ntinued to play, he estimated he wouldve been at 60 percent. Or, as

NEW YORK -- Mets second baseman Neil Walker will miss the rest of the season because of surgery for a herniated disk in his back, the latest in a series of severe injuries to strike the defending NL champions this year.Walker made the announcement Thursday before the wild-card contenders played Miami.It just wasnt getting better, he said.Had he continued to play, he estimated he wouldve been at 60 percent. Or, as New York manager Terry Collins said Walker told him Wednesday night, Not sure I can help.Minus Walker, the Mets will use Wilmer Flores and Kelly Johnson at second base. A recent push moved the Mets within 1 1/2 games of St. Louis for the second NL wild-card spot.Walker has been a steady presence in his first season with the Mets, tying a career high with 23 home runs while batting .282 with 55 RBI. Collins often has praised Walker for his production on the field and his leadership qualities in the clubhouse.Walk gave it his best effort, Collins said, later adding, Neils played absolutely great.The switch-hitter, who turns 31 this month, said the success rate for his type of surgery is very high and that the recovery period is three months. He said he expects to be able to continue his career at a fine level after the procedure.No date has yet been set for the surgery.Traded over from Pittsburgh in the offseason, Walker proved to be more than a capable replacement for playoff star Daniel Murphy, who became a free agent and has produced MVP-caliber numbers for NL East-leading Washington.Walker joined third baseman David Wright, first baseman Lucas Duda, ace Matt Harvey and other Mets to be struck by significant injuries this year. Slugger Yoenis Cespedes, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and several of the clubs young pitchers also have missed time.Though the Mets have adjusted to a shifting roster, Walkers absence leaves a big piece missing, Collins said.Walker had been trying to rest his ailing back lately, playing a few games and then taking time off. He had played just four times in the last two weeks, which included a brief stay on the paternity list.Even so, Walker said doctors told him his condition wasnt improving that way.Walker said he felt OK to swing, but that it was the other things -- diving for balls, sliding, trying to break up double plays -- that had become extremely difficult. He said the back problem has left him unable to have feeling in his toe.No one thing caused him the trouble, he said. Instead, the cause was the culmination of the wear and tear of baseball.Ive played through this for four years, he said.Walker is eligible for free agency after this season ends. He said that aspect of his future didnt enter into his decision, saying it was the farthest thing from my mind.Said Collins: I sure hope we get the opportunity to get him back. Air Force 1 Baratas España . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Comprar Air Force 1 Baratas . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. http://www.airforce1baratas.es/ . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Air Force 1 Rebajas . JOHNS, N. Air Force 1 Baratas . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes.Greece is facing a FIFA ban over a government decision to suspend the countrys major club cup competition because of fan violence. Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis called off the Greek Cup last month following violence at the semi-final between PAOK and league champion Olympiakos; PAOK fans threw flares and clashed with riot police on the field.In a letter to Kontonis on Tuesday, FIFA described the action as disproportionate and as interference in the internal affairs of the Greek football association, and issued a 10-day deadline to reverse the decision.A suspension would see Greeces national teams, clubs and referees left out of all international competitions.Less stringent or more appropriate measures, such as matches without spectators or international refereeing for the remaining games of the Greek Cup could have been implemented, the letter said.The issue has been complicated by a legal challenge launched against the government by the Greek FA, which had been due to be heard at a high court Tuesdaay.dddddddddddd. The hearing was postponed until April 19 because of a lawyers strike.Greeces 15-month-old left-wing government says it is determined to clean up what it describes as decades of corruption and violence in Greek football a message Kontonis conveyed to a FIFA delegation which visited Athens last week. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (L) has vowed to clean up football in the country After that visit, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met his sports minister and said in a post on Twitter: I asked him not to take one step backward. Everyone must accept the cleanup (of Greek football) or face the consequences.Greece, winners of the European champinships in 2004, failed to qualify for this summers tournament in France, finishing bottom of their qualifying section which was won by Northern Ireland. ' ' '