The Mets need Jose Reyes on the field and healthy. (AP)
LOS ANGELES — Derek Jeter is on the threshold of 3,000 hits. Jose Reyes is on the disabled list once again. Such is the tale of two New York shortstops.
Reyes, in Alex Rodriguez’s words, is “the world’s greatest player” and is on the disabled list.
That’s part of the deal when Reyes is your shortstop. There are so many positives he brings to the field but owning hamstrings that are susceptible to injury come with the power-turbine package. If Reyes and the Mets come to a long-term contract agreement, Sandy Alderson & Co. will have to find a way to tackle this massive problem.
Reyes is a Ferrari. He races around bases. His legs are so explosive that sometimes he can’t control the thrust and injuries happen. Having said that, there has to be a better way to prepare Reyes and keep these injuries from happening so frequently.
Alderson told the Post the Mets will look into the process and perhaps alter the way Reyes gets ready to play.
“It’s something that needs to be reviewed and discussed,” he said. “I know he works out with top quality people, ours as well as others in the offseason. There may be some warm-up techniques that we ought to consider but as far as I know we’re doing everything we can to keep him on the field.”
Reyes will be out a substantial time. My guess is at least a month. Reyes said he will be out two to three weeks. The Mets are shooting for a July 22 return against the Marlins, but that’s all guess work. Manager Terry Collins said it is better to take care of the situation now than lose Reyes for “50 games.”
“Tomorrow I am going to start to ride the bike, I’m going to take it day to day, I don’t want to get back on the field too soon and blow my hamstring,” Reyes said at his locker before the Mets were thumped, 6-0, by the Dodgers last night. “I am going to take my time.”
Above Reyes, on a large TV in the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium, the Yankees-Rays game was on and Jeter had just picked up hit No. 2,998.
We all know Mets injuries have a way of worsening. Just look at Ike Davis’ ankle, and David Wright remains sidelined with a lower back stress fracture.
The Mets simply have to get a better Reyes’ game plan, especially when you consider, as Alderson noted, “I think it’s very unlikely that Jose will be traded this season and that’s without regard to his injury.”
Keeping Reyes on the field is the most important ingredient to this team’s success. Reyes leads the National League in hitting with a .354 average. He energizes the Mets.
Jeter, 37, is coming off a calf injury, so leg injuries happen even to The Captain. But coming back from injury in a timely fashion is key. Reyes is 28, yet he continues to be sidelined by injuries. When he was 26, Reyes played in just 36 games, Jeter played 148 games when he was 26. At 27, Reyes played 133 games, Jeter played 150. When Jeter was 28, he played 157 games. Reyes is at 80.
Reyes is going to have to find a way to better manage his legs. The Mets need him in so many ways. The energy he brings to this team has helped mold the Mets into a group that has withstood so many injuries to be two games over .500.
As I pointed out recently, this injury might give other teams a reason to pause before they hand over so much free agent cash to Reyes, which, in the end, this could work in the Mets’ favor.
But the bottom line is that Reyes can’t help the team when he is on the disabled list.
Reyes must find a way to keep his legs healthy. The Mets have to help guide him. It’s really that simple.
Even if you are “the world’s greatest player,” you have to play.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com