CHURCH IN THE DUGOUT AT LEAST

CHURCH PART WAY BACK

NEW YORK -- RYAN CHURCH sat in the Mets' dugout prior to Tuesday's game vs. the Phillies and offered the same words he has many times this season.

He is fine. Really, Church said he feels 100 percent, and his post-concussion symptoms haven't reared their ugly head -- in his head -- for the past few days

But he's not going to rush it. Visiting Shea Stadium to do some light exercise, Church said any real training toward another return from the 15-day disabled list wouldn't begin until he's felt fine for three, four, or even five days in a row.

For now, Church just continues to wait, maybe taking in a massage or two while anticipating a return to the field.

"Right now I am just laying low," Church said. "They just told me to take a couple days off. Hopefully we'll get cleared.

"They want me to have a couple days in a row of feeling 100 percent. They have told me that since Day 1. I want to start playing now."

By the order of the Mets' doctors, the earliest he could resume baseball activities would be Thursday. Don't hold them to it, though, because his situation has been known to change.

Church first sustained the concussion -- his second of the season -- on a slide into second base May 20 in Atlanta. Then, he hit the disabled list in early June and has been eligible to return from his most recent stint on the 15-day DL since Monday.

"There's no specific date," general manager Omar Minaya said. "It's a combination of how he's feeling and the doctors feeling he is ready to go. I know talking to him he said he's ready to play."
Jon Blau is an associate reporter for MLB.com.