As Joel Sherman points out in his post for the New York Post, it has been 14 months since the Mets featured both Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes in the same lineup.
Last night, at least for 30 minutes, it appeared that streak was over, although I was very surprised to see Reyes’ name in the original lineup to begin with.
With the Mets recent troubles, it seems like it’s been a millenium since both Reyes and Angel Pagan were terrorizing the opposition with their dynamic 1-2 punch. First it was Pagan who needed to rest an injury to his side, and the Mets afforded him an opportunity to do so.
I think this is what puzzles me the most about the situation with Reyes. He has an injury to his oblique muscle which can only heal with rest. If the Mets were willing to rest Pagan for a muscle strain, why would they even consider having Reyes out there when his abilities are limited to begin with?
I understand the value of having Reyes on the field. I think we all do. We watched this team after he blew out his hamstring last year through the point it took Reyes to get going on all cylinders this year, and saying their offense was bad is probably a gross understatement. He is clearly the piece of the puzzle that makes this offense click, but if that’s the case, the Mets should do whatever it takes to protect that piece, and I just don’t think they have acted in his, or their own best interest, once again.
What’s worse: Having Reyes on the disabled list for two to three weeks, completely shutdown, or the situation we have now, where Reyes has played injured and in a limited capacity, has re-aggravated the injury to the point he cannot even lightly swing a bat without pain, and further delay his return by not having the ability to at least retroactive his injury to June 30, when this all initially took place? After all, its been 15 days since he hurt himself, and if what I consider to be the right thing was done, Reyes, and the Mets might be past this problem now, and that “A” lineup might actually be featured tonight.
Reyes and the Mets continue to downplay the injury, as both say it’s better, but until he is on the field with the ability to hit from both sides of the plate and run the bases as gracefully as the Reyes we all have come to know and appreciate, I just cannot believe either party, given the unpleasant memories I have from last season.
