MEET THE METS - JOSE REYES

A preview of the 2008 Mets, presented in the expected batting order, followed by pitching rotation, followed by impact bullpen/bench players. Today we focus on shortstop Jose Reyes.

2007: .280 avg, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 119 runs, 78 SB, .354 OBP

This season could go one of three ways for Jose Reyes.

1) A season-long funk because he's mad, upset, unnerved by the fact that his name popped up throughout the Johan Santana trade process.

2) The total opposite of number 1 - a great season, to make people realize the Mets are lucky to have him playing shortstop and batting leadoff.

3) The same old, same old...which really isn't that bad.

I'll admit - I was a little fed up with Jose Reyes last year. But while the Mets were collapsing in September, he was hitting .205, stole just 5 bases, and got on base just 35 times in 27 games (especially significant when you consider he was on base an average of 33 times in the previous 5 months on hits alone). So I think I had a right. But time heals all wounds, and I'm ready to start fresh and forgive and forget.

Reyes needs to do the same. I'm sure he's hurt that the Mets could have parted with him to bring a big star to New York. But he needs to understand that's the nature of the business. And the fact is, the Mets didn't trade him, and Omar Minaya bent over backwards to stress they never really were close to doing so. And now the Mets are a lot better, and Jose Reyes is absolutely a big part of why they are so good.

Reyes's performances at the end of 2007 and in the 2006 post-season are starting to show some sort of pattern - either he's wearing down at the end of seasons, or he's pressing too much with everything on the line. Maybe this is a good thing. The Mets surely have to notice this, and make adjustments to it. And other teams might start underestimating him at those points in the year, which could make him more dangerous than he already is.

I think another big plus for Reyes this year is the absence of Rickey Henderson. I don't think it was a coincidence that after his arrival, Reyes's game went downhill. I don't know exactly what to pinpoint there, but it seemed like there was a connection. (Conspiracy theorists [my dad] will say Reyes started to dog it because of Henderson, but I don't think Henderson changed Reyes's attitude, just a little bit of his approach, I think.) Consider Reyes had 46 steals, caught 11 times before the All Star break (and Rickey's arrival), with just 32 steals after, and he was caught 10 times. Something happened.

If I had to make a prediction for Reyes's 2008 season, I'd go somewhere between numbers 2 and 3 at the start of this article - I think he'll come out gangbusters, in part because he wants to make up for the end of last season, and partly because he's happy he wasn't traded. I don't think there will be much anger. And I think he'll be shown lots of love by the Shea fans...I know I'll be on his side again.

SHAKEUP

The Mets had a busy day back from the All Star break - here's the breakdown:

RICKS - Down (far left) is out, Henderson (near left) is in. Rick Down was fired as the Mets hitting coach. The Mets have not yet named a replacement. Rickey Henderson is the newest Mets coach, but his specific role has not been announced. The speculation is that Howard Johnson will become the new hitting coach - he was a hitting coach in the Mets' minor league system, and was the hitting coach for the Norfolk Tides when David Wright came through (and possibly at other levels with Wright). That's the speculation. If that happens, does Henderson assume the first base coach role? Would anyone understand a word he says if he does become first base coach? Lots of questions from this move...some of the answers should come on Friday.

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE YOUNG - The Mets released Julio Franco (far left) in order to make a roster spot available for Lastings Milledge (near), back from the minors and an injury. At first the thought occurred to me that after a day or so the Mets would give Franco a coaching job, but I read on mets.com that Franco would have asked for his release in a week or so, because he has been disappointed with his playing time over the past year and a half. He wants to play until he's 50 (he'll be 49 in about a month and a half), and he needs more playing time, he says, to be ready for that. I wonder if there was some truth to the rumor that Franco was stirring up some discontent in the clubhouse. He was not upset that he was released...I haven't heard reaction from his teammates.

FALLOUT - I heard an interview with Willie Randolph before Thursday's game - he didn't seem too happy with the firing of Down, one of his guys.

Just throwing this out there...but might one of my guys become the hitting coach? Maybe bring in Gary Carter...and that's why he hasn't been working this year? Maybe the Mets knew someone like Down was on a short(ish) leash, and he's on standby for a job? This is more wishful thinking on my part...but there's some logic there.

I don't know how the team will react to the Franco release. I know lots of players understand the business aspect of the game - but one of the reasons Franco was here was to be a mentor to the young part of the team. How will those young guys react?, I wonder. The other piece of Julio Franco's release is that Ramon Castro will now get more pinch-hitting appearances. With Sandy Alomar, Jr. up, as a possible injury replacement at catcher, the Mets can spare Castro.

HISTORY IN THURSDAY'S GAME: Jose Reyes and Ruben Gotay led off the first inning for the Mets with back-to-back homers off Reds starter Bronson Arroyo - the first time in Mets history that has happened.

Speaking of leadoff men...Scott Hatteberg hit leadoff for the Reds. That's weird.

INJURIES: Oliver Perez should be back to make his start on Sunday.

How about this - I heard Gary Cohen report on SNY that Ruben Gotay started on Thursday because Jose Valentin hurt a finger trying to break up a fight over the break. Wonderful. He's already battling a sore knee...he is in really bad shape and shouldn't even be playing...but he's got incentives to meet in his contract and is trying to battle through the injuries.

BEAT THE STREAK: FYI - I'm at 10 games through Thursday. I'll highlight the milestones.

SHOULD HAVE PUT AN ASTERISK ON HIM

Well, something was bound to happen, because things were going a little too well. Billy Wagner has a problem with the middle finger on his left (throwing) hand. He's been ordered to shut down for a while, in the hope that it will go away. It's a tendon irritation or something complicated like that. Wagner doesn't seem to think it's a big deal right now....but what I don't think Wagner realizes is that he is now a Met. A high-priced Met. And sometimes little things turn into big things. So hopefully this is nothing, and it goes away quickly. Otherwise, Billy Wagner isn't available early in the season, and things get a little dicey for the Mets' championship hopes. I'll step up the worrying if Wagner's not back in a week.

RICKEY TALKS: Rickey Henderson apparently held court with the Mets' speedsters (and some catchers) to give base-stealing tips. He also gave tips on getting on base, something the Mets need THE GREATEST BALLPLAYER WHO EVER LIVED, Jose Reyes, to improve at. It can't hurt that he's learning from Henderson. As long as he just learns the baseball skills - not all the baggage that goes along with them.

'86 METS ROUNDUP: This is just great - on Opening Day, Jesse Orosco will throw out the ceremonial first pitch...to Hall of Famer Gary Carter, re-creating the last pitch of the 1986 season. It's going to be the kickoff to the season-long 20th anniversary of the 1986 Championship. I love it. I wish I could be there. I also hope Orosco and Carter don't try any re-enacting the celebration silliness - that would ruin the moment. I've been waiting 20 years for a 1986 Mets reunion - for it to come in a year where the Mets can recapture a championship....it definitely might be worth the wait.

PICKS FOR 2006 (It rhymes):

I'll go into these picks more in-depth as the week progresses - but I feel really good about the Mets this year. Obviously. And I think the White Sox, if they did it last year, can make the World Series again this year - but this year, they'll have to face the Mets. Also note that there are no Yankees in this bracket - I just think there's only room for one team out of the AL East this year...and later this week, I'll tell you why it's the Red Sox.