Mets Daily Notes

[General]

Jose Valentin, starting at second base for the first time this season, homered and walked in four trips to the plate against the Cardinals on Thursday.
Valentin also started as the team's No. 2 hitter for the first time this season. That he's started three of the Mets' last six games and homered in two of them might mean he'll get a few more starts in the short-term. With Kaz Matsui not hitting, he may be the one getting a few extra days off.

[General]

The Mets will recall reliever Anderson Garcia to replace Jose Lima on the roster.
Garcia, 25, has a 1.43 ERA in 31 1/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A. He'll likely only be kept as a middle reliever until the Mets need a starting pitcher next week.

[General]

Although Jeremi Gonzalez has a 10.12 ERA after two outings, he'll make at least one more start for the Mets next week.
Pedro Martinez won't start again until Friday, so the Mets will need starters on Wednesday and Thursday. Gonzalez will get the nod one of the two days. Darren Oliver is a possibility for the other, but there's a chance that either Alay Soler or Evan MacLane will be brought up to pitch

[General]

Mets released RHP Bartolome Fortunato.
Fortunato might have made a costly mistake when he decided to forgo Tommy John surgery for now. He was placed on the 60-day DL when the Mets announced a week ago that he would need the operation

[General]

Mets activated second baseman Anderson Hernandez from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.
Hernandez hit .350 with five steals in five attempts in 11 games on his rehab assignment with Norfolk. If he keeps it up, it probably won't be long before the Mets give him another opportunity.

[General]

Alay Soler will make his major league debut Wednesday against the Phillies.
With Soler pitching Wednesday, Jeremi Gonzalez is expected to start on Thursday. Soler isn't worth using right away in NL-only leagues

[General]

Jeremi Gonzalez will start Thursday's game against the Phillies.
Darren Oliver was a possibility to start the game, but he pitched four innings during Tuesday's 16-inning game. Pedro Martinez will start Friday's game against the Marlins.

[General]

Jeremi Gonzalez surrendered three runs in six innings Thursday against the Phillies.
All three runs scored on first-inning homers from Bobby Abreu and Ryan Howard. Gonzalez worked his way out of jams in the third, fourth and fifth innings to keep the game knotted at 3-3. It's still likely that he'll be bumped from the rotation and perhaps the roster entirely with Orlando Hernandez and Dave Williams both set to join the club. He has a 7.71 ERA in three starts since being recalled.

[Providence A's]

Honestly, I don't think the Mets have the starting pitching depth to go very far if they make the playoffs. (at least with the current cast of characters)

[General]

Pedro Martinez told ESPNDeportes.com that he could retire after his contract expires following the 2008 season.
Martinez would be 37 in 2009. "I've sacrificed my life, my good years, to baseball," Martinez said. "I want to go home while I still have the energy to spend time with my family." We'll believe it when we see it. Let's all just hope that Pedro doesn't do the Roger Clemens thing.

[General]

Mike Pelfrey returned to the mound at Double-A Binghamton on Sunday and allowed one run in six innings.
He gave up six hits, walked one and struck out five. Pelfrey had his start pushed back two days because of an upset stomach.

[General]

The Mets have decided to hold back Tom Glavine until Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader. Orlando Hernandez will start the first game.
Matt Cain will face off against El Duque in the first game. Jamey Wright and Glavine will go in Game 2.

[General]

Mike Pelfrey fanned 10 while allowing two runs in six innings Friday for Double-A Binghamton.
Pelfrey has pitched quite a bit better in his last two starts, but he still has a 1.66 WHIP to go along with his 3.41 ERA in seven starts in the Eastern League. The Mets figure to leave him in the minors through the All-Star break at least.

[General]

Carlos Beltran, who missed two starts with a bruised right knee, is playing center field on Sunday.
Endy Chavez is playing left field, giving Cliff Floyd the day off.

[General]

Xavier Nady returned to the Mets' clubhouse on Sunday for the first time since undergoing an appendectomy.
Nady is still sore in his side and back from the surgery. He is at least a week away from resuming baseball activities and two from rejoining the Mets