More Stuff

The Herd:


Ryan Church will be examined by team doctors in New York on Monday, and hopes to get a definitive idea of what's ailing him and whether he will need to go to the disabled list.

Church has yet to receive an MRI of his troublesome right hamstring, and wants to get the image taken so he can learn if he has a tear. Church's hamstring problems had caused his hip and back to get out of whack, but that's been corrected with chiropractic work, so the focus is back on the hamstring muscle. Church doesn't know if realigning his body has just put stress on the hamstring or there's something more wrong.

"After last year, let's just find out what it is and deal with it," said Church, who did not participate in batting practice with teammates.

A DL stint, if it occurs, is the type of scenario that could result in top prospect Fernando Martinez being promoted from Triple-A Buffalo.

Read more: "Surfing The Mets - NY Daily News" - http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/#ixzz0GRb1pSOc&A



Darryl Strawberry is an ambassador for his old team these days, as well as a best-selling author with a tell-all book about his turbulent life as an ’80s star with the Mets. And he’s still beloved by Mets fans.

Examine Saturday at Coca- Cola Field. Folks lined up from the Swan Street gate all the way to Exchange Street to get a Strawberry bobblehead, gave him a standing ovation when he threw the ceremonial first pitch and filled the concourse seeking an autograph.

“It’s fun to talk about the game you love, see the guys and be a part of the organization,” Strawberry said.

Strawberry’s book, “Straw: Finding My Way,” has made the New York Times top 10 list and he’s looking forward to a signing he’s doing Wednesday in Citi Field.
“It’s a real book, about real life,” he said. “It’s not about baseball. It’s about what happens, the struggles you go through, how you overcome them and how you help others.

“Life is a journey and we all misunderstand what life is going to be for us. We don’t know. Hopefully that journey doesn’t have to be as difficult as mine was. I accepted responsibility.”

As for current players accepting responsiblity, Strawberry said he was disappointed by the steroid revelations surrounding Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/681225.html



B-Mets:


Tobi Stoner is fully healed, fully rested and throwing the ball as well as he has in a long time. Stoner has recovered from an early season shoulder injury and has been one of the Binghamton Mets' best starting pitchers since joining the team earlier this month. Stoner's 1-1 with a team-best 1.89 ERA in three starts. "I feel like my arm's getting stronger, and I'm getting (my velocity) back," Stoner said. Stoner's one loss came on Friday night at NYSEG Stadium, where he allowed just four hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings of a 3-1 loss to New Britain. He struck out four, walked two and threw 64 of his 98 pitches for strikes. "He kept the ball down and moved the ball inside and out in the zone," B-Mets manager Mako Oliveras said.

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20090524/SPORTS02/905240382/1118/sports/Rest+time+pays+off+for+B-Mets++Stoner



Queens:


John Maine saw what Bobby Parnell did Friday night in person, and he saw it again on tape. And yet still, Maine asked Joe Scarola, the Mets' manager of video operations, to burn the clip onto a CD for him.

"How many guys in the big leagues hit 100 in a year?" Maine said. "That's 100 miles per hour, bro. One hundred!"

Parnell was the talk of the Mets' clubhouse Saturday after reaching 100 on the radar gun during the eighth inning Friday at Fenway Park. His 2-2 pitch to J.D. Drew set a career high in velocity, and highlighted his perfect inning in the Mets' 5-3 victory.

"It was pretty fun to do," Parnell said. "I think I had a little adrenaline going. I didn't feel like I was overthrowing or anything. I was in control. It just came natural."

In his first full major-league season, the 24-year-old Parnell has been a surprising bright spot in the Mets' bullpen. His 1.84 ERA entering Saturday was the third best in the pen, and ranked 12th in the National League among relievers with more than 15 innings pitched.

Parnell was not even assured of a spot on the big-league roster going into spring training, but he has since established himself as the Mets' primary option in the seventh inning. And he gives them a formidable alternative in the eighth if J.J. Putz is unavailable or -- when Francisco Rodriguez is unavailable -- if Putz is slated to pitch the ninth.

http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2009/05/reliever_bobby_parnell_leaves.html