Gee To Have Season Ending Surgery

[Giantmetfan07]

New York Mets right-hander Dillon Gee will undergo potentially season-ending surgery Friday in St. Louis to fix artery damage in his pitching shoulder, which should prevent a recurrence of clotting, a source familiar with the plan told ESPNNewYork.com on Wednesday.

After doctors dissolved a clot but determined Gee's artery was damaged, he was presented with the option of using blood thinners for the near future, but that was riskier. So Gee has opted to have a procedure performed by leading specialist Dr. Robert Thompson at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, the source said.

Gee is expected to be able to resume throwing in six to eight weeks. But under the best-case scenario, he only would return in late September, or in October if the Mets reach the playoffs. The source, however, said that is secondary to getting Gee ready for the 2013 season.

No longer-lasting ramifications for Gee in terms of his health or his career after the procedure is performed are expected, since it should fix the issue and prevent future clotting in the shoulder. So Gee should be good to pitch from the outset next season regardless whether he returns this year.

The Mets plan to call up left-handed reliever Josh Edgin to take Gee's roster spot. Right-hander Miguel Batista will step into the rotation when the need for a fifth starter arises.
ESPN

What should be noted is there's also the chance the Mets call up prospect Matt Harvey. I've read different things lately -- one says the Mets think he can contribute but won't "thrive" yet, and that is their major dilemma, and the team knows they made mistakes in the past with prospects such as John Maine and Mike Pelfrey by calling them up too soon due to injuries in the rotation. Another thing I read is that 2 months ago, AAA coach Wally Backman basically said Harvey's fastball command sucked and until it improved, he wasn't ready for MLB pitching. Well, his fastball command has supposedly improved a ton and they already like where his curveball is, so some feel he could use the month of experience to understand how much further he needs to develop to be successful.

My opinion, he should stay down until the end of the month and if Batista is pitching that poorly they should call him up.

 

[cruzg24]

The mets needed to sign another starting pitcher in the offseason, this happens every year and some scrub like batista pitches awfully. I would keep Harvey in the minors until September if by then the mets are still in it then i call him up. He's pitched fairly well in AAA but he needs more time which is fine because development now is so crucial.