The Mets have placed right-handed pitcher Taijuan Walker on the 10-day injured list with shoulder bursitis per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. Walker started yesterday’s game against the Phillies, pitching two scoreless innings with four strikeouts before leaving the game with shoulder irritation. Though the right-hander himself indicated he’d be alright following an MRI earlier today, it appears the team will be taking a more cautious approach. DiComo adds that Walker will miss at least a couple turns through the rotation as he will stretch out on a rehab assignment when he’s cleared to pitch again.
Electric closer Edwin Diaz will return from the bereavement list and take the roster spot vacated by Walker, sparing the Mets from any further roster shuffling for the time being. With New York’s rotation already thinned following Jacob deGrom’s untimely IL stint, the team will presumably have to rely on internal options— perhaps long reliever and last-year starter David Peterson— to patch over some rotation gaps early in the season.
Some other injury developments from the young season…
- The Angels announced that they have moved infielder David Fletcher to the 10-day IL with a left hip strain. Infielder Andrew Velazquez, acquired in an offseason waiver claim from the Yankees, has been recalled to man the shortstop position in tonight’s game against the Marlins. It’s an inauspicious start to the 2022 season for Fletcher, who struggled offensively (.622 OPS) across 157 games in the first year of his five-year extension.
- Twins right-hander Jorge Alcala is also headed to the 10-day IL with right elbow inflammation, per MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park. Elbow discomfort has followed Alcala around since this spring, so down time may do some good for one of the more quietly effective members of the Twins’ pitching staff the past few seasons. Right-hander Griffin Jax, who saw a plenty of action out of the team’s rotation last year, has been called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
dumb people decided to use fletcher at ss though he is great at 2b. he’s now injured playing out of his natural position.
Fletcher played SS exclusively in college, never an inning at 2B. He played primarily SS in the minors. He didn’t come up as a SS because of Andrelton Simmons, aka the best defensive SS on planet earth since Ozzie. One could argue that SS is indeed his natural position.
but he plays better 2b than he does ss. that makes him a natural 2b. he just cannot cover the area a good ss can cover. that makes him a 2b.
If you don’t have a player that can fill in at SS (passable both offensively and defensively) you have to make due with what you have.
It’s easier to plug and play a 2b than a SS. It has to be a weighted decision. The drop off in moving him to SS and bringing in a 2b vs keeping him a 2b and bringing in another SS.
You can’t fill shortstop with the type of players they are using to fill 2b.
there are a few that can play ss passably. one was even advertised as a defense only ss. why make both positions terrible?
whineonedoomer always complaining. AS Dodgerbleu points out Fletcher was always a SS till they had to find room for him because of Simmons. Also, there was no adequate candidate for 2B at the time. What’s hard about that?
Fletcher doesn’t have the arm for short and like Eckstein has to play in which greatly reduces his range. He’s also a horrible cut off man. He shouldn’t be playing short.
That said, I doubt this injury had anything to do with the injury.
so, what your being positive brought any positive results? this team just hasn’t been able to win anything. all the years dipoto and eppler messed up. now no shortstop to speak of. i guess you enjoy losing and i don’t!
That’s the thing. Would you rather have a SS with less range and a solid bat, then find players that can passably play 2b? Or would you rather have an elite 2b and SS like Jose Iglesias?
Defense vs Offense. Whatever gives the team the greatest net benefit.
The team obviously thought Fletcher could man SS and they could replace 2b easier than keeping him at 2b and scraping the bottom of the SS barrel that remained
winonesooner
What makes you a baseball authority let me see your baseball résumé chief
Halo11Fan
Fletcher doesn’t have an arm problem he has a hip strain
@Dodgerbleu You’re wasting your breath. Onewhineyboomer doesn;t understand it. It has already been explained that Fletcher came up as a shortstop. The only reason Fletcher changed was because Andrelton Simmons played SS and you are not moving Simmons from SS. Fletcher has already been a gold glove finalist at 3rd base and 2nd base. Fletcher has played roughly half a season at shortstop as an Angel and has 4 DRS. His range factors is above average. What all this means to him, he can only play 2nd base, he can’t go left or right and has no range based. He bases it on nothing.
Don’t even bother suggesting that there isn’t a better option out there. He will throw out names like Iglesias and Gregorius. Yep, Iglesias, who was a negative 20 DRS last year for the Angels in a 100 plus games.
At least you’re not stuck with Lindor who gets to everything then bounces all of his throws like a little leaguer. 10 more years? Sheesh!
PoloGrounds62 Did you see the game last night when the Mets should have been out of it in the ninth for a win but Lindor’s weak throw to second pulled the second-baseman off the bag toward short with a dive and Diaz had to face another Phillies closer with winning runs on base!
Fletcher should not be playing SS; everyone can see that.
Mets new problems lie squarely on Eppler’s lap; Angel fans can relate to that; Eppler is clueless
correlation = causation
Perry is working within a budget given to him by Arte. With that in mind, it appears to me, Perry opted for Thor, Lorenzen, Loup, Tepera, Bradley and Iglesies rather than an upgrade at SS. If Perry wanted a SS, one, two or three of the pitchers mentioned above would not be here right now. Which pitcher(s) would you give up and which SS would you have added? Keep in mind, Perry is working within a budget so the salaries have to line up.
@Angels & NL West Even with the Angels off to a rough start at 3-3, I wouldn’t change anything. As you mention, there were a lot of big name SS available, but you would have to forego a lot of the pitching that was picked up in order to remain within budget. If the Angels are in contention and the need is there, I do believe Arte will add to payroll. .
You can’t place blame the defense. The Angels are top 5 in DRS entering today. Last year the team was 23 in DRS with -29DRS. The Angels actually lead MLB in DRS at the SS with 2 DRS, one by Fletcher and one by Wade. I know it is only 6 games in, but there is no need to hit the panic button with Fletcher at SS. There are certainly no statistics that support Fletcher is in over his head at SS. I would estimate Fletcher to be around 10th in DRS at SS if he remains relatively healthy. .
Pain.
Agony, even.
Unimaginable suffering, if you will.
Fletch going on the DL is like Pearl Harbor or JFK’s assassination. I will always remember where I was whenever FletchyBaby goes down
Dude relax. It’s just a hip strain
Where were you at all those events? Please list in chronological order. And where was David Fletcher?
Just to check you guys off the ole “who shot JFK list”
BeansforJesus
You ask who killed JFK ?
the same people that help vote him in Office organized crime the mob
*ROCHESTER RABBITS
Lol Mets. Different season and same crap.
The hottest take, ladies and gentlemen.
He thought of it all by his clever self
The Mets (aka Rochester Rabbits) have three postseason appearances in the last 21 years. That’s all.
And 2 World Series appearances, technically. But point taken.
It’s 5 in 23 lol
They have only one World Series appearance in the last 21 years. It’s 2022.
@StefanArkansas
It’s five in 35.
Chronologically to the moment that is correct, but the 2022 WS hasn’t occurred yet. So if you go back to the last one that occurred in 2021, the first of the two appearances we’re counting occurred 21 years before that one.
First, I’m sorry Steve Cohen disowned you, since that would be the best explanation for your animosity. Second, as a Mets’ fan, it is painful to see the pattern of WS appearances since 1973. The next one was 13 years later. The following one was 14 years after that. The most recent one was 15 years after that. I don’t want to wait until 2031 for the next one, but I think the talent is there to break the pattern.
P.S. – I was born the day the Mets lost the 1973 World Series, so I’ve lived the entire pattern…
Please tell me Griffin Jax has the nickname “Apple”
They call him “Off” for some reason. Don’t get it.
I’m one of the Fletcher believers.some have him as a good MI back up. That said, he is/was in a perfect situation this year I believe. it appears that he was going to do split time with 3 guys at 2 positions. Happy medium for all. I like what he brings to a team thou, I think every team needs 1 of these guys.
1. Fletcher is an extremely solid player and a decent person. Why the cheap shots at him?
2. A number of teams have an abundance of quality young SS’s. If SS (or 2B) is a problem for the Angels, Perry will be able to acquire a SS with an in-season trade. Depends on who’s offering and what they want on return.
Fletcher would be a utility infielder on most teams. His value is in his defense at second base. Not shortstop. No knock on Fletcher, it’s a knock on the individuals who are playing him at short.
Halo11Fan
OMG he’d be a starter for a lot of teams He led the team with 161 hits last year what team wouldn’t want that?
One of the best Defensive second baseman’s
Exactly Samuel, Fletcher is more than adequate and SS. Some just are spoiled, and want elite D and O at every position. It just doesn’t work that way.
I want to see Walker stay healthy. Hes really good at times. Was great to root for in Toronto.
Fletcher forgot where the strike zone is starting last year. Someone please inform him balls over his head or two feet off the plate, shouldn’t be swung at
“Electric closer Edwin Diaz will return from the bereavement list and take the roster spot vacated by Walker, sparing the Mets from any further roster shuffling for the time being.”
Apparently Edwin Diaz is a switch. Who knew.
Get healthy Jorge!!
Counting on Walker and DeGrom this year to throw any innings was a big mistake by Eppler; the Mets should have gotten more SP depth as an example Tyler Anderson on the cheap like the Dodgers were smart in doing. As a fan I don’t count on either one coming back and if they do its icing on the cake.
Cano ripped a home run this weekend.