Major League Baseball

Mets' Maine to get medical check, claims he's fine

Published May. 21, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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John Maine has a date with the team doctor, even though the struggling New York Mets pitcher insisted Friday that nothing is wrong physically.

Maine was pulled from his start against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night after only five pitches, and he got into a heated argument with Manuel in the dugout after he was removed. The right-hander wanted to keep pitching, but Manuel was concerned that something was wrong because the velocity on Maine's fastball wasn't normal.

Maine spent three months on the disabled list last year with a tired right shoulder.

The two still hadn't spoken before the Mets opened a three-game set against the New York Yankees at Citi Field, even though both discussed their dugout exchange with reporters.

``I was trying to get him to understand why he was coming out, and you know, he wanted to compete, and I'm trying to protect him from what I thought could be a dangerous situation for him and the team,'' Manuel said. ``That was basically the confrontation was about, him competing and me trying to protect him.''

Said Maine: ``I'm not on bad terms with anybody.''

``I understand their position, but I hope they understand my position. I want to pitch,'' he said while standing in front of his locker.

In his previous outing, he began by throwing 12 straight balls and walking the first three Florida batters.

``John Maine is a very, very, very competitive young man, very competitive,'' Manuel said. ``We have to make decisions not only on him, but what's best for the team.''

Manuel said that a team doctor will see Maine, perhaps later Friday, and he'll wait for the results of the examination before deciding whether the pitcher will make his next start.

The Mets' rotation is already scrambling after Jonathon Niese went on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. The injury forced Hisanori Takahashi, one of their top relievers, into making his first major league start Friday night against the Yankees.

``It all depends on where we are with John, and at some time, probably later today, we'll know where we're going to go,'' Manuel said.

Maine had finished warming up Thursday night in Washington when pitching coach Dan Warthen came in from the bullpen and told Manuel that he didn't think Maine was throwing more than 80 mph. The velocity didn't improve much against leadoff hitter Nyjer Morgan, who drew a walk, and Manuel and Warthen immediately went to the mound.

Raul Valdes quickly replaced Maine, and the Mets went on to win 10-7.

Maine said he was frustrated that he didn't have an opportunity to face enough batters to get into a rhythm, but he also said he isn't going to let the issue simmer.

``I'll go out and pitch left-handed if I have to,'' Maine said. ``I just want to pitch.''

Even if it means left-handed? He might want to run that by Manuel when they meet.

``We can't afford to watch him pitch left-handed, that's just out of the question,'' the manager said with a laugh. ``But he might have more stuff left-handed. We might try that.''

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