Notes: Bell used to ups and downs
07/19/2006
CINCINNATI -- It's unknown whether reliever Heath Bell ever actually unpacks his suitcase.
The way Bell's moved up and down between New York and the Minor Leagues this season, it wouldn't be surprising if he lived out of it.
The Mets recalled Bell from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday after optioning Henry Owens to Double-A Binghamton. This will be Bell's third stint with the big-league club this season.
"I feel like I'm back where I belong," Bell said. "I went down [to Triple-A] because I'm the only one with an option, so unfortunately, I was the guy to get sent down."
The 29-year-old right-hander has made 15 appearances with the Mets but has yet to factor in a decision. He has compiled a 3.52 ERA with 21 strikeouts and nine walks in 23 innings pitched.
Bell acknowledges that while it's frustrating to be constantly bouncing back and forth, it's just part of the business.
"The last two years, I've been going up and down, and I understand that I'm the guy with options," he said. "And even though I don't like it, it's going to happen, and I'm just going to have to deal with it."
Beltran better: Center fielder Carlos Beltran, who left Saturday's game with soreness in his right knee, has played well as of late, despite not being 100 percent.
Beltran is batting .400 (3-for-8) with two homers and nine RBIs in his last two games.
"[The knee's] still bothering me," Beltran said after Tuesday's game. "The doctor in Chicago saw me, and he said the patella tendon is still inflamed a little bit. But with pills, it's supposed to get better. So [I've been] taking pills for the last four or five days, and I've got five more days to go."
The two grand slams he's hit in the past two games wouldn't suggest that anything is wrong, but with the help of the anti-inflammatories, he has been able to play through the pain.
"I'm just hoping to get better every day," he said. "The thing that bothers me the most is when I play defense, when I try to cut the ball in the outfield, stop and throw it back [in]. That's when it hurts the most."
Pedro pitches: Pedro Martinez threw a 60-pitch session in the bullpen on Wednesday.
The veteran right-hander, sidelined because of illness and inflammation in his right hip, is expected to throw in a simulated game before returning to the starting rotation, which is expected to happen sometime next week.
Maine man: After making an appearance out of the bullpen, John Maine will have another chance to earn his first win in the Majors when he makes his return to the starting rotation.
Maine will get the start on Saturday against the Astros in the second game of a three-game series. He is 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA in three starts.
"I'd like to be able to get first-pitch strikes, not throw so many pitches to guys," Maine said. "Each start has been improvement on the last. [So] hopefully, [I'll] go out there and do well."
The 24-year-old is in his first year with New York. He has been averaging 8.47 strikeouts per nine innings but has been hurt by the big inning.
"I'm getting a little more comfortable," he said of his time up in the Majors. "A couple of mistakes here or there are really what hurt me. If I can eliminate those big innings, I'll be OK."
"He's been pitching pretty well for us," manager Willie Randolph said. "He's shown us some good stuff, but he's just had that inning where he kind of hits that wall. So hopefully, he can get past that."
Minor matter: The Mets acquired Minor League second baseman Ruben Gotay from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday in exchange for Minor League infielder Jeff Keppinger.
Both players will be assigned to their respective team's Triple-A affiliates: Gotay will join Norfolk, of the International League, and Keppinger will be assigned to Omaha, of the Pacific Coast League.
Gotay, a 23-year-old switch-hitter, batted .264 with nine homers, 43 RBIs, 16 doubles and seven stolen bases in 87 games for Omaha.
Keppinger played in 33 games with the Mets in 2004. He batted .284, with three home runs and nine RBIs. In 86 games with Norfolk this season, the 26-year-old batted .299 with two homers and 26 RBIs.
Source: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/
CINCINNATI -- It's unknown whether reliever Heath Bell ever actually unpacks his suitcase.
The way Bell's moved up and down between New York and the Minor Leagues this season, it wouldn't be surprising if he lived out of it.
The Mets recalled Bell from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday after optioning Henry Owens to Double-A Binghamton. This will be Bell's third stint with the big-league club this season.
"I feel like I'm back where I belong," Bell said. "I went down [to Triple-A] because I'm the only one with an option, so unfortunately, I was the guy to get sent down."
The 29-year-old right-hander has made 15 appearances with the Mets but has yet to factor in a decision. He has compiled a 3.52 ERA with 21 strikeouts and nine walks in 23 innings pitched.
Bell acknowledges that while it's frustrating to be constantly bouncing back and forth, it's just part of the business.
"The last two years, I've been going up and down, and I understand that I'm the guy with options," he said. "And even though I don't like it, it's going to happen, and I'm just going to have to deal with it."
Beltran better: Center fielder Carlos Beltran, who left Saturday's game with soreness in his right knee, has played well as of late, despite not being 100 percent.
Beltran is batting .400 (3-for-8) with two homers and nine RBIs in his last two games.
"[The knee's] still bothering me," Beltran said after Tuesday's game. "The doctor in Chicago saw me, and he said the patella tendon is still inflamed a little bit. But with pills, it's supposed to get better. So [I've been] taking pills for the last four or five days, and I've got five more days to go."
The two grand slams he's hit in the past two games wouldn't suggest that anything is wrong, but with the help of the anti-inflammatories, he has been able to play through the pain.
"I'm just hoping to get better every day," he said. "The thing that bothers me the most is when I play defense, when I try to cut the ball in the outfield, stop and throw it back [in]. That's when it hurts the most."
Pedro pitches: Pedro Martinez threw a 60-pitch session in the bullpen on Wednesday.
The veteran right-hander, sidelined because of illness and inflammation in his right hip, is expected to throw in a simulated game before returning to the starting rotation, which is expected to happen sometime next week.
Maine man: After making an appearance out of the bullpen, John Maine will have another chance to earn his first win in the Majors when he makes his return to the starting rotation.
Maine will get the start on Saturday against the Astros in the second game of a three-game series. He is 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA in three starts.
"I'd like to be able to get first-pitch strikes, not throw so many pitches to guys," Maine said. "Each start has been improvement on the last. [So] hopefully, [I'll] go out there and do well."
The 24-year-old is in his first year with New York. He has been averaging 8.47 strikeouts per nine innings but has been hurt by the big inning.
"I'm getting a little more comfortable," he said of his time up in the Majors. "A couple of mistakes here or there are really what hurt me. If I can eliminate those big innings, I'll be OK."
"He's been pitching pretty well for us," manager Willie Randolph said. "He's shown us some good stuff, but he's just had that inning where he kind of hits that wall. So hopefully, he can get past that."
Minor matter: The Mets acquired Minor League second baseman Ruben Gotay from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday in exchange for Minor League infielder Jeff Keppinger.
Both players will be assigned to their respective team's Triple-A affiliates: Gotay will join Norfolk, of the International League, and Keppinger will be assigned to Omaha, of the Pacific Coast League.
Gotay, a 23-year-old switch-hitter, batted .264 with nine homers, 43 RBIs, 16 doubles and seven stolen bases in 87 games for Omaha.
Keppinger played in 33 games with the Mets in 2004. He batted .284, with three home runs and nine RBIs. In 86 games with Norfolk this season, the 26-year-old batted .299 with two homers and 26 RBIs.
Source: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/
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