PORT ST. LUCIE — All the little pieces of bad news for the Mets are starting to crystallize into legitimate concern.
Jose Reyes is headed back to New York with a possible hyperactive thyroid, and you can’t help but wonder if the plot is ready to thicken yet again.
Maybe it really is a case of Reyes just needing medication to treat a problem. Or maybe there is no problem. That would be the best-case scenario. But since when does the best-case scenario apply to the Mets?
Francisco Rodriguez remains essentially quarantined with a case of pinkeye that was bothering him when he arrived here almost three weeks ago. The best-case scenario — receiving results from the 10-day antibiotic he was taking — vanished awhile ago.
Kelvim Escobar arrived in camp with weakness in his right shoulder and still hasn’t begun throwing from a bullpen mound. The best-case scenario, his inclusion on the Opening Day roster, is becoming less realistic by the day.
Now it’s Reyes, who thought he was clear on Thursday when a blood test and subsequent visit to the doctor seemed to indicate his thyroid wasn’t an issue. Yesterday he received news to the contrary. The Mets can only hope the story ends there.
Already, GM Omar Minaya is on the defensive concerning medical issues. The Mets say this year will be better than last because they were suffocated by injuries last season. But where is the evidence the madness will end in 2010?
Minaya can take solace only in the fact it’s March 6 and not April 6 — the day after they are scheduled to have opened the season.
“It’s early spring, and the fact [Reyes] is not going to play, because it’s spring training is definitely different than it would be in the season,” Minaya said.
Reyes didn’t appear too distraught yesterday. Moments before appearing in the dugout to discuss his setback, he sat up against a wall in the Mets’ clubhouse talking in Spanish on his cell phone, wearing a smile. Maybe Reyes has already received some kind of assurance this is nothing too serious.
But until he receives another evaluation on Monday, the Mets should take nothing for granted.
“This is important, maybe [more] important than baseball right now, because we’re not talking about my leg,” Reyes said. “We’re talking about my health, so that is even worse.”
What should have been a good week for Reyes — he tripled in his first at-bat during an intrasquad scrimmage on Monday — was overshadowed by his acknowledgement he had met with federal investigators inquiring about the treatment he received from reputed HGH doctor Tony Galea, and then yesterday’s mandate he return to New York because of his thyroid.
“The good thing about it is it has nothing to do with his leg,” said Carlos Beltran, who is continuing his own recovery program, from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. “He’s maybe a little frustrated because he feels like right now he is ready to play and then another thing comes up.”
Beltran was asked if he believes 2010 is shaping up as a continuation of 2009 for the Mets.
“I don’t feel like that because this is only spring training and we’re going to be here for a long time and we can’t panic about that,” Beltran said. “We hope that [Reyes’] health is better and he can be back with the team as soon as he can.”
The best-case scenario is Reyes returns here next week and gets into a game by Thursday. The best-case scenario is the Mets are just being cautious and there is no need for worry.
Except that the Mets seemed to go 0-for-2009 in best-case scenarios, and spring training has started on the same track.
Starts & stops
Jose Reyes’ health updates have seemed like a near-daily occurrence for the last 10 months. Each time he was close to a return, he seemed to suffer a setback. Here’s a look:
May 13 — Makes 33rd straight start to begin season.
May 14 — Removed from lineup because of pain in right calf.
May 15 — Does not start vs. Giants, pinchhits late in game. Scheduled to return next day.
May 16-18 — Misses three straight games. Manager Jerry Manuel says placing Reyes on DL is not a possibility “at all.” Reyes also diagnosed with tendinitis in right knee.
May 18 — After another doctor visit, he is expected back next game. Manuel: “Reyes should be ready to do from here on out.”
May 19 — Returns to lineup, goes 1-for-4 vs. Dodgers.
May 20 — Reinjures calf, removed in third inning. Hasn’t played since.
May 21 — Listed dayto- day with right calf tendinitis.
May 22 — Says calf is getting worse.
May 23 — Says calf is getting better.
May 24 — Manuel says Reyes will start next game. Reyes says he does not expect to be ready to play.
May 26 — Placed on 15-day DL.
June 3 — During rehab, feels pain in knee, return pushed back.
June 4 — Determined Reyes has torn hamstring, suffered during rehab game, and will miss 4-6 weeks. Expected back after All-Star break.
July 25 — Rehab continues. Early August targeted as possible return.
Aug. 4 — Returns to New York after hamstring tightens during workout. Season in question.
Aug. 5 — Team physician finds scar tissue behind Reyes’ knee. Mid-August — Ruled out for season.
Sept. 25 — Bid to return for final few games nixed when family issue keeps him from working out.
Sept. 30 — Suffers setback while running.
Oct. 15 — Has surgery to remove scar tissue. Expected back for Spring Training.
Thursday — Misses spring game vs. Marlins for doctor appointment, after morning blood test related to spring physical. Expected back yesterday.
Yesterday — Heads back to New York when tests reveal hyperactive thyroid. Expects to return by Tuesday. . . . Stay tuned.