MET NOTES
Willie Randolph announced yesterday that Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, who was slated to pitch tonight against the Phillies, won’t take the hill this weekend due to his recent heavy workload.
Brian Bannister will come off the disabled list tonight and make his first big-league start since April, as the Mets open a three-game series with Philadelphia at Shea Stadium.
“We’re going to monitor [Hernandez’s] pitches,” Randolph said. “He’s been throwing a lot of pitches and we have the luxury of seeing Bannister pitch, so we’re going to probably push El Duque back a little bit.”
Hernandez said he is “a little tired” but added he’s pain-free. He believes he is going to only sit for one outing.
Randolph mentioned that Hernandez’s inning total (131) is comparable to what it was in 2005 (128 1/3).
“He’s 100 percent physically,” GM Omar Minaya said, “but we just felt that we needed to give him some rest.”
Bannister, who strained his right hamstring in April, said he is ready to go. He was 2-3 with a 4.63 ERA at Norfolk; as a Met, he was 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA in five games.
The Mets still need a starter for tomorrow’s game. Randolph said Triple-A lefty Oliver Perez was “an option.” He seems like he’ll be the choice, though Minaya said lefty reliever Darren Oliver was a contender.
*
Tom Glavine said he played catch yesterday and will do so again today. He’s slated to throw a bullpen session tomorrow.
*
Jose Valentin hadn’t started for five games due to a strained right hamstring, but the second baseman was in the starting lineup last night, hitting seventh.
Valentin said he was “not quite” 100 percent but that it “definitely feels way better than it was early.” He hurt the hamstring Aug. 17 in Philadelphia.
*
Randolph said he believes Cliff Floyd won’t be back before September. Floyd is on the DL with left Achilles tendinitis . . . The Mets designated Ricky Ledee for assignment to make room for Shawn Green on the 25-man roster. Also, they put Ramon Castro on the 60-day DL. He can come off the DL on Sept. 25. . . . Meanwhile, the Mets picked up another catcher, signing former Yankee Kelly Stinnett to a minor league deal. Stinnett, assigned to Norfolk, hit .228 with a homer in 34 games for the Yanks this season.