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by **Rirruto** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:33 am

My head will literally explode if this is true.

Lima Time apparently is back.

The Daily News has learned that Jose Lima is expected to rejoin the Mets from Triple-A Norfolk, capping a flurry of moves involving the pitching staff. Yesterday began with the Mets demoting Alay Soler to Norfolk, creating as many as three starting pitching vacancies for this weekend's series against the Marlins.

It's unclear whether Lima is temporary insurance for a bullpen that's tossed 9-2/3 innings over the past two days, or a weekend starting option, or both.

Soler allowed eight runs in 2-2/3 innings Sunday against the Yankees, lifting his ERA to 6.00 over eight starts. The Cuban defector has been nursing a right-calf injury, which he said explained his inability to cover first on Jason Giambi's grounder to Julio Franco. Soler wanted to go on the DL, but a team doctor sided with the Mets. Soler said he had been getting treatment from trainer Ray Ramirez for the injury, which prevented him from running between starts, but GM Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph professed no knowledge of this. "I was thinking about the calf instead of making pitches," Soler said through an interpreter.

Soler was next scheduled to start Friday, the same day Mike Pelfrey has been lined up to pitch for Double-A Binghamton. Team brass is strongly considering having the 2005 first-round pick make his major-league debut in Soler's slot, with long reliever Darren Oliver the alternative - that is until the late Lima revelation. If Pedro Martinez (inflamed hip) is unable to return for a doubleheader the following day, Pelfrey seemed all but assured of starting Friday or Saturday, with John Maine and Oliver starting the other games - though it's could be Maine and Lima now. Martinez would go on the DL if he can't make a weekend start since he'd likely be held back until after the All-Star break.

A Mets official said he didn't believe any trades were foreseeable.