Lineup changes on deck; Manuel says 'anything is possible'
Jose Reyes watches the flight of the ball as he flies out with the bases loaded in the 5th inning. (May 11, 2010) Credit: David Pokress
MIAMI - The day after Jerry Manuel hinted at changes for his impotent lineup, it remained the same for Friday's 7-2 loss against the Marlins. Afterward, a demoralized Manuel again said modifications are likely, and Jose Reyes possibly returning to the leadoff spot this weekend would be the most significant move.
"We'll get to that at some point, too," Manuel said of the lineup.
Before the game, David Wright, Jason Bay and Jeff Francoeur huddled around batting coach Howard Johnson to look at video. It didn't seem to do any of them any good. That group went a combined 1-for-10 with Bay's single and had three of the team's eight strikeouts.
Manuel has been asked daily about returning Reyes to the leadoff spot, but he had insisted on staying the course despite the fact that his No. 3 hitter has a .215 average. Before Friday's game, Manuel spent extra time with Reyes, going over video with him and watching him in the cage.
"Jose is a tremendous athlete that has tremendous skills," Manuel said. "I just think right now, everything he's trying to do, he's trying to do too fast. We're just trying to show him things to slow him down. He's going faster than what he should be doing, at the plate at least."
As for other moves in the lineup, Manuel laughed.
"Anything is possible with Jerry Manuel," he said. "Anything is possible. You ought to know that by now."
Igarashi getting close
Ryota Igarashi will start his rehab assignment Saturday for Class A St. Lucie, and after a day off, he probably will attempt back-to-back chances as the next step. Manuel figures Igarashi probably will need to pitch for Triple-A Buffalo before rejoining the team, and he was uncertain when that might be.
"When you're doing it with relief pitchers, it's pretty much an individual thing," Manuel said. "You have to make sure they bounce back."
Extra bases
Henry Blanco's bereavement leave expires Sunday, but the Mets had not received word if he will be back before then . . . Bench coach Dave Jauss filled in as first-base coach Friday for Razor Shines, who left the team to attend his daughter's high school graduation.
