MET NOTES
MIAMI – No day off needed for Mike Piazza.
Twenty-four hours after hurting his left knee on Tuesday’s sixth-inning liner, Piazza was in the lineup last night and went 1-for-3 with a double, looking strong at the plate.
“I’m OK,” he said.
Piazza, who just finished a stint on the DL with left knee inflammation, did admit the knee was “a little bit” sore. Since his return from the DL, he is just 4-for-32, and Art Howe said he would give him today off to rest.
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This past weekend Randy Keisler requested and was granted his release from the Mets. He’s now free to sign with any team, and, in an interesting twist, Keisler has already had conversations with a couple of teams, including one of his ex-clubs – the Yankees.
Keisler, whom the Mets signed to a minor-league deal in February, pitched well for Norfolk this year, posting a 3.81 ERA. But partly since he was not on the 40-man roster, the lefty never received a call-up.
In other ex-Met news, Karim Garcia may end up playing in Japan next season, and David Weathers signed with the Marlins.
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After breaking up a fourth-inning double play on Tuesday with a hard slide on Luis Castillo, Danny Garcia was promptly hit by A.J. Burnett in his next at-bat. Did Garcia think it was intentional?
“I think 50-50,” he said. “It could have been yes and it definitely could be no, too. I don’t care either way.”
Kaz Matsui took a cortisone shot in his lower back to reduce the swelling . . . Richard Hidalgo (0-for-last-22) did not start last night due to a nagging groin injury and a tired bat . . . Mike DeJean (bone bruise) is hoping to come back this year but admits, “Obviously we’re running out of days.”
Aaron Heilman was recalled from Norfolk.
Mets will have a special Sept. 11 pregame remembrance this Saturday at Shea.


