- Injuries have played a big part, but are not the only reason, for the Mets being only a game over .500. Today Carlos Beltran visits the doctor (again) which could be a defining moment for the 2009 Mets. If that MRI results in extended time missed for Beltran, what do you make of the rest of 2009? Would acquiring Aubrey Huff or Mark DeRosa even matter?

- CC Sabathia is not one to ask out of a ballgame if something wasn’t wrong with him. The bicep tightness sounds an awful lot like what Johan Santana had during the spring. I believe Johan was shelved for about 3 weeks.

- It sounds like the Yankees have a good shot at the protest. Does anyone remember a time that a protest actually worked? There is always a first. That type of embarrassing situation falls at the managers feet. Fredi Gonzalez has never been impressive, in my opinion, during his tenure. This is just an inexcusable situation where he was asleep at the wheel. The league is always known to go the least controversial route. It will be interesting to see how they handle this.

- Bobby Parnell has completely thrown the bullpen into chaos. His location is spotty, secondary pitches ineffective, and I sense he has lost confidence. He already has lost the eighth inning. The state of the Mets really doesn’t afford for them to blow many games. You may have to flip Parnell and Stokes. Give Parnell the Sean Green treatment and see if he can find his stuff again.

- Brett Gardner was closer to an inside the park homer than many think. One bobble out there and I wonder if he tries it.

- As a reader to the site pointed out Nelson Figueroa had another outstanding outing. How is Jon Switzer in this bullpen and Figueroa getting big outs in Buffalo?

- American League fans plate note: When the pitchers spot comes up in late innings (like the ninth inning) you simply pinch hit. Johnny Damon is still allowed to hit even though he didn’t start the game. Thank you.

- For those that criticize Jerry Manuel for “overusing” his bullpen, what do you want him to do when his starter only goes 5 innings?

- Did anyone hear Sterling and Waldman get Yankees PR director Jason Zillo on the air? Sterling wanted to know from Zillo if he thought the news on CC Sabathia not going for further tests was a good sign. Zillo, sounding confused, said “I guess so”.

- Good news for Ian Kennedy. It appears he will be rejoining the team while rehabbing.

- Howard and I talked about these and other issues during last night’s Weekly Digest.

Tags: Bobby Parnell, Brett Gardner, Carlos Beltran, CC Sabathia, Florida Marlins, Fredi Gonzalez, Game under Protest, Ian Kennedy, Jason Zillo, Jerry Manuel, Joe Girardi, Johan Santana, John Sterling, Jon Switzer, Nelson Figueroa, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Suzyn Waldman