Joe Janish does a good job in extending my own remarks. I agree with him that Putz probably should have been shut down when persistent pain surfaced in his elbow. I’m hesitant to comment in depth as I was not there to hear Putz’ own feedback of how he was feeling. There is no way of knowing what he was saying to the Mets staff as he was aware of his own contract situation.

Reagrding Putz further, a question should be asked at as to whether of not the Mariners were candid with the Mets about Putz’ health. That does not absolve the Mets, however, from doing their own physical exam like they did before signing Pedrom Martinez in 2004. Did they receive his medical records? If they recieved accurate ones, they should have been concerned as it would look much like Janish’s timeline. Putz was apparently hurting enough when he arrived in camp for it to be an issue during his spring training physical exam. Consideration via hindsight does not reflect well on the Mets. But the Mariners were indeed aware of Putz’ history and can be said to have knowingly traded damaged goods.

The rehabilitation for removal of foreign bodies from of the elbow is relatively short, and in hind sight a more prudent decision would have been for an arthroscopy when pain persisted. A noteworthy comparison is that a similarly injured Johan Santana is doing so well right now. I have no way of knowing why that decision was not made.

Dr. David Altcheck took over for Dr. James C. Parkes after the 1991 season. Altchek was a departure from the conservative Parkes in that he appeared to recommend surgery for players much quicker than would have Parkes. Whe Joe McIlvaine returned to the Mets as GM in 1993 he asked Altcheck why there appears to have been so many surguries. The Mets contracted their physician care out to a hospital that payed them a lot of money for a few years before they turned to Altcheck before the 2004 season.

In the cases of Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Putz there seems to be a change in philosophy to opt for surgery. I doubt that that philosophy is driven by Altcheck. Last season the Mets also clearly displayed similar hesitancy in placing these same players on the disabled list. Observers are probably wondering outloud about how long Santana was hurting before it was decided to perform surgery on him.

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Mike Vaccaro believes so. Its worthy to pay tribute to Jackie Robinson, the great man who broke down the racial barrier in baseball. But from all reports it seems that the Robinson rotunda is afocal point of the new stadium and one which focuses on a man who never played for the Mets but did for Fred Wilpon’s beloved Dodgers.

There still is no worthwhile Mets Hall of Fame. In fact the current list carries as many non-players as it does players. Its a disgrace that Davey Johnson, the winningest manager in the club’s history is not in its Hall nor was in attendance at the date which recognized its 20th anneversary.

This fault clearly lies with Fred Wilpon whom has the clout to get Davey back to Shea Stadium, but it would take a personal contact on his part. Whatever problems the Wilpons had with Johnson, it was with them and not Mets fans.

There have been whispers that they Wilpons were more interested in creating a ballpark that focused more on the Brooklyn Dodgers and not on the franchise that is playing in its 48th season. During that time it won two of sports’ most magical world titles.

The slights over the seasons the Wilpons have been in control are measurable in their failure to make peace with Davey Johnson and its disinterest in a Hall of Fame for its own players.

A few of the most important Mets of all time have passed on in Casey Stengal, Gil Hodges, Tug McGraw and Tommie Agee. Many, many more are still with us and deserve a home that helps fans stay close to their teams history. There’s still time for the Wilpons to right this wrong.

Begin a Mets Alumni Organization thats seperate from the memrobilia dealers. The team will have to spend its money to bring ex-players and coaches in for one weekend every season on say, Old Timers Day, but it needs to be done. They could entrust Matt Cerrone’s growing network of blogs to maintain a website for former Mets. I’d help in any way they’d let me.

Change in some fashion is in order from the Mets point of view and badly needs to embrace its former stars in a manner thats reflects the way their fans do.

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I’ve not seen any photographs of Davey Johnson in long time, but the knowing light still twinkles from the eyes. But the most successful manager in Mets history is back in a fitting role as manager of Team USA. Mel Stottylemyre is the bullpen coach.

All this is really cool.

It’s easy to understand that Davey somehow knows how to beat those guys.

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