Reyes is backsliding

Here's a puzzler: Would a ballplayer get his uniform dirty backsliding? The same as going into a base headfirst or diving to stop a ground ball at shortstop?

More to the point: Is it fair to call Jose Reyes' offensive production, in the 17 games since he returned from the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, recidivism?

After Saturday night's game, Reyes continued to be the league leader in batting average (.337), triples (16), runs scored (80) and multihit games (50).

He stole two bases Saturday night after a fourth-inning walk, giving him 34, second best in the league.

His next triple will be the 100th in his career, making him the youngest player (currently at 28 years, 56 days) to hit that many three-baggers since Lou Gehrig (28 years, 45 days) in 1931.

But since he rejoined the Mets on July 19, back from yet another health timeout in a third straight truncated season, Reyes is hitting .260 (20-for-77), with a pair of homers and just five runs batted in. He was in a 4-for-21 slump before going 2-for-4 in last night's rain-delayed 11-7 win over the Atlanta Braves.

"Well," Mets manager Terry Collins noted, in response to a what-has-Reyes-done-lately inquiry, "he was so hot for so long, and then the two weeks that he was down, it's probably affecting him a little bit.

"He's trying to get back on track. But I've seen him have good at-bats. I've seen him work the count. The one thing he doesn't do is walk very much. He's one of those guys, when he swings the bat, he hits it. He doesn't strike out very much. There are guys that that's just the way they are."

Reyes was hitting .354 when he got hurt. Keen-eyed, always demanding bloggers have noted that he appears to have become impatient at the plate, and swinging with too much of an uppercut, resulting in a slew of fly balls and pop-ups since his return.

So his batting average, the best of Reyes' 8½-year big-league career, keeps dwindling, even as all of his non-pitching teammates -- themselves antsy at the plate the past week -- Saturday night contributed at least a hit apiece, including a four-homer barrage (two by Justin Turner and one each by Jason Bay and Josh Thole).

"That's part of the game," Reyes said. "It's not like I'm swinging the bat too bad. Just hitting the ball up in the air too much. And they're catching them."

Collins noted how several of the Mets have been "taking strikes and swinging at balls. We preach, stay with your plan. But get a ball you can handle."

For Reyes, specifically, hitting coach Dave Hudgens has targeted a recent tendency to hit balls in the air.

"We got to get Jose somewhat hot," Collins said. "More line drives, and more ground balls that he can sort of leg out."

So that all the sliding will be going forward.