(NEW YORK METS/JIM FERTITTA)
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets are trying to find all kinds of reasons to keep Jose Reyes out of the Opening Day lineup, and that’s the wrong approach.
They say they’re trying to protect the shortstop from hurting himself by keeping him from coming back too quickly. If that’s truly the case, don’t even hold out the carrot of Opening Day.
And, of course, you know how cold it is in April in New York. There are three night games after Opening Day, and that first road trip takes the Mets to Colorado, which could create problems.
JOSE TAKES SWING AT MAKING OPENER
Absolutely none of that should matter. The bottom line is that Reyes makes the Mets a better team, and if he continues to impress the way he did yesterday during his first time facing live pitching, he should get the green light to play Monday.
No questions asked.
His spot in the lineup would give the Mets an immediate Opening Day lift against the Marlins and Josh Johnson. And maybe you haven’t heard, but the Mets could use an emotional lift. So could their suffering fans.
Reyes’ appearance would rev up the home crowd and would give Reyes the chance to wipe away the curse of a season that was 2009. Even if Reyes is overmatched by Johnson, he won’t be alone — but perhaps Reyes will have a good day and so will the Mets.
If Reyes is healthy, and he certainly appears to be in every way, a few more at-bats against some minor-league pitchers is not going to make all that much difference. The fact Reyes has overcome so much since last May 20 and this spring’s thyroid scare, being in the lineup would give him the kind of lift that could carry him all summer. It would be a triumph for the baseball soul.
Again, this is not about pushing a player who is not healthy. I’ve watched Reyes closely the last three days, and other than needing to pick up some bat speed, which is expected, I see no reason why he should not be allowed to run free on Monday.
Playing Opening Day is about the big picture, it is not about one day.
At one point during his extended hitting session yesterday, Reyes smoked a rocket to the gap in left field, right where Jerry Manuel was standing.
Manuel was asked what went through his mind as the ball screamed toward him.
“I’m thinking that’s a triple,” Manuel said with his trademark laugh. “I’m saying, I might get that triple right there. That’s what I need, I need some triples.”
Does he ever.
“I was surprised that he was as good as he was, that quick,” Manuel said.
I believe, to a certain degree, people have forgotten how good Reyes really is because no one has seen Reyes play in a real game since last May 20 and he wasn’t healthy then. He’s been down and out so long, people might forget.
“I don’t forget how good he is,” Manuel said. “I missed him so much. I don’t forget how good he is, I had him batting third.”
Third is out of the question now, but Manuel said he would have no problem batting Reyes leadoff Opening Day if everything is right.
“Would I take Jose at 80 or 90 (percent), sure,” Manuel said. “But I have to be fair to him.”
Reyes admitted he felt better at the plate than he thought he would.
“It’s better than I expected,” Reyes said of his hitting. “I put the ball in play. That’s what I wanted to do the first time. I haven’t faced pitchers in a long time.”
To expect Reyes to come back with perfect timing is expecting too much. In fact, it might be better to bring him back with that built-in excuse.
Just having Jose Reyes in the lineup makes the Mets winners on Opening Day.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com