Former Met Paul Lo Duca has been activated from the DL by the Nats. Paulie has been on the DL since the 18th, after getting hit by a pitch. He takes the spot of Chad Cordero , who as mentioned yesterday will be out at least four weeks.

In Yankee land, the AP reports that while Jorge Posada will not require surgery, he’ll miss a minimum of five weeks with a shoulder injury. Its his first trip to the DL in his career.

Still no word yet from the AZ on if the Mets will option Gustavo Molina or DL Brian Schneider . Schneider says he is ready if needed as a backup, as mentioned…everywhere…earlier. However, due to his recent finger infection, he could only catch in an emergency situation. Since he has not played yet this week, a trip to the DL would only result in his loss for another six days.

Remember Jose Valentin?

According to Adam Rubin, Stache has been cleared to resume partaking in baseball related activities. According to his blog, he’ll be limited to long toss and hitting off a tee for now.

This actually surprises me. I kind of assumed Stache gave up and retired. We really haven’t heard that much from him, which is why I jumped to the conclusion. Last I recall, he was saying that he’d retire before spending a half season rehabbing, especially since even post rehab he might not be able to get a roster spot.

Perhaps the Mets should just buy a MRI machine at this point. According to John Delcos , Moises Alou is headed back to NY for a MRI after a CAT scan indicated a problem in the ankle he tweaked earlier this weekend. So hopefully Angel Pagan isn’t staying in a hotel, because he’s going to be here for awhile longer. Chances are we won’t be hearing any results till Tuesday.

Of the three injured Old Timers, I think chances are Pedro is the only one who’ll have a Met uniform on by the All Star Break. If as Delcos indicated, Alou does have a fracture, could we even rule out this being it? At some point if you fracture something playing in low A ball while recovering from hernia surgery, the light at the end of the baseball tunnel has to be getting close. We keep hearing that Alou’s return could be a catalyst, and its just a question of when, but sooner or later the return will not be questioned as a when but an if.

According to Adam Rubin, Moises Alou is looking likely for the upcoming Braves series. He went 2 for 7 and played 7 innings in left in his most recent extended spring training game.

I’m officially restarting the Moises Alou injury pool, and saying…the Pirates series.

Ramon Castro caught four innings and went 2 for 3.

For those who have forgotten, Ramon Castro is our backup catcher, and bears a vague resemeblence to Shrek, except he isn’t green. Well, he isn’t usually green.

Orlando Hernendez, still wearing a boot. Over/under on his return is set at: never.

The Washington Nationals have placed Paul Lo Duca on the DL, retroactive to the 14th.  Paulie was hit by a pitch in the hand in the Nats/Braves series last weekend, while facing Jeff Bennett. This follows Lo Duca’s preseason struggles with injury, and in his 12 games this season he’s hitting just .200 with 4 RBIs. He does have 3 doubles, putting him on pace to easily pass last seasons single filled 18.

Remember Ramon Castro? Well you won’t, cause he’ll be out awhile longer. Rumor is, he reinjured himself performing a stunt for the upcoming Shrek 4. Was shut down after running earlier today.

Moises Alou? Still not even playing in the minor leagues. So..awhile. He did go 1 for 4 in a extended rehab game. Possible to be in A level ball soon.

Is Jose Valentin even still with the organization? Did he retire? Is he hurt? I kind of forgot about him.

Pedro Martinez is hard at work in the Dominican. He says he’ll be back in May. Omar says June. So at the very least, his boasting and quote giving ability is back at All Star level.

And as always, finally El Duque. Still wearing a boot.  So enjoy Nelson for awhile longer, its a good story and as long as it remains so, the quiet El Duque retirement press release will be painless a month or two from now.

Tom Glavine left today’s Brave game without having recorded an out.  He appears to have suffered a hamstring injury. He faced four Nat’s batters, giving up 3 hits and a walk before the injury sidelined him. It joins an occasion in 89 and The Game That Shalt Not Be Mentioned as one of his shortest outings of his career.Glavine entered todays game with a 0.79 ERA and a 0-0 record over two starts. He’s given up just one earned run and ten hits.

Orlando Hernandez, known in some circles as El Duque, is sporting some hot boots of the medical variety after spraining a tendon. This may or may not have to with his new and already discarded delivery, his crazy high kick delivery, his bunion, his previous foot related injuries, or a taxi cab accident.

So whatever number we were given on Duq’s return, lets add a good month. Minimum. Realistically, two.  

Matthew Cerrone at Mets Blog reports that Orlando Hernandez was sent to New York for an MRI after complaining of pain in his foot.

Can Elias tell me if anyone ever retired from a bunion? Thats a hell of a way to end a career although it would be fitting for the anonymously aged El Duque.

Apparently there are no MRI machines in Florida.