PHILADELPHIA -- Instead of being in right field in Philadelphia Monday Mets right fielder RYAN CHURCH was in New York for more tests after a migraine forced him out of Saturday's game against the Phillies and resulted in him sitting out on Sunday.
According to the Mets, Church saw a concussion specialist on Monday and was given an MRI for both his head and neck. Both tests came back negative, and Church is listed as day-to-day.
Church was pulled in the eighth inning Saturday for symptoms that a doctor in New York diagnosed as a migraine. But with recent issues surrounding Church and his health, including a bout with post-concussion syndrome that landed him on the 15-day disabled list on June 9, Mets general manager Omar Minaya said the club was taking extra safeguards.
In fact, the choice to see a doctor was not made by Church, and Minaya said that decision was "taken out of his hands" by the team.
"He was feeling OK, much better, but that being said, we wanted to take a precautionary [measure] and send him back to New York," Minaya said before Monday's game aqainst the Phillies.
Minaya said this visit would be to one of two doctors Church has consulted with in the process of trying to recover from this injury. Church suffered his second concussion of the season on May 20, when Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar's knee collided with Church's head as he slid into second base.
No decision has been made as to whether Church will receive more rest before resuming play, as Minaya said they will wait for the test results to come back and then re-evaluate the situation based on how Church feels on a day-to-day basis.
Minaya said that the Mets' doctors have called Church's symptoms -- such as the burning sensation in his eyes -- as "normal" signs of a migraine. He even remembers Church dealing with headaches when both were in Montreal.
Admittedly, Minaya is learning every day from Church's concussion, much like he did with Carlos Beltran's in 2005, because Minaya said no collision could get much worse than the one Mets center fielder had with Mike Cameron. But if Church is to see the field in the coming weeks, it will be after the team doctors are assured that his headaches are not associated with post-concussion syndrome.
"He's going to be playing when our doctors give him clearance to play," Minaya said. "If they give clearance, he will play."
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Minaya also assured reporters that he was not out looking for another corner outfielder to replace Church or Moises Alou, another Met who has missed time due to injury.
Alou, Minaya said, could get a rehab start this week. Church, if all goes well, could be in the Mets' lineup as soon as Tuesday. But "could" isn't "definitely," and with the July 31 trade deadline nearing, and both injuries not completely resolved, the Mets had to ponder "what if" on Monday.
The club would rather not move into August without making a move and continue to see both of their ailing corner outfielders sit. Without Church and Alou, role players such as Endy Chavez, Fernando Tatis and Marlon Anderson have been forced into regular playing time.
"Do you feel that those guys might wear down, that they aren't used to playing that much? That has to be put into the equation," said manager Jerry Manuel, who admitted that the Mets do have to at least consider the possibility of adding a veteran bat if these injuries persist.
Alou is scheduled to get a Class A rehab start this week, provided the 41-year-old veteran doesn't feel any more soreness in the strained left calf that landed him on the disabled list twice this season. He was scheduled to play in Florida last week, but rainouts and some further aches and pains in Alou's calf set back his rehabilitation.
Minaya said on Monday that he doesn't anticipate the Mets being in the market for a starting corner outfielder. That's not to say they aren't making calls, because Minaya said that Indians general manager Mark Shapiro told him that the Mets had the Minor League players necessary to get pitcher CC Sabathia before he was dealt to the Brewers on Monday.
As of Monday night, the Mets are holding roster spots open for Alou and Church in anticipation that they will both return to the lineup.
"I'm hoping that at some point these guys are back," Minaya said. "If they are not back, we'll have to reconsider, but I feel pretty good that these guys will be back."
Jon Blau is an associate reporter for MLB.com
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WHITE HITS AGAIN
Monday night CHRIS WHITE hit safely in his sixth straight game for the Oneonta Tigers as they defeated the State College Spikes 4-1. The hit lifted his batting average to .245... and in Asheville, North Carolina of the South Atlantic League BRIAN AGUAILAR got his first start behind the plate in nine days Saturday opposite the Rome Braves. Considering how little he is used it was not surprising he went 0-for-3. His batting average fell to .176.
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