Mets’ Cespedes too sore to start, may need heel surgery
NEW YORK » A day after saying he may need surgery on both heels that would require an eight-to-10month recovery, Yoenis Cespedes was out of the Mets’ starting lineup Saturday because of body soreness and New York’s front office did not publicly comment on his startling health revelation.
Cespedes homered in Friday’s Subway Series win over the Yankees, his first game since May 13 after two months on the disabled list caused by with a strained right hip flexor.
The 32-year-old, a two-time AllStar, revealed after the game that calcification on his heels has bothered him for 15 years and caused the lower body injuries that have limited him to 119 games in 1½ seasons since he signed a $110 million, four-year contract.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway was unable answer whether Cespedes will need an operation.
“I think that it’s something that is probably a good question for the doctors as far as if he needs surgery or not,” Callaway said. “We are aware of his heels issues and that they get painful, especially when he has long periods of time that he hasn’t done much. And then he starts coming back, his heels get pretty sore. He’s been battling that for 15 years.”
Callaway also would not give an opinion as to whether Cespedes should have surgery sooner than later.
“I think that’s another probably question for doctors,” he said. “I’d hate to speculate on something I’m not very educated on. I wish I could give you more on that.”
General manager Sandy Alderson took a leave of absence on June 26 following the reoccurrence of cancer, and the team’s baseball operations are being run by a trio of his top aides. Assistant general manager John Ricco, who spoke to reporters before Friday’s game, was not at the ballpark Saturday, spokesman Harold Kaufman said. Special assistant Omar Minaya, Alderson’s predecessor, was to be at the stadium but had not arrived pregame, Kaufman added.
There also was no additional information on a looming trade of Jeurys Familia, other than the Mets would continue to hold him out of games, Callaway.
Cespedes was to have been a designated hitter in the first two games of the weekend series and possibly play the outfield Sunday. He went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored Friday but felt sore after running to first on an eighth-inning groundout.
“He came in pretty sore today, and we’re not going to start him,” Callaway said. “That’s concerning.”
Asked whether Cespedes’ heels, hips or legs were sore, Callaway responded: It’s all interconnected. He’s just sore. He ran that ball out, that ground-ball out, and he came back and he was really sore.”
Callaway said Cespedes will seek an additional medical opinion.
Cespedes is hitting .262 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 38 games. In an effort to increase flexibility and avoid leg problems, he took to yoga during the offseason and reported to spring training trimmer. 14th to work his way into a tie for the lead, even if that lasted for only 20 minutes.
“I’ve shown that I’ve been there close enough with a chance to win this year,” Woods said. “Given what happened the last few years, I didn’t know if that would ever happen again. But here I am with a chance coming Sunday in a major championship. It’s going to be fun.”
It was every bit of that on Saturday, a rare day when Carnoustie had little defense.
Justin Rose, who made the cut on the number with a birdie on his final hole, matched the Carnoustie record for the Open with a 64. Spieth set the tone in the afternoon when he decided on the way to the first tee to hit driver on the 396yard hole. He sent it bouncing and rolling along the firm turf, down a hill and onto the green to about 10 feet away for an eagle.
Moments later, Woods began his charge to get into contention at a major for the first time in five years.
It never stopped. Seven players had a share of the lead at one point. Kisner, who started the third round tied for the lead, was never far away but had to work hard to stay there. He made a tough par save on the 17th, and then got upand-down from behind the 18th green for a 68.
Schauffele, the PGA Tour rookie of the year last season, holed a 30-foot putt from behind the 18th green for a 67.
They were 204.
“We’ve got pretty much at 9-under a new tournament tomorrow,” Spieth said.
A dozen players were separated by four shots, which is nothing considering that the last two British Open champions at Carnoustie rallied from 10 shots (Paul Lawrie) and six shots (Padraig Harrington) on the final day.
The wind is expected to be the strongest it has been all week. And then there’s the presence of Woods, playing in the third-to-last group.
Woods started quietly enough with a few birdies through eight holes. He started his move with a 40foot birdie putt on No. 9, followed with short birdie putts on the next two holes and with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 14th, he put his name atop the leaderboard.
It was there for only 20 minutes. But it was there.
A bogey on the 16th and a par save from short of the Barry Burn on the 18th gave him a 66. He figured it would at least keep him in range. He wound up as close to the lead as he has been in a major since he was two behind at Muirfield in the 2013 British Open.
“I’m right there,” he said. “I’ve got a chance at this, which is great.” And he has company. Kevin Chappell, who spent most of his round watching Spieth put on a show, birdied the 18th for a 67 and was two shots behind.
Francesco Molinari had a 66 and will play in the third-to-last group with Woods. They were last together three weeks ago when Woods presented him the trophy at the Quicken Loans National after Molinari shot 62 for an eightshot victory.