Phillies NL East foes in trouble already

by Eric Schwartz

Thursday January 14, 2010 

Phillies NL East foes in trouble already thumbnail

We are still five weeks away from Spring Training and already the New York Mets have a case of the injury blues.

On Wednesday it was reported that Carlos Beltran underwent knee surgery and will be unable to resume baseball activities for 8-12 weeks.

If the timing of the surgery strikes you as odd, it appears the Mets feel the same way. There are varying reports on whether or not the team gave Beltran permission to have the surgery and it has been confirmed that the procedure was done by Beltran’s personal doctor. More details on the story will become available today as a conference call is scheduled between the Mets’ brass and the media.

Regardless of who approved the surgery, this is good news for the Phillies as the Mets will be without their top fielder and hitter for the first month of the season, if not more. Instead of having Beltran n the middle of the lineup they will have to make due with a combination of Angel Pagan and Fernando Martinez.

That doesn’t exactly make opposing pitchers shiver.

Of course knowing Omar Minaya, the Mets will likely try to compensate by overpaying and over-the-hill outfielder.

Johnny Damon on line one?

 While the Mets are dealing with injuries before the season even starts, the Marlins are feeling the heat from the players union for being to cheap. This shouldn’t be surprising for those who follow baseball closely as the Marlins have consistently been at the bottom of the payroll since their 2003 championship season.

The team spent just $36 million on players last season – the lowest total in baseball. However that constitutes a spending spree for a team that has spent $21.8, $30.5 and $15 million the previous three seasons.

The reason the union has gotten involved is because the Marlins spending has been so low that it has violated the revenue sharing agreement. Little has been shared about what the Marlins plan to do, but the team and the union have reached an agreement that the Marlins will increase their payroll.

So to some up, the Marlins will have to spend more money which could lead to bringing in more talented players.

Kid of a strange punishment, huh?

Filed Under Phillies

Comments

2 Responses to “Phillies NL East foes in trouble already”

  1. Jersey Joe on January 14th, 2010 3:38 pm

    The funny thing about the Marlins is they usualy are in contention with that small of a Payroll. Also you are so right about the Mets. At the same time. Why does Lidge wait so long to have surery done??

  2. Silver and Green on January 14th, 2010 6:29 pm

    The Marlins have done an amazing job staying competitive while not tossing out dollars like big market teams and they get punished for it? Sometimes I don’t get baseball.

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