MET NOTES
ATLANTA – A little before 1 p.m. yesterday, Mike Piazza hobbled through the Turner Field halls into and into the road clubhouse limping along like the Mets’ own blond-haired Willis Reed.
The Mets received the good news yesterday that Piazza’s hairline fracture of his big left toe was doing a bit better.
“There is not a lot of swelling,” Bobby Valentine said.
Although Piazza has expressed the hope he may be able to play earlier, the consensus among the Mets brass is he won’t be able to catch for one-to-two weeks.
“Maybe he’ll pinch-hit,” Valentine said. “I don’t know; we’ll see. You know [because] it was a hairline fracture, if he wasn’t a catcher where he had to bend all the time, it would be a lesser injury.”
Todd Pratt, who has done very well the past two years when Piazza’s been hurt, will be asked to step in as the club’s regular catcher. The Mets hope Piazza can DH next weekend at Yankee Stadium.
Piazza could very well miss the All-Star Game on July 10th in Seattle. Piazza missed last year’s contest after Roger Clemens bounced that famous fastball off his head, causing a concussion.
Edgardo Alfonzo (back) was scheduled to play in his first of two rehab games for Triple-A Norfolk last night. Donne Wall was going to pitch last night for Double-A Binghamton as well. Both may be back by Tuesday. … Rick Reed (back) threw a side session and is on target to make his start Tuesday against the Cubs at Shea. … Valentine said Tsuysohi Shinjo (quad) is still not close to playing. He is eligible to come off the DL Tuesday.
After designating Darryl Hamilton for assignment, the Mets were able to add Vance Wilson to the roster. Wilson was called up to give the Mets a backup catcher behind Pratt. In 46 games at Norfolk, Wilson was hitting .246. … Joe McEwing made his fourth straight start yesterday. It was his second consecutive start in right field.
Starters for the Cubs series: Tuesday, RHP Kerry Wood (7-5, 3.60 ERA) vs. RHP Reed (7-3, 3.21); Wednesday, RHP Kevin Tapani (8-5, 4.68) vs. LHP Glendon Rusch (3-5, 5.56); Thursday, RHP Jason Bere (5-4, 4.41) vs. RHP Steve Trachsel (2-9, 6.10).