies are not clearly diagnosed, a trial of conservative treatment is appropriate. In patients whose symptoms strongly suggest a sports hernia as the sole pathology, particularly in the professional athlete, surgery should be considered at an early stage.

In number of studies have shown between 65 percent and 90 percent of athletes are able to return to their activity after surgery for a sports hernia. Rehabilitation from surgery for a sports hernia usually takes about eight weeks. While the diagnosis and surgical repair of clinically detectable direct and indirect inguinal and femoral canal hernias are well described, the disruption seen in the sports hernia is less well understood. Familiarity with inguinal canal anatomy may clarify some of the pathophysiologic causes of the sports hernia. Awareness of typical patient history and physical examination findings and appropriate radiographic studies can help physicians select patients for surgery.

Carlos Delgado Trying to Find Old Familiar Stroke

Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado is trying to stave off recent years of decline by training to be more selective at the plate, a trait for which he had been famous in his prime, when he walked well over 100 times a year.

Delgado walked only 52 times last year, with his swing marked by numerous misses outside the strike zone.

Delgado will show up at Spring Training next month in Port St. Lucie, Fla., with a new mindset, hoping that his homers will climb, his walks will increase and he will cut down on frequent strikeouts that have made him a much easier mark for National League pitching.

Watch closely to see whether his strategy is working, or whether his decline is more a matter of old age than lost technique.

Mets Lastings Milledge Sets Sights on New York

Mets outfield prospect Lastings Milledge -- coming back from a two-month layoff due to a foot injury -- has been complaining about being rusty but continues to hit during minor league play.

Millege is hitting .285 in 14 at-bats with Double A Binghamton, and hit an RBI triple and scored against Connecticut Saturday. Milledge was scheduled to play again Sunday, but likely will remain in Binghamton through the major league All-Star break.

With four outfielders missing time with various ailments in New York, however, it likely will not be long before Milledge is called up.

Milledge, 22, 12th overall pick in the 2003 draft, hit .337 in 193 at-bats for Binghamton two years ago.

Lastings Milledge Escapes from Mets Doghouse

Top Mets prospect Lastings Milledge -- in the doghouse after committing a number of gaffs earlier this season -- will return to action soon after the All-Star break, maybe even sooner.

Milledge had earned the enmity not only of the front office but his teammates after recording a misogynistic rap song in addition to committing other no-no's, but finds himself back in good graces now because four of the team's outfielders are on the disabled list and he is needed.

General manager Omar Minaya dodged a bullet by not trading him, as had been contemplated.

Milledge had played only three games with New York this year before being sent down to Triple A New Orleans, where he promptly strained ligaments in his right foot and was forced to sit out for two months.

But doctors believe Milledge is ready to return to the field now, and the Mets are only too happy to have him if he can stay out of trouble. Milledge has already begun a rehabilitative assignment with Double A Binghamton, going 2-5 with a home run in his first outing.

Expect Shawn Green to Keep His Starting OF Job

All the big talk about veteran Shawn Green having to earn his spot as the opening day starter in the Mets right field is nothing more than that -- big talk. Even though youngster Lastings Milledge's spring numbers easily surpass Green's, manager Willie Randolph has made it clear that Green is his man.

Randolph was quoted in the Daily News as saying Milledge has a shot at making the team only if enough at-bats can be found for him, but then and only then. That would suggest Green will be the starter, though Green conceivably could lose time to Milledge if the upstart, 30-30 prospect makes the club as a backup.

So far this spring Milledge, 21, is hitting .361 with a .561 slugging percentage compared to Green's .179 average and .385 slugging. But Green, 34, recently hit a pair of homers and hitting coach Rick Down has suggested that Green's power decline is behind him.

Though Green hit a career high 49 homers in 2001, his totals fell to 19, 28, 22 and 15 over the past four years. But Down implied to the New York Post that the decline is not so much due to age-related loss of strength but rather various injuries from which Green has now recovered. Green said he feels strong now that he has modified his swing, and does not rule out a return to the 30-40 homer plateau.

"...He has the power than very few people have in this room," Down said in an interview from the Mets clubhouse in Port St. Lucie, Fla.