Paul Lo Duca May Go Under the Knife

Washington Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday to repair a minor meniscus tear, but first he will meet with team doctors to further evaluate the injury. If an operation is needed, it will go down as planned.

The four-time All-Star, who left the New York Mets via free agency for a one-year, $5 million deal this winter, hit .272 with nine homers and 54 RBIs in 2007.

Lo Duca's recovery time is expected to reach four to six weeks, which kinda sucks when you're the Nats, who were betting on his veteran presence to replace former starter Brian Schneider, who went to the Mets last month.

Lo Duca may not be healthy in time for the February 27th Grapefruit League opener, but should be ready to roll for Washington's March 30th home opener.

Over 10 big league seasons with three different ball clubs, the 36-year-old backstop has a career average of .288 with 80 homers and 466 RBIs.

[Washington Post]

Paul Lo Duca Finalizes Deal with Nats

Paul Lo Duca and the Washington Nationals have officially agreed to a $5 million, one-year contract, mainly because he felt they were the club that wanted him the most. And it's good to feel wanted... we're looking at you, Torii Hunter.

So, instead of making a brazen statement of Jimmy Rollinsesque-caliber -- like calling the Nats the team to beat in the East -- he simply stated, "The NL East is wide open."

I'll take that.

Lo Duca, a free agent catcher who spent the last two seasons with the New York Mets, gives Washington that special presence only a veteran has to offer. The four-time All-Star, who'll turn 36 this Spring, hit .272 with nine homers and 54 RBIs last season, accompanied by an appalling .311 on-base percentage. Here's to a better year, Pauly.

[Washington Post]

Whoa Lo Duca

Paul Lo Duca went 3-for-5 with a pair of three-run bombs Tuesday night, driving in a career-high seven runs to lead the New York Mets to their fifth straight win with an 11-7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Lo Duca, who is not a home-run hitter with just 5 on the season before last night, enjoyed his last multi-homer game in 2001.

After being swept by their division foes in Philadelphia and watching their lead whittled to two games, the Mets have rolled to their longest winning streak of the season.

They've has racked up 46 runs -- reaching double-digits three times -- over their last six games to regain control of the division.

"It's amazing. Unbelievable," gushed the Mets backstop. "I'm really proud of this team, especially with what happened in Philadelphia. To play the way we have these last five days is huge."

[Mets Merized]

Alomar Cut, Lo Duca Returns

The New York Mets designated replacement catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. for assignment Sunday after their 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The club will activate catcher Paul Lo Duca on Monday, as he's eligible to come off the disabled list after straining his right hamstring earlier this month.

Alomar -- veteran presence aside -- hit just .158 in six games with the Mets. He could rejoin the team when he's eligible to return in September, with big league rosters expanding Saturday.

Lo Duca was batting .267 with 5 homers and 32 RBIs before landing on the DL.

[ESPN]

Paul Lo Duca Heads to the DL

The New York Mets have placed Paul Lo Duca on the disabled list after the catcher worked up his right hamstring injury he suffered in late July, running out a grounder in the fourth inning of Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Florida Marlins.

Lo Duca missed six games initially because of the injury, but returned just in time to catch Tom Glavine's 300th win last Sunday.

Lo Duca, 35, is batting .267 with five homers and 32 RBI in 89 games.

Related, the Mets are expected to recall catcher Mike DiFelice from the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs. DiFelice, even older than LoDuca at 38, is hitting .282 with seven minor league longballs and 38 RBIs this season.

[NY Post]