Manuel to monitor Mets' Wright for fatigue
Mets manager Jerry Manuel will monitor David Wright's fatigue level and give him a day off after Tuesday's doubleheader if he needs it. (Apr. 25, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
Jerry Manuel likes to play his All-Stars at home. But David Wright could be absent from tomorrow's starting lineup if the manager doesn't like what he sees from his third baseman during today's doubleheader.
Wright is batting .182 (4-for-22) with 10 strikeouts on the homestand and is hitting .222 overall (14-for-63) with a team-leading 24 strikeouts. Before yesterday's game was rained out, Manuel suggested that he could sit Wright for tomorrow's series finale with the thought of giving him an extended break with Thursday's off day.
"I've spoken with David and I don't see right now where it's an issue of fatigue," Manuel said. "As long as he feels fresh, then we'll continue to play him. But we'll have to watch these next couple of days."
Reyes to remain at No. 3
Jose Reyes was scheduled to make his fourth consecutive start in the No. 3 hole in the Mets' lineup Monday. Still, the question remains: How long is Reyes expected to stay there?
The shortstop is not treating it like a permanent switch and is trying to make the best of it.
"It's nothing different," Reyes said. "I don't know about later, but right now, it's nothing different for me."
Reyes was 3-for-9 with a double, triple and three runs scored from his new spot in the lineup during the weekend series against the Braves but doesn't have any RBIs yet.
The thinking is that he will remain at No. 3 until Carlos Beltran's return, whenever that may be.
"My feeling is that if he can have some success in the role, and we happen to find a replacement, and he can go back to leading off," Manuel said. "I think we get a better player because of the fact that I think he's able to understand the dynamics of driving in runs."
Extra bases
Johan Santana will start Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda - first pitch 4:10 p.m. - followed by Oliver Perez against knuckleballer Charlie Haeger in Game 2. John Maine will start tomorrow afternoon as scheduled . . . Only tickets marked "Tuesday, April 27 - Game 15" will be valid for admission to both games. Tickets from yesterday's rainout will not be honored for the doubleheader but can be exchanged Tuesdayat Citi Field . . . Mets minor leaguer Angel Calero was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug under the minor-league program. Calero, a pitcher for Class A St. Lucie of the Florida State League, tested positive for metabolites of Nandrolone.
