Bone Spur Forces Maine To Disabled List

John Maine was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a bone spur in his right shoulder Monday, leaving the Mets without a key starter as they head into September looking to erase the memory of last year's disastrous stretch run.

Shelving Maine allowed the Mets to activate second baseman Luis Castillo two days after he asked for more time to rehabilitate a left hip flexor. Maine was on the DL from Aug. 3-13, retroactive to July 29, and returned knowing that he'd have to pitch with the shoulder problem the rest of the season. He didn't go more than 5 2/3 innings in his three starts and gave up eight runs on Saturday. His fastball, normally in the low to mid 90s, rarely exceeded 89 mph. Maine said rest helped alleviate the pain the first time he sat and hopes another break will allow him to pitch the final couple of weeks of the season.

"It's frustrating because I want to be here and help the team, but for me not being 100 percent to go out there it's not just hurting the team, it's me not being 100 percent," Maine said. "I was told nothing could make it worse which is why I wanted to pitch through it. It just hasn't gone away." He said that a cortisone shot on Thursday did not help.

Mets General Manager Omar Minaya said surgery is the only way to fix the problem but even though it is a minor operation, Maine would not have enough time to recover to pitch again this season. Instead, Maine will not throw for two weeks and hold off from any exercise for a week.

The Mets, will have to do without Maine for at least three weeks, Minaya said. "We've all seen John Maine. Even without his best stuff, if I'm not mistaken he had a pretty good game in Pittsburgh," he said. "But the bottom line is we cannot risk his long-term health in the midst of this pennant race, which means that guys are going to have to step up."

The Mets started Monday a half-game ahead of Philadelphia in the NL East, and travel to play both the Phillies and the third-place Marlins. Manager Jerry Manuel said Oliver Perez will likely move into Maine's slot on Friday, and that because of a day off Thursday, an extra starter will not be needed until Sept. 2.

Maine's injury is the second big blow to the Mets' staff. Closer Billy Wagner has been on the disabled list since Aug. 5 with a strained left elbow and his return this season is uncertain. Just as the Mets have used its existing players to fill that hole, Minaya said that a starter will probably come from within the organization, but he didn't entirely rule out claiming a pitcher off waivers.

More likely, it will be long reliever Brandon Stokes or a minor league player. Top prospects Jonathan Niese and Robert Parnell will be considered. Minaya refused to call up Niese earlier in the season to make one start because he didn't want to waste a minor league option on the pitcher for just one start, but since teams can expand their rosters on Sept. 1, Minaya said it would be a long-term call up. If the replacement is brought up by Aug. 31, he could be included on the postseason roster.

Castillo, struggling with the hip injury and sore quadriceps, was batting .261 with three home runs and 26 RBIs when he went on the DL July 3. He was given back his spot as the No. 2 hitter and starting second baseman on a conditional basis. The Mets have gone 31-16 without Castillo, who is in the first year of a four-year, $25 million contract, and Manuel has been happy with the platoon of Damion Easley and rookie Argenis Reyes. "We'll watch him play, watch him perform, watch the level the team is playing at with him performing and see where we are," Manuel said. "We are in a fight for our lives."