[EmpireWF]

Jose Valentin fouled a ball of his leg earlier in the game tonight in Los Angeles and left the game. The Mets announcers just got word that he fractured his right tibia.

Obviously this means he'll be out for a long time and probably the rest of the year.

Ruben Gotay will continue to get the most playing time at 2B with I presume Marlon Anderson getting a start here and there.

EDIT....Valentin had an option on his contract that for it to be picked up next year, he had to have a minimum of I think 400 at-bats. Clearly he won't reach that mark and he'll become a free-agent at the season's end. I doubt the Mets will be interested in him as he'll be another year older. So essentially, Jose Valentin's Met career is over.

[azrael492]

It may be the end of his career.

[ThePundit]

Ouch, that must have hurt....Easley will also probably get some time.

[EmpireWF]

Easley is on bereavment leave, but should return perhaps on Monday.

In the meantime, the Mets called-up Anderson Hernandez from Triple-A (you know, the guy who can't hit a lick in the big leagues...but has an amazing glove/arm).

Valentin told reporters he expects to be out until the end of September at the least. I'm sure he's hoping for an October return but I doubt it.