Niese injury new question, but Ollie not answer

MIAMI - After moving Oliver Perez to the bullpen Friday, the Mets had yet to announce his replacement before yesterday's series finale against the Marlins. By the third inning, they also needed a replacement for Jon Niese, and it now appears that Jerry Manuel must find fill-ins for two spots in his fractured rotation.

Niese suffered what the team described as an "aggravated" right proximal hamstring while fielding a bunt by Gaby Sanchez with none out in the third inning. While he showed no visible signs of injury on the play, which resulted in Niese's overthrow of first base for an error, the Mets' No. 3 starter called for the trainer after his very next pitch to Hanley Ramirez.

"Right before I got to the ball, I landed on my right leg really hard," Niese said. "On my first pitch to Hanley, I felt a sharp pain where I had it last year. It was kind of scary. I didn't want to take any chances after that."

Niese was talking about his season-ending surgery to fix a tear to that same hamstring Aug. 6. He did return faster than expected this year and had not experienced any problems before yesterday's discomfort.

Given his medical history, however, the Mets chose not to gamble with him. Last season, Niese collapsed on the mound after throwing a warmup pitch to test the leg, and the Mets weren't about to let him do that again.

"When it's close to where he did it last time, you're somewhat concerned," Manuel said. "We obviously have to be very, very careful with that. So there's a level of concern in how long this is going to be."

Manuel did not immediately write off Niese for his next scheduled start, which is Friday against the Yankees, but it looks unlikely. He headed back to New York last night for more tests Monday. Niese was not limping in the clubhouse and said the leg was sore after the pain subsided.

"I don't think anything happened to it," Niese said. "I don't want to miss a start."

Compounding the problem is that the Mets had to use Hisanori Takahashi, who was supposed to replace Perez for Wednesday's start in D.C. against the Nationals. Takahashi threw 59 pitches, so he's out for Wednesday, but he now is in line to take Niese's start Friday if necessary. As for Wednesday, the Mets could call up either R.A. Dickey or Tobi Stoner from Triple-A Buffalo. The only thing Manuel would say for certain is that Perez is not a candidate.

"I haven't really thought about it, but I don't see us going in that direction once we have decided to put a guy in the bullpen," Manuel said. "I don't see that being an option right now."