July 25, 2012, New York Mets-Washington Nationals notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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CHRISTOPHER PASATIERI/GETTY IMAGES
Sandy Alderson.
The Mets are in limbo at the worst possible time.
One week before the trade deadline, the Mets are 47-49 and have lost
10-of-11 games. The Mets trail the Nationals by 9 1/2 games in the
National League East and are 5 1/2 games back of wild card co-leaders
Los Angeles and Pittsburgh.
The slide prompted general manager Sandy Alderson to tell reporters Monday that the Mets may not be buyers come July 31.
Manager Terry Collins acknowledged the obvious during his pre-game press conference at Citi Field Tuesday afternoon.
“We want to start winning some games,” Collins said. “I think if we put
some wins on the board [it becomes easier for Alderson to add players
for a potential playoff run].”
But Collins warned against adding just for this season.
“I’ve just been there too many times before. The right guy’s not there
and I don’t think you sell the farm to get a guy for two months when
you’re eight-and-a-half games out,” Collins said. “I would have a tough
time seeing that happening.”
Left-field hole
With the demotion of Lucas Duda to Triple-A Buffalo, the Mets have a hole in right field.
At first glance, the two most obvious candidates to fill the void are Jordany Valdespin and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
But for Collins, the determining factor will be offense.
“It’s going to be a combination of guys who are swinging the bat,”
Collins said. “We have to go with the hot hand right now. We’re in a
situation where if someone is swinging, we have to get him in the
lineup.”
Coming up short
Ruben Tejada was not in the starting lineup Tuesday night after being
spiked in the ankle by Nationals’ centerfielder Roger Bernadina in
Monday night’s 8-2 loss. However, the Mets breathed a sigh of relief as
the injury was not serious.
Collins reported that Tejada’s ankle was “sore.”
“He told me he thought he could play if I needed him. Fortunately he
doesn’t have any stitches. With a day game [Wednesday], I gave him [the
game] off,” said Collins, who absolved Bernadina of blame. “I watched
the play over and over. I think he committed to break up the double play
and when Ruben got the ball, he had his leg exposed.
“It all happened so fast. I don’t think Roger intentionally stuck his
foot in [Tejada’s] shin. If you see it on the replay, Ruben was on the
outside of the bag and that’s where [Bernadina] started his slide.”
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1148410--mets-notebook-alderson-talks-trade-market
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 8:36 AM
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