The Mets got some good news today on the eve of the All Star break regarding shortstop Jose Reyes and first baseman Carlos Delgado.
According to several reports, both Delgado and Reyes worked out before Sunday’s game against the Reds and by all accounts everyone was all smiles.
They both participated in agility drills on the field, but then Delgado got his first batting practice swings since undergoing right hip surgery in May. He is expected to take the field on Tuesday for some more batting practice against live pitching and is heading to St. Lucie on Monday..
“I was able to go over there and crank it up a little more,” Delgado said. “It felt good, so we’re very happy about that.”
Nobody has set a timetable for his return, but this is great news and a sign that Delgado may be closer than the August return that was first expected. Delgado’s return could make a huge impact in the second half as the Mets try to get on track and begin to chase down the first place Phillies.
As for Reyes, he will also head to St. Lucie for more rehab and workouts as he gets set for the possibility of playing in some rehab games and begin to get ready for a possible return in late July.
The Mets have been careful not to rush either of them this time, As I mentioned above, no timetables have been set for their returns yet, but there was no hiding the fact the the players, coaches and observers were all very elated with today’s workouts.
Maybe I’m getting a little bit ahead of myself, but I can’t wait to see this lineup card hanging on the clubhouse wall again:
- Jose Reyes – SS
- David Wright – 3B (Yes, Wright should be batting second!)
- Carlos Beltran – CF
- Carlos Delgado – 1B
- Jeff Francoeur – RF
- Gary Sheffield – LF
- Brian Schneider / Omir Santos – C
- Luis Castillo – 2B
Even though I still wish we had a lefthanded platoon partner for Sheffield in leftfield, I have no problems pitting this lineup against any other lineup in the National League.
If we can stay in the pack for two more weeks and get Beltran, Reyes and Delgado back, we could hang on to our prospects and hold off on a trade for another big bat.
Who’s ready for a big second half? I know I am…
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
I’m looking forward to their return.
I hope we get the Jerry’s Carlos Delgado, not Willie’s Carlos Delgado.
Will Delgado cooperate if a late inning defensive replacement goes to play first base??? Probably so as this is a contract-inducing year.
Nobody on the Mets plays 1B better than Delgado so you can’t have any late inning defensive replacement lol
With all due respect for Carlos Delgado, he is at best a mediocre first baseman. He is relatively immobile and is slow to react to errant throws.
But he wields a great bat against righty pitchers and, occasionally against lefties when they don’t throw sneaky sliders and he is willing to go to the opposite field.
There was a time a few years ago, when Delgado was more mobile than today, that Shawn Green was being considered as a late inning defensive replacement. Now that really is a measure of what Delgado is defensively.
I also remember cringing when the Mets had Shawn Green in right field, Carlos Delgado at first base, and Ruben Gotay at second. Now there was a defensively challenged team.
Wow, Joe! That is great news! I got giddy when I saw your possible lineup card. That top six in your order has a lot of hits in it! Hey, if the Philthies could come back from a 7 game deficit with 17 games left, why can’t the Mets come back from a 6½ game deficit with 75 games left? I’m sure Philthy phans will be pheeling the heat from our Metsies once that lineup card becomes reality! If our starters can get healthy and pitch with more consistency, that will complement our offense perfectly if we’re going to make a run in the East.
I wish I was as enthusiastic as you, but until these guys are actually back and in the lineup we cant take anything for granted. We need to make a trade for a 30 homer guy.
Hey,Mookie,there’s nothing to trade. Do you think a package of Murphy and Parnell is oing to gey you a 30 hr, guy?
Yeah…but when? And what if they don’t? What about Beltran? Any news on him? this a sub 400 team without these guys and probably only a 500 team with just two of them!
I agree that getting Reyes and Delgado and Beltran back would be like “a trade without giving up anyone”, but when everyone comes back, our area of concern will still be starting pitching.
Also, we can’t afford to be 10 games out by the time they get back, because we can’t assume the Phillies will go on another big losing stretch.
made me smile as much as taking the series against cinci. to all the world’s pessimists. it’s a long season. we’re down but not out. but as far as the lineup goes, french before sheff? dont forget a wags, putz bullpen return and maine.
Joe if all those guys were back in 2 weeks than I’m with ya
How does Jose Reyes go from “…I felt a shooting pain down the back of my leg” last week when he attempted to complete drills to being able to compete in Florida rehab games? It doesn’t make sense! I know Reyes had another cortisone shot last week. What’s the diagnosis with Reyes? Won’t the cortisone just take down the swelling around the area of his injury without actually healing? If Reyes needs surgery I’m all for him having the surgery now and rehabing instead of masking the pain so that he can play this year only to have the injury reoccur.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
GREAT NEWS! WHAT ABOUT MIA #3, BELTRAN? REGARDLESS I BELIEVE THE OUTCOME IN THE NL EAST DIVISION HINGES ON THE FINAL DESTINATION OF PLAYERS OFFLOADED BY JAYS. IF PHL, PACK IT IN,; BUT DUE TO LITTLE NOISE, I BELIEVE OMAR’S CONTEMPLATING PLAYING IN THIS GAME, WITH WHAT? U MAY ASK. IF I WERE OMAR, MY BEST PKG TO JAYS WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING:
FROM NYM: PELFREY,MUNIZ,KUNZ,F-MART,NIESE,FLORES,MURPHY, TBD*
*TBD+ THEIR CHOICE BETWEEN WAGNER OR PUTZ AFTER BOTH HAVE ‘AUDITIONED’ IN AUGUST. BOTH HAVE $8M CLUB OPTIONS FOR 2010 & ARE NOT ‘RENTALS’ 8M IS REASONABLE FOR ALL-STAR CALIBER CLOSER WHICH TORONTO NEEDS AFTER RYAN RELEASE
FROM TORONTO: HALLADAY+RIOS
I’D CERTAINLY THINK A ROTATION WITH SAINTANA, HALLADY, PEREZ, MAINE,NIEVES
SUPPORTED BY AN OUTFIELD OF RIOS(28), BELTRAN(32) & FRANCOUER(25)(PLENTY OF DEF SPEED TO COVER CITI EXPANSE) WILL CLOSE GROUND ON PHL RATHER QUICKLY.
WHILE, I’M CERTAINLY INCLUDING THE MOST DEVELOPED PROSPECTS I’M CERTAINLY KEEPING THE BULK OF OUR MOST TALENTED(A-BALLERS) READY FOR FLUSHING.
THE BEAUTY OF ALL THIS IS THAT RIOS’ CONTRACT IS MOSTLY NEGATED BY A CHOICE OF PUTZ & HALLADAY’S CONTRACT BY COMBING THE ENTIRE PKG WITH A WAGNER INCLUSION MAKING THE NET EFFECT ON ‘09 PAYROLL STILL UNDER LUXURY LINE.
WHAT DO U GUYS THINK? OMAR’D HAVE TO FLOAT IT EARLY ENOUGH SO IF JP IS INTERESTED HE DOESN’T ACT RASHLY BEFORE DEADLINE. A RIOS INCLUSION GIVES SHEFF HIS ORIGINAL JOB DESCRIPTION BACK AS PHer & LATE BENCH THREAT.
I like that idea!
Nope on that trade for Halliday, you have to sign him first and he might just want to explore the off season. If you are giving up all that talent, esp Niese and Pelfrey, pitching is hard to come by especially in your own system, then you better make sure he signed for a long time cause the rental is not worth the price.
That is a lot to give up for a mid 30’s pitcher. Remember that if Phillies get him that he will have to pitch at CBP plus he will have to hit which will cut down on all those complete games and add to wear and tear on him.
Phillies cannot win with just Halliday, a questionable Hamel, a forty plus lefty, a rookie, oops he went in the trade and who else is in that rotation?
I feel of all the guys coming back that Reyes is the one we need to take our time with cause his leg problems from early in his career are not worth re-visiting again. Mets need to let him, make him, progress slowly and not push him cause for now, we have Pagan at the top. Not a permanent solution but a good temp fill in.
Hey Joe, Sheff should be hitting ahead of Francouer cause of his K’s and Wright should be hitting 3rd and Beltran 2nd. IMO
Great Article and something to think about over the next 3 days. LGM!
I disagree about Beltran hitting second only because he is probably our number two guy in the homerun power department after Delgado, and he would be more productive hitting with a few on-base type hitters ahead of him like Wright who leads the team in OBP. Also, Sheffield has a higher strikeout rate than Francoeur.
Loving the line-up card- Great article!
I would have to agree totally on Wright batting 2nd. hes not hitting for power and getting a lot of base hits. hes a good enough hitter in which he will help reyes move to second if he gets on but if not he can get on himself and steal a base. it would work out nicely but if he starts hitting more homers then you can slide him back down to the fifth spot and put castillo there. hes been doing a good job all season of being patient and getting on base.
[...] Some good injury news, for a change. John Maine threw a side session and Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes are starting to practice a little. [...]
yesterday sure was a good day for good Met-related news. I am so glad to hear something about them finally and good news at that. This is encouraging. I hope to see them in uniform again soon!
Getting them back soon is great, but let’s be real. The Headline was missing one important word, a “Healthy” return is better then a blockbuster trade. These guys can come back and stink up the yard just as easily as they can play great, check that there is a better chance they will stink up the yard.
I love your page and I will keep on subscribing