El Duque is Iffy For the Playoffs (and the Playoffs Are Fairly Iffy Too)

As if having their division lead shrink from seven games to a mere game and a half in the span of a week isn't bad enough for the Mets, it looks like their money pitcher ... the one they got for all of his playoff experience ... is "iffy" for October.

That immobilizing boot that Orlando Hernandez has on his right foot is apparently going to be there for a while and the pitcher may not be available if the Mets reach the postseason. El Duque, who was diagnosed with a bunion and a bit of tendinitis during an examination of his foot on Monday in New York, is scheduled to remain in the boot for a week to 10 days. He'll be allowed to work out while wearing the boot -- ride a stationary bike, play catch, lift weights. What he can't do, however, is much more significant than what he can. With the boot on, El Duque will be unable to run or throw off a mound.

"I'm not happy," Hernandez said. "I have no answers. Maybe after seven days I'll have a little answer."

Of course, in seven days the Mets may not be in a playoff spot anyway so this could all be moot. It is ironic that Hernandez, who the Mets got to pitch in big games ... especially big playoff games ... may not ever pitch in a playoff game for the Mets. He missed last year's postseason after injuring his foot while running just before the playoffs even started. And now, if there is a postseason for the Mets in 2007, there's every possibility he could miss that too.

(The good news is that the immobilizing boot will prevent him from injuring himself while running again.)