Jarod Alley - The Bug is Biting

          Davis, Havens, Wright and Hairston are each having problems with their aching bodies of late. While Wright and Davis seem like they will eventually be fine Hairston and Havens look like there may be a black cloud hanging over head. In years past Mets fandom would be calling for the medical staff's jobs and questioning how little the organization knows about treating player's injuries. This time though one can only think of one word...Fluke! Ike and the "Valley Fever", Wright with a sore back/ribs, Hairston straining the same oblique that put him out of action last year.

          All of these just a bi product of some poor stretch of luck. After David's possible case of  Spondylolysis last year it would be naive to assume that he wouldn't have some sort of re-occurring issues especially with the rigors he faces during training and actual game play but chock this one up to the initial exertion of a player coming to camp. Give him a week and he'll be as good as new doing what it takes to put his best effort forward for the team. Ike is just an example of wrong place wrong time as the fungal sore he's been infected with only seems to be located in the South Western U.S. or Central and South America. True, this kind of fungal infection can be the sign of an autoimmune illness, of which HIV and Cancer are the most prevalent. However, I would like to believe that players get blood work done on a regular basis and Davis is just one of the unlucky few who contract the infection for no other reason than being in proximity of the spore.

          Which would bring us to the two cases I am least optimistic about recovery from. Scott and Reese are both unlucky because they have re-injured prior injuries or in the case of Havens, still cannot overcome the side effects of his multitude of back problems. These two guys will need to benefit from a strategic plan from the training and medical staff in order to come back soon and be as productive as the club hopes hey will be. With a definite need for a utility player and bench bat Hairston's injury seems like it could be the most debilitating. Especially since Havens, while a great asset offensively, has yet to play a full season of minor league ball. Some would say he has the skill set to move up to the bigs regardless but I don't think you supplant a big leaguer to find out. In fact, I think the more prudent thing to do is trade him if and only if he stays healthy in Buffalo this year thus making teams want to take a gamble.

         In all, while it is a bit worrisome, the "injuries" sustained should not hamper what the team will do in fact I will go on record saying no difference is a certainty. A few days missed here by Wright is no big deal, a month by Hairston should be digestible, a week or two for Ike is bearable and Havens if he isn't on the field wouldn't be much different from past years. It will be interesting to see if anything further develops though...and not in a good way.