Reyes is back, Mets gets going

Reyes is back, Mets gets going
Photo by C. Gottlieb

As soon as infielder Jose Reyes returned to the line-up the New York Mets got going.

Reyes got back into the starting line-up in the last game of a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates and helped the Mets get out of a brief slump with his offense and defense. The Mets had placed him on the bereaverment list on May 30 following the death of his grandmother. Reyes returned to the team after the trip home to the Dominican Republic.

With Reyes, one of the top players in the National League in the line-up, the Mets broke out of another brief slide losing two games to the Pirates and didn’t show much offense during the slump. His offense and speed really gave the team a big lift when he returned.

First year Met Manager Terry Collins feels very confident with Reyes leading off and playing at short stop.

“He’s a huge piece to the puzzle,” Collins said before the come-from-behind victory over Pittsburgh. “He’s ready to play. To have as (good) a leadoff batter (who can switch hit and get on base) play at short is (a good sign). He can sure help us. He gives energy to the team.”

Reyes is the team’s top batter and is among the league leaders in batting, average, stolen bases, hits and total bases.

“Jose is a star,” Collins went on. “With him back in the line-up our energy picked up. He has been a big lift. I don’t care what anyone says.

When the Mets defeated Pittsburgh last week, the day was special, for it drew 7,000 kids from the tri-state area.

The late morning before the start of the Pirate game marked fitness and nutrition education. The kids sat along the third base and left field lines. Guests included Jillian Michaels, America’s health and wellness expert, who spoke on the subject of nutrition and fitness, Dr. Steve, who talked to the school kids about having a healthy lifestyle and assistant trainer Mike Herbst, who spoke to the young spectators participating in the lecture about how the team’s training staff leads the squad in stretching and exercise drills.