Solomon Fails in Olympic Bid; Church, White

SOLOMON FALLS SHORT

The dream of DUANE SOLOMON to make the 2008 U.S. Olympic team was swept away Monday evening at the trials in Eugene, Oregon.

Solomon had to settle for sixth in the field of eight as three Oregon runners, Nick Symmonds of the Oregon Track Club and Nike, Andrew Wheating the super sophomore from the University of Oregon, and unheralded Christian Smith of OTC/Nike took the three top spots and with them the invitations to Beijing.

Defending U.S. champion Khadevis Robinson finished fourth and Lopez Lomong of Nike came in fifth.

A blanket could have been thrown over the five runners finishing second through sixth. Wheating posted 1:45.03, Smith 1:45.47, 1:45.53, Lomong 1:45.58 and Solomon 1:45.78. Symmonds finished nearly a full second ahead of the field in 1:44.10.

Solomon, who placed third in this race last year, would have been the first Lompocan since Nick Carter in 1928 to participate in the Olympics.

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Baseball Bits

In his second game back from the Disabled List RYAN CHURCH went 1-for-3 Monday night in a nationally televised loss to in St. Louis…. In Lowell, Massachusetts CHRIS WHITE went 2-for-3 in the conclusion of Sunday night’s New York-Pennsylvania League contest in the Spinners’ contest with the visiting Oneonta Tigers. White also drew a base on balls and stole a base. Unfortunately he was also given an error in left field. In the regularly scheduled contest he went 0-for-3. His batting average is now .217…

Solomon Qualifies; Church Returns

Solomon Qualifies for Final

EUGENE, Oregon—USC’s DUANE SOLOMON advanced to the men's 800m finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials held at Hayward Field Saturday.

Solomon, who finished third in the 800m race at the 2008 NCAA Championships, had the second-fastest time in his heat and on the day at 1.45.82 to advance to Monday's finals.

Among the people Solomon beat in his heat was Jacob Hernandez, who won the 2008 NCAA title while running for Texas. Solomon finished third at the 2007 U.S. Track and Field Championships to make America's team for the 2007 World Championships.

In the first heat, the University of Oregon's Andrew Wheating moved from off-pace, in fifth, to second place in the final few meters (1:46.23) and advance. Defending national champion Khadevis Robinson led from wire-to-wire to win in 1:46.14. In the second semifinal, Oregon Track Club's Nick Symmonds moved up on the inside for the final 200m of the race to overtake Solomon and win in 1:45.61.

Solomon knows all his competitors. Robinson was #1 on the U.S. team last year with Symmonds #2. Wheating, just a sophomore at Oregon, nipped Solomon in the Pac-10 championships. Both Wheating and Symmonds specialize in coming from behind while Robinson and Solomon like to run in front.

The rest of the eight-man field Monday consists of Jonathan Johnson and Jebreh Harris of Reebok, Lopez Lomong of Nike and Christian Smith of the Oregon Track Club.
The final is scheduled to be broadcast by Channel USA starting at 11 p.m. Monday evening.

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Church Returns

RYAN CHURCH returned to the New York Mets lineup Sunday just as he left it—hot. He went 2-for-4 to lift his batting average to .304. He missed 27 games after sustaining his second concussion of the season on May 20.

Duffy Picks Up Fourth Win; Church, Ship, White

Duffy Wins Fourth

DANNY DUFFY won his fourth game of the season Saturday night as the Burlington Bees downed the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-3.

Duffy gave up just one run on four hits in five innings. He struck out seven and walked two while lowering his Midwest League Earned Run Average to 3.43, but he did not have the same easy seven-inning cruise that he had on Monday. For that reason this victory may have been even more impressive than its predecessor.

This time Duffy had to scuffle with base runners in four of his five innings. In so doing he burned through his pitch limit two innings earlier than Monday.

In the first a single and a stolen base put a runner in scoring position with one out but on a strikeout Burlington catcher Ryan Eigsti caught the runner stealing at third.

In the second a single, a walk and a wild pitch placed Rattler runners at second and third with no outs, but Duffy bore down and recorded the first out on a strikeout. He got the second on a sacrifice fly (giving up his first earned run in his last 13 innings) and the third on another “K.”

In the third he gave up a double and a walk and in the fourth a single. Finally in the fifth Wisconsin was retired 1-2-3.

Duffy is now 4-3 with his last three decisions all being victories.

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Church Returns Sunday

NEW YORK -- Two former college teammates met by chance on Saturday morning in the corridor under the stands that connects the bullpens and clubhouses at Shea Stadium. And Darrell Rasner inquired about the health of RYAN CHURCH.

"Feelin' pretty good," was Church's response.

"You going to play today?" Rasner said.

"Nah, probably tomorrow," Church said. "That's the plan."

Said Rasner: "Why don't you take a few more days off?"

The next interaction between the two products from the University of Nevada-Reno is likely to be on Sunday afternoon. Church will be the Mets' right fielder again and Rasner will be the Yankees' starting pitcher. They won't be talking.

Church is to return after missing 27 of the team's 35 most recent games because of the aftereffects of the concussion that he suffered on May 20 in Atlanta. After playing the outfield in two rehab games with the Class A Brooklyn Cyclones, Church said he is completely recovered and fully capable of resuming what had appeared to be a breakout season. He said on Saturday that his legs feel strong again; his leg strength and stamina had been issues.

Church might have returned on Saturday, but the Mets reasoned there was little sense in subjecting a left-handed hitter to Andy Pettitte when he would benefit from one more day of baseball activities and free from the strains of competition.

Manager Jerry Manuel characterized Church as a "real nice piece we've missed," and he noted that he relieves some of the pressure on Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado to produce runs. The manager noted he saw Church as capable of batting almost anywhere in the batting order -- second, fifth and sixth -- and he suggested that he might have planned to use Church as the No. 2 hitter, as Willie Randolph did 13 times, if Luis Castillo were not going to be available for the final game of the series against the Yankees.

"Hopefully, he can continue having the year he was having," Manuel said.

Church is batting .300 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 180 at-bats. He has had four hits in 19 at-bats since the concussion and before his assignment to the disabled list. Before the injury, Church was the lone Met having "a good year for us," Randolph said before his dismissal.
Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com.

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Shipman Clean Again

In Little Rock, Arkansas ANDY SHIPMAN posted his fourth straight clean relief appearance in Midland’s 4-3 loss to the Arkansas Travelers. Shipman pitched one and two-thirds innings and gave up two hits but no runs. He lowered his Texas League ERA to 5.10.

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White Hitless

In Oneonta, New York CHRIS WHITE’s Oneonta Tigers downed the Tri-City Valley Cats 4-2 in a New York-Pennsylvania League game. Unfortunately White went 0-for-3 at the plate to see his average dip to .176.

Diamond Dust--Church, White, Dotzler, Carlson

RYAN CHURCH’s 1.000 batting average in A-ball with the Brooklyn Cyclones was chopped in half Friday night in the second game of his rehab assignment.

Churchie went 0-for-3 as the Cyclones nipped Aberdeen 4-3. With his minor league BA at .500 he is expected back with the Mets this weekend.

They need him. They continued their schizophrenic ways Friday with bully 15-6 victory at Yankee Stadium but then a pathetic 9-0 loss at the hands of Sidney Ponson of the Yanks at Shea Stadium.

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WHITE HOT

In Troy, New York CHRIS WHITE exploded for three hits in five trips to the plate including a two-out RBI for the Oneonta Tigers of the Class A New York-Penn League. The base knocks were White’s first hits of the year after he missed seven games due to injury. He is playing left field and batting in the crucial #2 spot for the Tigers. The hits also got him his first batting average at .214. Unfortunately the Tigers fell 8-6 to the home team Tri-City Valley Cats.

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DOTZLER SOLID FOR REDMEN

In semi-pro ball infielder COREY DOTZLER appears to be batting .269 based on incomplete stats posted by the Santa Maria Indians. Pitcher JOEY GREEN has also joined the club.

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CARLSON TO HANCOCK

Sources tell Lompoc Locker Room that former pro infielder JASON CARLSON has signed as an assistant baseball coach at Allan Hancock College. Carlson has assisted at Lompoc High the past two seasons.

Churchie Dominates A-Ball; White, Ags, Ship, Duff

Thursday night outfielder RYAN CHURCH made his first rehab start since landing on the Disabled List June 6th and showed why he long ago left A-ball in his rear view mirror.

Church played right field for the Brooklyn Cyclones of the A-ball New York-Pennsylvania League on Thursday, turning, as a Cyclone writer termed it, the "Borough of Churches" into the "Borough of Church's."

Church was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two singles, a double, a run scored, and an RBI in the Cyclones' 4-2 win over Aberdeen. He is scheduled to play for the Cyclones again on Friday, and to rejoin the Mets on Saturday or Sunday.

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White Back in Action

Elsewhere in the New York-Penn League CHRIS WHITE (pictured) rejoined the starting lineup of the Oneonta Tigers Wednesday night playing left field. White was injured in the Tigers' opening game and missed seven contests. Unfortunately he went hitless both Wednesday and Thursday nights. He has amassed five bases on balls however.

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Aguailar Gets Two Starts

BRIAN AGUAILAR, nearly forgotten on the Asheville Tourist bench, got a start behind the plate Monday and another Thursday night. He went 1-for-4 Monday but 0-for-4 Thursday to see his batting average sink back to .171. Asheville won the first half title in the A-ball South Atlantic League.

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Shipman Makes It Three

ANDY SHIPMAN made his third straight spotless relief performance Monday night with two clean innings against San Antonio in the Texas League. The Ship's ERA slipped down to 5.28.

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DUFFY SLATED SATURDAY

DANNY DUFFY is slated to make his next start on Saturday, he told Lompoc Locker Room Thursday morning. The Burlington Bees will host the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in a Midwest League (A) game.

Stats on Duffy; Church Not Ready

INSIDE THE GAME


Just how dominating was DANNY DUFFY Monday night?


Here are some statistics: He faced 25 batters and got first pitch strikes on 21 of them. He threw 71 pitches, 54 of them strikes. One batter reached third base. He had six one-pitch at bats. According to his dad the thing he was most proud of was he was responsible for six broken bats.


Susan Denk of the Burlington Hawkeye newspaper wrote the following:


Danny Duffy mowed down the Peoria Chiefs left and right Monday night.


The Burlington Bees left-hander pitched seven shutout innings, striking out eight, in a 4-1 Bees' Midwest League victory at Community Field.


It was Duffy's second straight strong performance at home. Against Wisconsin June 9, Duffy pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits. The last time he faced Peoria, though, on the road June 14, Duffy gave up three runs in five innings as he took the loss.


This time, Duffy dominated. A pair of two-out singles in the first inning were half of the hits he allowed the Chiefs. Josh Donaldson was the only Peoria player to have any success against Duffy. The catcher doubled in the fifth inning and advanced to third -- the only base runner to make it that far.


"It was definitely Duffy. I don't know why you guys are interviewing me," said Bees outfielder Adrian Ortiz, who was also interviewed on the post-game radio show. "He threw seven shutout (innings). You can't ask for a better performance from a pitcher than that. "He kept us in the game, not letting them get to third base, I think like only once or twice. It's just outstanding for him."


"Duffy was outstanding. He pitched seven strong innings," Burlington manager Brian Rupp said. "I would say be far his best of the year. He was aggressive, attacked with his fast ball. Had a very good breaking ball. Even mixed in a couple decent change-ups. He was very good tonight. Everything was working very well. Efficient with his pitches."

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CHURCH NOT READY AFTER ALL

Mets right fielder RYAN CHURCH will not start for Class A Brooklyn on Wednesday as previously scheduled, because he said on Tuesday that he still doesn't feel like his conditioning is where it needs to be for him to play. The start was planned as a precursor for him to come off the 15-day disabled list after a lengthy bout with post-concussion syndrome. The latest setback means that it's doubtful that Church will be ready for the Mets' Subway Series vs. the Yankees this weekend. ...

Duffy's Best Outing Yet

Burlington, IA - DANNY DUFFY recorded the most impressive performance of his professional career Monday night with a seven-inning whitewash of the Peoria Chiefs.

Duffy's seven inning tenure on the mound was his high for the season, and for his career. He gave up no runs, earned or unearned, and allowed only four hits, a double and three singles.

His seven scoreless innings shaved his earned run average to 3.67. In his last 22 innings he has allowed just three earned runs. He struck out eight, his high for the season, while walking nobody. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is now 44-8, best on the Burlington pitching staff.

The Bees won the contest 4-1 after a reliever gave up a run. Duffy picked up his third win of the season against three losses, two of them coming in his first two decisions. More tomorrow.

Church's Symptom-Free Monday

NEW YORK -- He ran, he played catch, he took fly balls, he took batting practice, he broke a sweat. Monday was one more day in which RYAN CHURCH didn't play. He did everything but that -- all with the goal of playing this weekend.

Assigned to the 15-day disabled list but eligible to be activated, Church tested himself before the Mets game on Monday night, doing all of what he can -- plus more running -- when he does play. And he emerged symptom-free and encouraged. If he can repeat the process on Tuesday, Church may play in Class A Brooklyn Cyclones games on Wednesday and Thursday and then return to the Mets on Friday for the two-site doubleheader against the Yankees.

"Everything I do will depend on how I feel," he said.

Church said he has experienced no post-concussion symptoms since his DL assignment began on June 9, retroactive to June 6.
Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com.

Diamond Bits: Church, Ship, Ags, White

New York Met outfielder RYAN CHURCH, on the disabled list with post-concussion syndrome, is set to join the Mets for batting practice Monday. From there, he will head to Class A Brooklyn for a series of rehab games, before rejoining the club as soon as this weekend.

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Two more clean innings by ANDY SHIPMAN Saturday night slipped his ERA further down to 5.52. The Ship got four ground outs, a fly ball and a strikeout. His Midland Rockhounds lost to San Antonio 3-1 in a Texas League game.

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In the South Atlanta League Friday night Asheville nipped the Augusta GreenJackets 1-0 with BRIAN AGUAILAR getting a rare start behind the plate for the Tourists. On the downside Brian had to settle for an 0-for-4 day and see his batting average slide back to .185.

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In Oneonta, New York CHRIS WHITE is still out from the leg injury suffered on Tuesday.

Ship Sharp Thursday

In 102 degree weather and 4700 people in Midland, Texas ANDY SHIPMAN tossed two clean innings Thursday night in a 7-5 defeat at the hands of Frisco. The two good frames edged his Texas League ERA down to 5.79.

Bits & Pieces: Cross to LHS, Diamond Bits

CROSS TO RETURN TO LHS

As widely expected but not officially confirmed, DON CROSS will join the Lompoc High football coaching staff, it was announced at the end-of-the-year LHS sports BBQ.

Cross, pictured here with Penn State's Joe Paterno, served as head coach at Cabrillo for five years. He will resume the spot as LHS defensive coordinator which he held before departing for Cabrillo. His Cabrillo job will be filled by CRAIG KNOWLES.

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BASEBALL TIDBITS

ANDY SHIPMAN got 40 innings on the mound in the first half of Texas League play for the Midland RockHounds. His ERA is holding steady at a level higher than he would like-- 6.08.






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BRIAN AGUAILAR finished the South Atlantic League’s first half by inching his batting average above the Mendoza line at .217. Ags has seen action in just seven games for the league-leading Tourists. The two catchers who are platooned ahead of him are batting .236 and .162 --not exactly burning up the league. How about giving Brian a chance there, Rockies?






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CHRIS WHITE’s opening day with the Oneonta Tigers Tuesday night was not great. The centerfielder left the game in the fifth inning with a leg injury—severity to be determined. He made no appearance Wednesday night.






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Infielder COREY DOTZLER has started every game and is batting .279 for the Santa Maria Indians.

Solomon Third; Church to Return; Duffy Hit

Solomon Third at NCAA's

Des Moines, Iowa-- At the NCAA National Championships DUANE SOLOMON had to settle for third place in the 800 Saturday when Oregon sophomore Andrew Wheating, the kid who beat him in the Pac-10 finals, overtook him again.

Wheating could not quite catch Texas’ Jacob Hernandez who won the event in a sizzling 1:45.31. Wheating was in at 1:45.32 and Solomon at 1:45.71. Nobody else was under 1:47.30.

Solomon’s time of 1:45.71 was just two one-hundredths of a seconds off his PR set last year at the U.S. Championships.

It was a great race with Solomon and Hernandez of Texas battling for the lead down the stretch, with Wheating closing on the outside to finish between the two just a split-second off the winner.

"It was a very fast race," said Solomon. "I knew it would go out like that. My time, I'm happy with it, it's my best this season by two seconds. I felt I could get it and pushed him (Hernandez) and we pushed him to a stadium record. All three of us went under 1:46.00, so that's great."

"Duane was aggressive and ran as perfect a race as he could," said Ron Allice, USC’s Director of Track & Field. "Running into a strong head-wind with someone who you would have trouble seeing if you turned him sideways was not to his benefit, so the conditions also played a part in things for him."

No one had looked better in the semifinals than Wheating, who won his race in an easy 1:47.15, easing past pacemaker and 2008 time leader Hernandez in the homestretch. Kenyans Elias Koech (UTEP) and Elkana Kosgei (LSU) also qualified from the first semi. In the second, USC’s Soloman led from the gun to win in 1:47.60, ahead of Northern Iowa’s Tyler Mulder (1:48.45).

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CHURCH TO RETURN SATURDAY

NEW YORK -- While Ryan Church has had the pleasure of watching a few entertaining rounds of U.S. Open golf on his couch at home, he'd been begging the Mets for the past four days to let him back into Shea Stadium.

Church, who has been on the disabled list since Monday with post-concussion syndrome, got his foot in the clubhouse door on Sunday in time to wish teammates a "Happy Father's Day" before the doubleheader.

It's been tough to stay away, like fellow corner outfielder Moises Alou, but Church said on Sunday that he is definitely on track to come off the DL when he is first eligible on Saturday.

"It's progressing every day, it's getting better," Church said. "I haven't had any spells or anything like that. It's just one of those things now, waiting out time on the DL."

While Church was officially put on the 15-day disabled list on Monday, it was retroactive to the last time he played vs. the Padres on June 6. Whether he will play on Saturday in a game at Colorado is still unknown, but Church, a native of California, will not be permitted to fly with the team on its road trip to play the Angels. Instead, Church will stay in New York to start working out on Monday.

He reported no dizzy spells or headaches as of late, although Church was given a few doses of medication during his off-period to correct a couple of minor symptoms, but he said it was "nothing that stayed long."

Near the end of manager Willie Randolph's pregame press conference, he took notice of the fact that his long-lost right fielder was on the grounds. Randolph said he hadn't really seen Church recently and ended his remarks by saying he'd go straight from the podium to the locker room to check up on his player.

"I haven't seen him. He's a good kid," Randolph said. "I'm looking forward to seeing him. I'm concerned about him -- looking forward to looking at him and seeing how he feels."

In the mean time, Church can only hope and wait out an injury that has been on and off. It has been almost a month since he initially banged his head on Atlanta shortstop Yunel Escobar's knee on May 20.

Since then, Church said he has been trying -- however unsuccessfully -- to get in touch with former Major Leaguer Corey Koskie to talk about how to treat his concussion. Koskie, who hit his head on the ground trying to catch a pop fly during the 2006 season, has yet to play in a big league game since the incident.

Church, though, is more optimistic about his prognosis after this rest period. "I haven't had any spells. I haven't been waking up and getting out of bed," Church said. "... It's tough not being able to go out there -- strap up and go out to battle -- can't be a part of it. I just have to take my time. [I've] got a few more days on the DL and [I'll] go from there."
Jon Blau is an associate reporter for MLB.com.

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DUFFY HAS ONE ROUGH INNING

After 10 innings of spotless pitching in his last two appearances DANNY DUFFY was roughed up Saturday night in a Class A Midwest League game.

The Peoria Chiefs socked a double and two home runs in the first inning before the Lompoc lefty recovered and set them down without a sound over the next four frames.

Unfortunately his Burlington Bees never recovered from the first inning three-spot and Duffy suffered his third loss against two victories.

He gave up only one more hit after the quick first inning barrage and he struck out eight without walking a man.

Minor League Updates: Ship, Ags, Duff, White

Minor League News:

ANDY SHIPMAN is almost exactly where he was last year. Pitching for Midland, the Oakland affiliate in the AA Texas League he has tossed 34 innings, all in relief. His ERA is 5.82. Last season it ended at 5.81. The Ship is now 26.

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BRIAN AGUAILAR is catching, at least occasionally, with the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League. In six games he has seen 19 at-bats and has posted an average of .158. Asheville has played 66 games. All last season, due to injury, Aguailar, saw action in just 11 games with 34 at-bats at Tri-Cities of the Northwest League. Nevertheless Aguailar got a promotion. Asheville is the Colorado Rockies’ Class A affiliate. It is one step higher than short seasonTri-Cities. Aguailar is now 24.

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DANNY DUFFY, coming off two scintillating outings, is scheduled to pitch next on Saturday for Burlington, the Kansas City entry in the Class A Midwest League. After 22 innings his ERA is 4.43. The club will be in Peoria, Illinois.

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CHRIS WHITE has been assigned by the Detroit Tigers to Oneonta, New York of the Class A New York-Pennsylvania League. Opening game will be next Tuesday when the Tigers open on the road at Vermont. Last season White played centerfield and batted .279 for the Gulf Coast Rookie League Tigers. He was named Player of the Year for that team. Of the 11 players so far assigned to the Oneonta club, White is the youngest at 20.

Mets Follow Doctors' Orders with Church

NEW YORK -- RYAN CHURCH spent Tuesday afternoon resting at home, comfortably removed from the storm that continues to swirl around his head.

The Mets officially placed Church on the disabled list Tuesday, marking their most decisive step yet in what's already turned into a three-week issue.

Church, still suffering from what the Mets called post-concussion syndrome, has been in and out of the team's lineup since first injuring his head on May 20. And that's been the problem.

"We do things based upon medical doctor experts in this field, and their advice," general manager Omar Minaya said. "We acted upon the expert advice of those doctors, and I have a lot of confidence in our medical staff."

Despite suffering his second concussion in the span of three months on May 20, Church returned to the lineup as a pinch-hitter only two days later. He flew on a team plane from Atlanta to Colorado, made three more pinch-hitting appearances there -- he asked into the lineup -- and then made four starts for the Mets over the past week.

Yet after he was unexpectedly absent from the lineup over the weekend in San Diego, Church revealed that he had been feeling what he described as "a heartbeat in my head." He made a return visit to the neurologist, and the Mets put him on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 6.
The move comes 21 days after he first suffered the concussion.

"I think what I've been told about concussions and these type of things," Minaya said, "when you have a concussion, these things come and go sometimes."

Minaya repeatedly compared Church's concussion to one that Carlos Beltran suffered in 2005. But Beltran, unlike Church, had not suffered a previous concussion that year, making their situations unparallel.

What's clear is that the Mets must now proceed without Church for at least the next 11 days, and could be without him even longer. He'll stay sidelined until a neurologist clears him to play, and the Mets will continue to rely solely on medical advice.

"They're experts in their field," Minaya said. "I have full confidence in our doctors. We have as good doctors as anyone in the world."
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com

Duffy Does It Again; Church to DL

DANNY DUFFY stretched his perfect [no earned runs] stretch past the 10-inning mark Monday night as he handcuffed the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Class A Midwest League play.

If there was a question whether Duffy had learned from his blue-chip performance last Wednesday against Clinton, there was no doubt after his five innings tonight in a 6-4 Burlington victory.

Duffy threw five innings. He gave up a total of two hits. He struck out eight, a big jump from the three on Wednesday. He walked nobody. He received credit for the victory just as he had on Wednesday.

The only smudge on the outing was the second inning in which the Rattlers tallied two unearned runs. Duffy lowered his ERA which was above eight five days ago to 4.43.

In the second a two-out double scored two runners who by rights should have been back in the dugout on a double play. With the two on base, the first on a leadoff single, and nobody out Duffy got a strike out and a line drive out. That’s already four outs. The runs were unearned.

All four of Duffy’s other innings went 1-2-3, three up, three down. Combining his last two starts Duffy has allowed only three hits in 10 2/3 innings. In those innings he has struck out 11 and walked three.

Also significant is the fact that Duffy’s Bees won none of their four games since Duffy started last Wednesday. He may become their streak-breaker.

His next start, barring rain, could come on Saturday at Peoria.

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Church to Disabled List

NEW YORK -- Mets general manager Omar Minaya said Monday that outfielder RYAN CHURCH will be placed on the 15-day disabled list before Tuesday's game because of lingering effects from a concussion suffered May 20 in Atlanta.

Minaya, speaking at the Mets Foundation "Teammates in the Community" charity fundraiser in Greenwich, Conn., said Church saw a neurologist Monday and the decision then was made to rest the right fielder.

"It's not like he has headaches, no dizzy spells, none of the symptoms he had before," Minaya said, "but he just doesn't feel, in his words, 100 percent."

Church will be placed on the DL retroactive to last Friday, a day after Church last played in a game vs. the Padres. Church is hitting .300 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs, but is 2-for-11 with six strikeouts since the injury.

Church Still Bothered by Concussions; Duffy

Saturday in San Diego the Report was:

SAN DIEGO -- Eighteen days after Ryan Church suffered a concussion, he and the Mets are certain of this: He will participate in neither of the last two games of the current trip, he will be examined by a neurologist after the Mets return to New York, little about his medical situation is particularly encouraging and concern exists in the clubhouse for the 29-year-old outfielder.

One day after Church experienced a pulsating sensation on both sides of his head, his situation had reverted to where it had been several times since the concussion, to a point of uncertain prognosis and discussion of assigning him to the disabled list.

Church reported to PETCO Park mid-afternoon on Saturday for the third game of the Mets series against the Padres. He already knew he would be excluded from the lineup -- for the third time in four games -- and would not play for the ninth time in the 18 games the Mets have played since the concussion.

He had been in contact with New York-based neurologists during the day but hadn't been examined since the team arrived in San Francisco early Monday, despite uncommon fatigue, a symptom of concussions.

The pulsating sensation he characterized as "a heartbeat in my head" had developed during Friday night's game. It was a new symptom for the right fielder, who has endured two concussions this year, the first occurring in a Spring Training exhibition game on March 1 when he and Marlon Anderson collided in pursuit of a popup.

The more recent concussion happened on May 20 on the final play of a doubleheader in Atlanta. Church slid to the center-field side of second base in an attempt to break up the game-ending double play. His head collided with the knee of Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar. Church said the second incident was "nothing like the first one" i.e., not as severe. But he has been bothered periodically since then by fatigue, dizziness and sensitivity to light; and now the unprecedented -- for him -- pulsating sensation.

He had asked out of the lineup on Wednesday in San Francisco because of fatigue. He had complained of fatigue the previous afternoon before playing nine innings, saying he felt "like I don't have my legs under me." His absence from the lineup on Friday night was based on similar feelings.

The pulsating began during the game Friday, and when Mets manager Willie Randolph asked him if he could pinch-hit, he said no. A teammate said on Friday that Church was suffering from vertigo -- compromised balance. But Church didn't mention vertigo on Saturday. Randolph said Saturday that Church had said he had felt "pressure." Church later explained the pressure and the "heartbeat in my head" were one and the same.

He seemed more alert and spontaneous than he had in three days as he spoke with reporters on Saturday. He had been quite brief in his postgame comments on Friday. "The bottom line is Willie asked me if I could go, and I said 'No,'"Church said. "That's it. ... I just wasn't able to [pinch-]hit."

"We can only go by how he feels," Randolph said on Saturday. "We considered the DL but decided to wait. No one knows a lot about it."

When questions were posed about how the club had dealt with the situation, the manager said, "We felt like we handled it the right way."
Church said, "Nobody's at fault."

He had been told to anticipate episodes of symptoms. He said, "I get these spells." He said he wouldn't play under any circumstances on Saturday or Sunday. "I'm not going to risk going out there," he said, and added, "I'm going to be all right. It takes time."
Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com.

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DUFFY TO START

DANNY DUFFY's fifth start of the season for the Burlington Bees of the Class A Midwest League will take place Monday afternoon at 4:30 PDT. This is significant because last Wednesday he shook off rookie shackles and fired a one-hitter at the league-leading Clinton LumberKings. Duffy's Burlington Bees will face the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the contest will be broadcast over the internet. Go to Burlington Bees.com

How Duffy Did It

DUFFY EXPLAINED

After DANNY DUFFY's breakthrough performance Wednesday night we have comments from Dad and from the press. First a note from Dad:

This was an exciting night in the Duffy household. His attitude over the last two weeks has been very upbeat. Even through the two losses and the no decision he has been very positive. He felt like he threw well despite the results. He insisted that he was going to learn what it takes to be successful at this level and get better every game. The biggest difference is that at this level good hitters foul off good pitches and stay alive.

He has always scuffled early at the different levels, Little League to Babe Ruth, Babe Ruth to high school, JV to varsity, you get the picture. He is a resilient young man and finds strength through his Christian beliefs.The feedback from his coaches have been positive and he is a warrior as shown by his performances at Cabrillo last year especially the Lompoc game which he still says is the highlight of his life.

It was a great night with Jon Cope former Cabrillo lefty from late 90's in attendance, a person that he considers a mentor and a friend. Thanks for your thoughts and interest
Dan Duffy

And from the press…………

Hawkeye newspaper writer Susan Denk got some great quotes that help explain Duffy's night, especially his attitude and his breaking pitches.

It was Neftali Feliz who owned the 5-1 record and 2.05 ERA and is one of nine Clinton LumberKings on the Midwest League All-Star roster.

But it was Danny Duffy -- 0-2 with an 8.49 ERA -- who led his team to victory Wednesday night.

Duffy, a 19-year old left-hander, allowed one hit through 5 2/3 innings and notched his first victory of the season as the Burlington Bees defeated Western Division-leading Clinton 5-1 at Community Field.

The only hit against Duffy was a one-out single in the second inning by Tim Smith. That inning, Duffy worked out of a bases-loaded jam without giving up a run.

"He had a little bit different attitude today, it looked like. Especially late in the game," said Burlington manager Brian Rupp. "He got a little more aggressive and wasn't quite as tentative and threw some quality pitches there in the last few innings."

The 2007 third-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals can throw 94 miles per hour. It was that ability which helped him get into trouble his previous three outings since joining the Bees from extended spring training.

"The last couple outings, he gets frustrated with himself and throws harder and harder and harder," said Bees pitching coach Doug Henry. "Today, (catcher Ryan) Eigsti and I backed him off and made him use his off-speed pitches. It did wonders for him. It made his fast ball a lot livelier.

"He was still inconsistent with it, but they were swinging at it because they had to look for the other stuff. He did a very good job out there today. It was fun to watch."

Duffy realized something had changed, but he struggled to put his finger on just what that was."I couldn't tell you. Me and Eigs were really clicking," said Duffy. "I don't know. I was pitching to contact more. I didn't strike out as many people. I've kind of got to do that. I'm starting to learn hitters' tendencies and what I need to do here."

By SUSAN DENKmailto:DENKsdenk@thehawkeye.com

Duffy's First Win a Stunner

DANNY DUFFY notched his first victory of the season Wednesday night in Burlington, Iowa.

Not only a win, but nearly a no-hitter.

Duffy, who entered the contest with an ugly ERA on the north side of eight after three so-so outings, shackled the Clinton Lumber Kings, a hard-hitting outfit affiliated with the Texas Rangers. The Kings own the best record in the Midwest League.

Duffy allowed only a single base hit over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Most impressive the Lumber Kings’ # 2, 3 and 4 hitters, who came in batting .354, .327 and .323, went a collective 0-for-11 against Duffy.

He had everybody popping up as he allowed only one ground ball out until he departed in the sixth inning due to his pitch limit. He was leading 1-0.

He got two fly-outs and a pop up sandwiched around a walk in the first inning. In the second he ran into his only difficulty. He allowed a single between two infield pops, then walked two to load the bases. He escaped damage on a fly ball to left field.

After that he cruised. He got the Kings 1-2-3 in the third on a ground out, a strikeout, and a fly ball. In the fourth he recorded a strikeout, then he plunked a batter, then got a fly out and a pop up. In the fifth it was 1-2-3 again on a fly out, pop up and fly out. In the sixth he finished with a fly out and a strikeout against the Kings’ .327 and .323 hitters.

What an evening. His ERA sank three whole points to 5.71. The stellar performance may mean that Duffy has shed his early get-acquainted butterflies.

Church is Really Baaaack

RYAN CHURCH IS BACK! After 11 games off, after a two-page color photo in Sports Illustrated of him getting pounded in Atlanta when he received a concussion, Church returned to action Sunday night as if he'd never left.

Churchie boomed a two-run home run and a double to go 3-for-4 and lift his team-leading batting average to .320 as the Mets cruised past the Dodgers 6-1.

The Take on Church Before the Game

NEW YORK -- Ryan Church can't guarantee that he won't endure any more collisions with walls, players or other outfield impediments. All he can do is hope.

"It was just a freak thing that happened," Church said of his most recent concussion. "I've got to put that behind me and not worry about it, and just be cautious about things next time."

Now, that concussion -- his second in the span of three months -- is officially in the past. Church was back in Mets manager Willie Randolph's starting lineup on Sunday night, marking the first game he's started since suffering the concussion on May 20.

He felt no ill effects from running outfield sprints on Saturday, and lasted more than the required 48 hours without any concussion symptoms. So after discussing with his doctor over the phone on Sunday morning, Church told Randolph he was set to play.

How well he plays, however, remains to be seen. Batting .309 with nine homers before the injury, Church had established himself as one of the team's most productive players -- and might resume that role, if only he can cease "running into people."

Now, the symptoms are gone, and so are most of the worries. Neither Church nor Randolph expected Sunday night's long plane ride to California to pose any problems, and they'll operate under the assumption that everything is back to status quo.

"Because our team was struggling, I really wanted to get back," Church said. "But you see guys are starting to pick it up, and hopefully I'll just feed off them and be able to continue what I'm doing."

Sunday also saw second baseman Luis Castillo return to the Mets' lineup, two days after leaving the game early with a strained left hip flexor. Of their projected Opening Day lineup, the Mets are now missing only left fielder Moises Alou.

"We're starting to look a little more like a full squad," Randolph said.
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com

The Mets appear in San Francisco Monday and Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon.