Angel Pagan and El Duque Expected To Return After The All Star Break

The Mets are getting better... The Mets are getting healthier... The Mets are getting stronger...The outlook for the Mets couldn't be any better right now. Despite the recent turn-around and the seven game winning streak, they will be able to strengthen the team further immediately after the break. The Mets are set to activate Angel Pagan as soon as Thursday and El Duque should be back by the end of July to bolster the bullpen.Adam Rubin of the Daily News reports...Angel Pagan and Orlando Hernandez played for Single-A St. Lucie Friday night, but there's a need for only one of those rehabbing players on the Mets' major-league roster.Pagan, who banged his left shoulder tumbling into the Dodger Stadium stands in May, finally is batting from the right side, which had troubled him. He was 0-for-4 with a walk and scored a run in St. Lucie's 8-5, 10-inning loss to Dunedin. He's expected to rejoin the Mets in Cincinnati as soon as Thursday, after the All-Star break. El Duque, who has reverted to his high leg kick, is working as a starter in minor-league outings, but the Mets plan to use him as a reliever once he's ready because of the strength of their rotation. With no urgency, Hernandez - whose bunion remains on his right big toe - may have at least two more starts in the minors. His fastball was regularly hitting 83-84mph and topped out at 86 mph last night against Dunedin. Hernandez allowed just three hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 5-2/3 innings. Once Ryan Church comes off the DL as we reported earlier today, the Mets will be at full strength in the outfield. 1. Beltran, 2. Church, 3. Tatis, 4. Chavez, 5. Pagan As I said in another post, I would be perfectly happy going to battle with those five in the outfield. In 2000 we went to the World Series with an outfield array of Jay Payton, Benny Agbayani, Timo Perez, Jason Tyner and Derek Bell. more...