Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Help isn’t coming anytime soon for the banged-up New York Mets.
Shortstop Jose Reyes had a cortisone shot Tuesday because he still feels pain in his right leg, and center fielder Carlos Beltran will need a rehabilitation assignment once the bone bruise below his right knee subsides. He won’t even be re-examined until the All-Star break, when he’ll have an MRI.
New York (39-43) has dropped nine of 11 following Tuesday’s 8-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a homestand opener, dropping into fourth place in the NL East.
“Sometimes you lose focus and things go wrong, you know, totally wrong,” said Beltran, who has watched games on television from his basement. “With the team that we have now, we can play a lot better than what we’re playing, that’s for sure. You know, if you watch the games, you know that they’re plays we should be making.”
Before the game, the Mets practiced calling for popups ó a problem this season.
“It’s not necessarily a punishment. These have been things we’ve been planning to do,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. “It was just addressing some issues that have gone wrong for us that we haven’t had a chance to address.”
On the plus side, left-hander Oliver Perez, sidelined with knee tendinitis, is set to start tonight in his first big league appearance since May 2. New York optioned infielder Argenis Reyes to Buffalo to clear a roster spot.
GIANTS
SAN FRANCISCO ó Randy Johnson hinted it could take longer than a stint on the 15-day disabled list for his strained left shoulder to recover.
“As far as the time frame, everything’s kind of 4-to-6 to 6-to-8 (weeks),” he said. “What I’ve learned in this business, having four knee surgeries and three back surgeries, is you want to have a time frame. A doctor can’t give you one because there’s intangibles that come into play.”
BREWERS
MILWAUKEE ó After a meeting with general manager Doug Melvin, slugger Ryan Braun backed away from the strong comments about the team’s need to improve its pitching staff.
“At times, I am emotional,” Braun said. “I am passionate, and (my comments) derived from wanting to win. I definitely take full responsibility for that. That being said, me and Doug are cool. Everything is good. I have no issues with anybody. I apologized if I offended anybody in the organization. That clearly wasn’t my intent.”
CARDINALS
ST. LOUIS ó Manager Tony La Russa has quietly dropped his lawsuit against the social networking site Twitter Inc.
A one-paragraph statement filed with the U.S. District Court in San Francisco said La Russa had dropped all claims ó and that San Francisco-based Twitter did not compensate him in exchange. It also said he could not refile the same complaint.
La Russa’s lawsuit alleged trademark infringement, “cybersquatting” and misappropriation of his name. It claimed an unauthorized page that used his name caused emotional distress by making light of his DUI charge and the deaths of two Cardinals pitchers in recent seasons.
CUBS
CHICAGO ó Ryan Dempster was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a broken right toe.
BLUE JAYS
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ó Roy Halladay wants to keep pitching for Toronto, but he is willing to consider accepting a trade if approached by the Blue Jays.
“I want to stay, but I think it’s a situation you have to evaluate,” Halladay said. “I’m really not at that situation just yet.”
He’ll be paid $14.25 million this year and his contract, which has a no-trade clause, expires after the 2010 season. Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi on Tuesday said he’s willing to listen to offers for Halladay.YANKEES
NEW YORK ó A day after a disputed call left Derek Jeter peeved, crew chief John Hirschbeck tried to quell the ill will.
Monday, Jeter tried to steal third base and was called out by ump Marty Foster. The throw beat Jeter, but replays showed he got a hand on the bag before he was tagged by Scott Rolen.
“I was told by the umpire that I didn’t have to be tagged to be out,” a miffed Jeter said.
Hirschbeck spoke to Foster on Tuesday and got a different version. Here’s what Hirschbeck said Foster told Jeter: “The ball beat you, and I had him tagging you.”
“I don’t see a problem with that,” Hirschbeck said. “Sometimes when tempers flare, you don’t hear everything that’s said.”
n The Yankees are moving right-hander Alfredo Aceves from the bullpen for a spot start on Thursday against Minnesota.
WHITE SOX
CHICAGO ó General manager Ken Williams said he may not be able to make a big trade this season because of smaller crowds at U.S. Cellular Field.
“Well, if I’m being completely honest, money is more of the issue now,” he said. “We expected a little more support than we’ve gotten. I think it’s a reflection upon the economy of what’s kind of happen with regards to attendance, and I don’t know if we’ve played consistent enough, or been exciting enough, for people to get behind us. We’re still hopeful.”Williams also said he is unsure of Bartolo Colon’s location ahead of a planned rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday. Colon is on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left knee.
Colon has been rehabbing his knee injury in Arizona and is supposed to pitch for the Knights in the finale of a three-game series against Norfolk.
“Efforts to contact his agent have been successful, their efforts to contact his client have not been so successful,” Williams said.
MINORS
SAN JOSE, Calif. ó Single-A High Desert’s Jamie McOwen has extended his hitting streak to 44 games, the longest in the minor leagues in 55 years.