He won’t swing a bat or put on a glove, but David Wright could give the Mets a lift this week. Manager Terry Collins said plans call for the Mets’ rehabbing captain to meet the team during the San Diego portion of the Mets’ upcoming road trip.
“I talked to David yesterday,” Collins said Sunday. “He is going to visit the therapist again on Monday and come down and see us Tuesday [in San Diego]. That’s the plan as of right now.
“Obviously, anything can change, but I told him our guys are really excited and if he can get down that would be great for us — and for him also. I just know his presence, just in the clubhouse, the way he has the ability to get guys to kick it in a little bit, we need it.”
Wright received epidural injections last week after being diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis. Wright was placed on the disabled list April 15 because of a hamstring strain, and during his absence, the back problem surfaced. He went to California to be examined by a back specialist.
It really sounded bad. But Bobby Parnell’s rehab appearance Saturday was not as bad as it sounded.
Parnell, in just one-third of an inning on his return from Tommy John surgery, surrendered five hits and five earned runs for Double-A Binghamton in Altoona, Pa. But Collins said reports from Binghamton manager Pedro Lopez were more encouraging.
“He said actually, Bobby pitched better than his numbers [indicated], he said there were about three or four ground balls that got through the infield that he said, ‘You guys probably make those plays in the big leagues,’ ” Collins said.
There’s no Parnell time frame, Collins said, offering, “I just know he’s closer.” Collins seemed unconcerned about Parnell’s velocity, saying it will work itself out.
“Is he ever going to be 98 to 100 [mph] again? We don’t know, but certainly everybody it seems like guys who have had Tommy John have always regained their velocity at some time, but I think right now it’s all about the command of his pitches,” Collins said.
Catcher Anthony Recker was on second and scored on Bartolo Colon’s double.
“Honestly I had just looked back to check the outfielders so when he hit it I knew it had a shot.… [Ichiro Suzuki] was kind of shallow,” Recker said. “Off the bat, he smoked it.”
Michael Cuddyer got the day off, so John Mayberry Jr. started in left and went 0-for-4.
Collins was asked about Colon’s winning percentage following losing streaks.
“Another one of the amazing stats I don’t know,” Collins said. … The Mets challenged — and lost — a call on a pickoff attempt against Dee Gordon in the first. Gordon was ruled safe, and the call upheld after a 2:50 review. … The Mets are 21-8 at home and now head to San Diego (for three games) and Arizona (four). … Colon was 4-1 in April, 4-2 in May. According to Elias Sports Bureau, only Jerry Koosman (’68) and Bobby Jones (’97) won at least four games in each month for the Mets.
Ruben Tejada on waiting for his chance again: “When you sit on the bench it’s a little bit tough, you come off and take one at-bat, but right now I have the opportunity to play and I have to enjoy it and keep working.”
Collins on Jon Niese’s recent struggles: “We’ve got to get the two-seamer back. We’ve got to get better use of the curveball, we’ve got to get better use of the changeup and certainly as Dan [pitching coach Warthen] and I watched the film of [Saturday’s game] just mistakes with the cutter. That’s what’s hurting him. He’s just got to do a better job of getting the location.”
Reliever Vic Black pitched one scoreless inning at Double-A Binghamton at Altoona on Sunday night. Black allowed one hit, one walk and had one strikeout.
