ALWAYS HAS TO BE A CATCH
For Travis, just d’pits; Kev vows quick return
On Monday afternoon in Miami, Travis d’Arnaud took the field at Marlins Park for some extra throwing work, firing snap throws to bases as he’s done countless times in his Mets career. This time, though, was different. During the routine session, the Mets catcher felt tightness in his elbow. Then the discomfort drifted into his forearm. Two days later, he was back in New York for a precautionary MRI.
Doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery revealed the test results — a partial tear to the ulnar col- lateral ligament in his right arm, his throwing arm. D’Arnaud was left in stunned silence.
“I didn’t say a word for about a minute,” d’Arnaud said Friday at Citi Field, before the Mets faced the Brewers. “I couldn’t believe that’s what it was.” He paused, his voice dropping to a somber whisper. “What can you do, though?”
D’Arnaud will undergo Tommy John surgery at HSS next week to repair the torn ligament. His 2018 campaign is over. Another injury and another lost season for a catcher who, for whatever season, simply cannot stay on the field.
“It’s really tough,” d’Arnaud said, “especially with this great group of guys, this championship atmosphere. It was tough. Still is tough.”
D’Arnaud’s injury is a big blow for the surging Mets, and it only stung more when his backstop partner, Kevin Plawecki, also landed on the disabled list Friday.
Plawecki is dealing with a non-displaced fracture in his left hand after he was hit by a pitch in Wednesday’s win over the Marlins. The Mets expect him to miss three-to-four weeks before returning to the majors. An initial X-ray on Plawecki’s hand came back negative, but when his grip strength failed to return and pain lingered, the Mets opted for further testing, and an MRI revealed the break.
In a matter of 24 hours, the Mets went from having two catchers to none.
“Just two nights ago I was really optimistic that it was just going to be a bone bruise and (I could) get right back after it in a couple days,” Plawecki said. “Unfortunately, I’m just going to have to take it and just let it rest and be back soon.”
After d’Arnaud was placed on the disabled list Wednesday, the Mets called up 24-year-old catching prospect Tomas Nido from Double-A Binghamton to fill his spot. On Friday, the team purchased the contract of veteran Jose Lobaton to replace Plawecki. Lobaton, who signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in December and spent all of spring training with the club, started behind the dish Friday night, batting eighth and going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
“We’re going to have to have guys step up,” manager Mickey Callaway said.
General manager Sandy Alderson said he is “comfortable for the very short term” with the catching situation. Later, when asked what “very short term” means, Alderson quipped, “Until about 11 o’clock tonight.”
The Mets signed Johnny Monnell to a minor-league deal Friday for added depth.
“We’ll see how things go,” Alderson said. “But we are going to be certainly aware of what else may be available out there and we’ll monitor that market. But at this moment, we don’t have any plans to add anyone, other than at the Triple-A level. But that certainly could change.”
Plawecki hopes his return comes closer to three weeks than four. He said gripping the bat and catching pitches are equal challenges as he tries to heal.
“It could have been a lot worse, so I’m very thankful for this to only be it,” Plawecki said. “Obviously, I don’t want it to be anything. I didn’t think it was anything. But you just got to trust what you see and trust the doctors. It’s just a little bump in the road.”
D’Arnaud refused to address his timetable or whether he will be ready for spring training in 2019.
He tried to avoid surgery, but the location of the tear made the dreaded operation necessary.
“I didn’t think anything of it,” d’Arnaud said, “and then this happened.”
I didn’t say a word for about a minute. I couldn’t believe that’s what it was . ... What can you do, though? TRAVIS D’ARNAUD