Mets manager Willie Randolph stated that the team has yet to pick a pitcher to make the start against Washington on Wednesday and that they’ll probably call up a minor leaguer.

Among the options include Brian Stokes, Adam Bostick, Tony Armas Jr. and Claudio Vargas.

Stokes pitched on Friday, which would put him in line to make a Wednesday start. He has been very up and down in his last few starts. In his May 4th start, he couldn’t make it through two batters, giving up six earned runs. His start this past Friday was much better, with Stokes going 8.1 innings, giving up just four hits and one earned run for the 3-1 win.

Bostick is 2-1 with a 3.89 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched (8 starts).

Armas Jr. is 1-3 in seven starts with a 3.02 ERA in 28 strikeouts. Armas last pitched last Tuesday, going six innings and giving up three earned runs.

Finally, Claudio Vargas, who signed on with the team just over one month ago, is 1-1 in two starts with a 4.91 ERA for the Zephyrs. Vargas last pitched Thursday, May 8th.

In a recent article on MLB.com, Adam McCalvy notes that four teams have made offers for Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Derrick Turnbow, who was recently cut by the team The Mets were not one of the teams despite recent reports.

Failing to find equal value in a trade, the Brewers have placed him on irrevocable waivers in an effort to get him to the minors.

What could the Brewers really be asking in return for Turnbow? Since 2005, he has fallen off the face of the earth with a 6.15 ERA in 130.2 innings pitched. I think I’ll pass on Turnbow. While Jorge Sosa and Aaron Heilman have had a shaky start, I’d rather save the trading chips that the Mets still have for a more valuable need and not a gamble llike Turnbow.

Former Mets, now Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca is set to miss 4-6 weeks with a fracture in the fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand.

Lo Duca, 36, signed a one-year deal worth $5 million with Nationals in the offseason. He had surgery in January to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee and had a previous injury with his right hand that put him on the shelf for a few weeks earlier in the season.

I can’t say that I’m not happy with Brian Schneider, but the one thing that I think a lot of Mets fans loved about Lo Duca was the fire. It seems as if the Mets have lost that or are at least not showing it. The Mets have to show emotion. I’m not sure if it’s Willie Randolph that is stopping them or what, but I think the fans are looking for the emotion from 2006 and early 2007 to some extent.

In a recent column for SI.com, Jon Heyman names seven general managers who could be on the hot seat. Brian Sabean of the Giants, Bill Bavasi of the Mariners, Ned Colletti of the Dodgers, Jon Daniels of the Rangers, Jim Bowden of the Nationals, J.P. Ricciardi of the Blue Jays, and finally checking in at number seven, Mets general manager Omar Minaya.

“There’s pressure on every Mets decision maker after their epic implosion last year. Some recent moves haven’t worked, including the trade that sent Heath Bell to San Diego and another that moved Brian Bannister to Kansas City for Ambiorix Burgos. He also never should have replaced professional hitting coach Rick Down with Rickey Henderson, who mostly played cards as a coach. Although generally, the Mets have improved during Minaya’s tenure, thanks to some big-ticket signings, especially the importing of Carlos Beltran, to go a long with homegrown stars David Wright and Jose Reyes. Minaya also has an excellent relationship with the team-owning Wilpons, which can’t hurt.”

I seem to think Omar has at least one or two more seasons with this team after 2008 before they would even think about making a change at the position.

Erin Calabrese and Perry Chiaramonte of the New York Post are reporting that a 36-year old Mets fan named Antonio Narainasami was leaving Shea Stadium last night and lost his balance while descending an escalator and fell two stories to his death, as his two daughters watched it happen.

His cousin, Kevin Prashad, who was there, said Narainasami had been walking down the escalator, which was turned off.

The Mets have released a statement on the tragedy…

“We have been advised of a tragic accident that resulted in the death of a fan attending tonight’s game. The Mets, the City Parks Department and the New York Police Department are investigating the incident. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to the fan’s family.”