Written by Mike Vorkunov at USA Today.com
Terry Collins rifled off answers Wednesday afternoon in a post game press conference with nonchalance. By now, the Mets manager has become accustomed to dealing with crises. At this point, the Mets are less a baseball team than a boutique infirmary. They’ve been beset by injuries, ranging in significance, to more than half of their Opening Day lineup.
This day was no different. Yoenis Cespedes had suffered a wrist injury in their 4-3 win over the Royals, adding another log to the pile. But as he sat atop a podium in the bowels of Citi Field, Collins turned squeamish as a public relations official reminded him to divulge one more blow. And this one, perhaps more than any other, hurts.
Noah Syndergaard, the Mets’ 23-year-old flamethrower, left the game after six innings because of discomfort in his right elbow. By the time Collins announced his injury, Syndergaard was already on his way to visit with team doctor David Altchek and was joined by Cespedes as the Mets packed for their trip to Atlanta. Even a two-game sweep of the Royals could not dilute the position the club now finds itself in.
As they try to stay hold steady amidst a flood of breaks and bruises and strains, and keep up with Washington in the National League East, they now must deal with uncertainty about their ace.
“It’s not that much fun,” Collins said. “I’d rather have a normal day once in a while.”
This is the second time Syndergaard has complained of elbow issues this season. He went for an MRI last month and felt the same symptoms Wednesday that troubled him the first time around. It’s also at least the fourth time in the last two years that the towering right-handler has been burdened by elbow woes.
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