said. "Im the one throwing the baseball. I havent ha

NEW YORK -- The next phase in New York Mets ace Matt Harveys rehabilitation from elbow reconstruction surgery is being pushed back, and the All-Star right-hander is becoming more realistic about his chances of pitching in the major leagues this year. Harvey was supposed to throw off a slope for the first time Tuesday but he was told last week while working out at the Mets complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida, that the plan was being scrapped. "A little surprised," Harvey said before the Mets played the Milwaukee Brewers. "We kind of had that plan written up for quite some time and to hear four or five days before Im making a milestone is a little disappointing." New York general manager Sandy Alderson said there is nothing wrong with Harvey. In fact the 25-year-olds recovery might have been going too well. "I think the realization that as we transition from long tossing to throwing off a slope that we were moving sort of inexorably to a conclusion that we wanted to avoid, which is pitching too soon," Alderson said. "After talking with our doctors it made sense to slow him down a little bit." In a season in which Tommy John surgery has become a near epidemic -- 22 pitchers had the operation so far, according to data provided from STATS via writer Jon Roegele -- the Mets are basing their timetable for Harveys return on a growing amount of data that shows pitchers have more success if they dont return before 11 months from the date of surgery. Harvey had his operation on Oct. 22. "Thats about the last week in September," Alderson said of the target date. "Thats a very narrow window to try to hit from our standpoint." Manager Terry Collins, who was given a vote of confidence from Alderson with the Mets on a six-game skid, said he wouldnt expect Harvey to pitch for New York in the final week of the season unless the team was in contention. Harvey had been set on returning this season but understands the decision is out of his hands. "I think Im coming to realize that I cant write myself in the lineup is becoming more realistic," Harvey said. "Im the one throwing the baseball. I havent had one pinch of pain. I can only express how good I feel and how ready I personally feel." Harvey will continue to long toss from 120 feet -- sometimes 150 -- and throw off flat ground for the time being. Alderson said a new plan has not yet been finalized. Alderson, meanwhile, met with Collins after the team returned from an 11-game road trip a season-high seven games under .500 at 28-35 because he felt there was too much talk about Collins status in the media. 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Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mark Lazerus spoke to Comcast Sportsnet and recalled last seasons acquisition of Michal Handzus and said, "I think just like last year (GM Stan Bowman will) be in the market for a center. I dont know if it will be quote-unquote a second-line center, but they do need some depth down at the middle," Lazerus told CSNs Pat Boyle. Lazerus said that the Blackhawks are currently carrying a surplus of defencemen and could use one potentially as trade bait. Bigger in Texas Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill spoke to Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News and discussed his teams ability, if they choose, to trade draft picks for rosterr players because the team has the cap space to allow such a deal.dddddddddddd Nill would not get into player specifics, but Heika suggested in his article that pending unrestricted free agents Vernon Fiddler and Ray Whitney could be desirable to other clubs. Heika also noted that Sergei Gonchar, Erik Cole, and Shawn Horcoff each have one year left on their deals and with a rising salary cap, their manageable costs might be attractive to teams as well. Leaky Pipes The Minnesota Wild are struggling with injuries to both of their goalies, Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding. Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has talked trade with some teams, but the market is drying up with Devan Dubnyk and Ben Scrivens now off the board after they were moved last week. Russo says the team has talked internally about signing free agent Jose Theodore in case they need some insurance. Theodore is living in South Florida and has been working out throughout the season just in case a call comes. ' ' '