just a followup........
Mets seeking replacement for Trachsel
March 17, 2005
Matt Ginter, Jae Seo, and Aaron Heilman are now the center of attention as the New York Mets seek a replacement for injured pitcher Steve Trachsel.
``The opportunity is there for a few guys,'' Mets manager Willie Randolph said Wednesday. ``We'll see who takes the bull by the horns.''
The Mets, with a solid rotation of Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano, figured they were all set with Trachsel penciled in as their fifth starter.
ADVERTISEMENT
But Trachsel, always counted on to make his starts and chew up innings, will have surgery Saturday to repair a herniated disk in his back. The right-hander is expected to miss a major portion of the season.
``This is not what I expected when I left last week to go to New York for X-rays,'' Trachsel said in a statement Wednesday. ``I thought I would get a shot and be back.
``There is no doubt in my mind I'll be pitching again before the end of the season.''
Until then, the Mets will take a hard look at a trio of right-handers -- Ginter, Seo and Heilman.
The prospect of replacing a pitcher of Trachsel's caliber certainly was on the mind of No. 1 starter Martinez.
``Hopefully we get him back soon,'' he said.
Players who have the type of operation Trachsel will need normally miss about three months, Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. He wouldn't speculate on how long Trachsel will be out.
Trachsel, 34, went 12-13 with a 4.00 ERA last season. He has made at least 28 starts each of the last 10 years.
So far, only Ginter has been impressive. He's allowed no earned runs in seven innings this spring with six strikeouts and only one walk.
Seo has allowed 11 hits in five innings and has an ERA of 14.40. Heilman has pitched to an ERA of 18.00, allowing six hits -- three homers -- in just three innings in Florida.
