WASHINGTON – One day after losing outfielder Fernando Tatis for the rest of the season, the Mets were downbeat about second baseman Damion Easley’s availability for the final 11 games of the regular season due to a strained right quadriceps.
With veteran Luis Castillo also battling various ailments, second base now appears to be in the hands of 25-year-old rookie Argenis Reyes and looms as a black hole – at least offensively – the rest of the way.
Jerry Manuel said Easley is at least a week away from even being able to serve in a pinch-hitting role.
Easley initially was optimistic with reporters yesterday about returning by the end of next week, but admitted the injury worsened Sunday and hasn’t shown any improvement this week.
“I’ve got to get it past a walking stage,” he said. “I feel it walking, sitting, getting up from sitting – just the initial moves, just normal functions. Until I can get past that stage, it’s useless me trying to do anything.”
Easley then turned somber.
“I want to be healthy right now, but that’s not reality,” he said.
*
Tatis was diagnosed with a Grade 3 separation of his right shoulder. That’s better than the Mets were expecting, and it prompted doctors to hold off on surgery for now. Tatis could resume baseball activities in two or three weeks, but it still appears likely he will miss the rest of the season, even if the Mets make the playoffs.
*
Daniel Murphy started in left field last night, but the right-handed hitting Nick Evans will probably start against lefty pitchers the rest of the way because Manuel doesn’t want to weigh down his lineup with two many lefty hitters.
*
Manuel said Endy Chavez, a Willie Randolph favorite, is likely to remain in the role of late-inning defensive replacement he has assumed since Randolph’s firing.
*
The Mets extended their affiliation with the Single-A Savannah (Ga.) Sand Gnats through the 2010 season.