At least publicly, Carlos Delgado didn’t have a problem with Willie Randolph sitting him in two games against left-handers this week.
A platoon situation, on the other hand, would not go over well with the Mets’ veteran first baseman.
“We’re gonna have to talk,” Delgado said yesterday when asked how he would respond to Randolph about platooning against lefties. “Obviously, I would not talk to you before I talk to him. I haven’t said anything, but I want to make it clear.”
Delgado was back in the lineup last night against the Dodgers and went 2-for-4 with a run scored, prompting Randolph to say he likely would start him again tonight against lefty Clayton Kershaw. But the potential for a first-base platoon remains, especially with Delgado hitting just .200 this season against lefties. Randolph also said Delgado’s return last night was partially a response to LA starting a righty in Brad Penny, as well as the Mets’ lack of power in the middle of their ineup caused by injuries to Moises Alou and Ryan Church.
“Let’s be real, with Moises out and Church out, we’re going to have to find some thump from somewhere,” Randolph said before the game. “We need someone to give us that kind of beef in the middle of our lineup.”
Though Randolph is expected to use Delgado against a lefty tonight, the manager made no promises beyond that. If the situation eventually turns into a platoon, Delgado is prepared to register his concerns.
“I don’t want to sound like I’m challenging anybody, but it’s true, I would have to talk to [Randolph] about that,” Delgado said.
Delgado made a case to remain a regular last night not only with two singles and a run scored, but also with a diving stab of an Andre Ethier grounder in the fourth inning that got Randolph’s attention.
“I like it when he gets the uniform dirty,” Randolph said. “He’s uniform has been pretty clean for a while.”
bhubbuch@nypost.com