SAN JUAN – The WBC sure didn’t work out for Alex Rodriguez. It’s not going all that great for Jose Reyes, either.
The Met shortstop has become an every-other-game player for the Dominican Republic – a situation that has been tough for Reyes, though he is being a good teammate and says he will do whatever manager Felipe Alou asks him to do, including sitting on the bench.
“You know it’s tough because I like to be in the lineup every day, but I can still enjoy it from the bench because it’s always exciting when you play for your country,” Reyes said last night, before the Dominican Republic crushed Panama, 9-0, at Hiram Bithorn Stadium to stave off elimination.
Reyes was 0-for-4 in his first start in the Classic. If the plan remains the same, he will not get another start until Wednesday.
“I told Felipe I’ll be ready whenever you need me,” Reyes said.
The Dominicans and GM Stan Javier got into this roster mess because the original plan had David Ortiz playing first base with Hanley Ramirez and Reyes alternating games at short. When not at short, Reyes and Ramirez were supposed to DH.
But stiffness in Big Papi’s throwing shoulder forced Alou to move Ortiz into the DH role, and that knocked Reyes out of the lineup in the stunning 3-2 loss to the Netherlands in the opener.
The Dominicans figure to get a rematch with the Netherlands tomorrow. Win that and they go on to Round 2 in Miami. Alou said he is trying to figure a way to get Reyes in, but Reyes could be on the bench again.
As for that loss, Reyes said, “We’re way better than them, but anything can happen in baseball.”
Reyes said he got a text from Carlos Delgado that read, “How did you guys lose?”
“I said, ‘Good question, you watch the game?’ ”
He sent Delgado another text last night, saying “Make sure you’re ready when we face you guys.”
This alternating plan doesn’t help Reyes get ready for the Met season, but that’s the price of representing your country.
The USA team is doing the same at short with Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins – with one major difference. Manager Davey Johnson started Jeter but got Rollins into the game in the fifth in Game 1.
Reyes and Ramirez both are rooting for one another, Reyes said.
The Marlins will not let Ramirez play the outfield, even though he is likely moving there next season and has played the outfield in Winter Ball in the past.
Reyes said he would move to another position, but the only other position he has played were those 43 games at second base when the Mets lost their mind and decided to play Kaz Matsui at short in 2004.
The Mets clearly don’t want Reyes playing another position.
“It’s tough,” Alou said of figuring out a lineup. “We don’t have the best Dominican players here. It tells you things about the Classic. We have two of the best shortstops in the business and then we play a different guy at first base every day. Our third baseman [Miguel Tejada] is a shortstop.”
Bottom line: Reyes should be in every game, one way or another.
Dom. Rep. 9 Panama 0