The Mets announced this afternoon that Angel Pagan has been diagnosed with a bruised left shoulder, the result of his head-over-heels catch and crash into the first row of seats at Dodger Stadium during the first inning of Wednesday's 12-1 win. Pagan had an MRI and also was examined by team physician Struan Coleman Thursday in Manhattan.
While Pagan apparently has avoided the disabled list for now -- the Mets say he is "day-to-day" -- the team has a number of roster decisions to make this weekend with the anticipated returns of backup catcher Ramon Castro and reliever Matt Wise.
Swapping Raul Casanova for Castro is the easy decision, despite the the excellent job Casanova did backing up Brian Schneider. As for Wise, who has somehow been on the DL for a month with a bruised forearm, making room for him could take some extended discussion. Do the Mets take the path of least resistance and demote Joe Smith? Or do they designate Jorge Sosa for assignment and swallow the $2-million that he's due this year?
The Mets could also put Angel Pagan on the DL to avoid the hard choices, but keeping an extra pitcher doesn't seem like much of a solution.
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Also note that after a mixed debut for New Orleans, Claudio Vargas pitched a four-hitter and had 7 K's over seven shutout innings in a 1-0 victory over Fresno Friday. (The lone run came on a homer by Valentino Pascucci.) Vargas could easily fill Sosa's long-man role and also provide rotation help. For Wise, though, it would seem that Smith, who has options, is the easiest choice for demotion...
Cassanova did a good job? Sorry, Lennon, but which team were you watching?
MIke .. We're talking about a backup and .283 with six RBI in 12 games isn't so bad, from an offensive standpoint. Behind the plate, maybe excellent is an exaggeration. But Casanova certainly was not this club's biggest problem in Castro's absence.
Fair enough. He seemed like a defensive liability, though, and often looked unfamiliar with the pitchers, especially the bullpen. I was not impressed with him at all.