Those Mets

LOSS PROVES HOW MUCH IS MISSING

If and when Jose Reyes returns this weekend, the Mets might regain the energy and extra-base potential they seemed to lack Thursday night. And if and when Carlos Beltran comes back in May, the Mets might welcome back that powerful bat they also seemed to lack. Without Reyes and Beltran — two of their best hitters, who also missed much of last season — the Mets can look lethargic on offense, as they did Thursday in losing, 3-1, to the Florida Marlins at Citi Field. They managed seven hits, but only one for extra bases, and they put few of those hits together in dropping the second of three games in the season’s opening series. “This team’s not built around hitting home runs,” said David Wright, who has their only home run this season, which came in the first inning of the first game. “This team is built around manufacturing runs. We haven’t had that big hit.” Wright went 0 for 4 Thursday and struggled defensively. Reyes could come back from a thyroid problem as soon as Saturday. He played in a minor league game on Thursday night in Florida for Port St. Lucie and was expected to work out in New York before Friday’s game when the Mets begin a three-game series at home against the Washington Nationals. Wright predicted that Reyes would bring “a big lift both on the field and in the clubhouse; he brings a lot of energy.” Reyes played only 36 games last season because a hamstring injury. The thyroid problem emerged this year in spring training. Beltran, who is recovering from knee surgery, played in only 81 games last season. He could return in May. In losing Thursday, the Mets wasted a respectable starting performance from Jon Niese (0-1), who gave up three runs on eight hits in six innings before 25,982 fans. “I wanted to go out there for the seventh, too,” said Niese, who threw 92 pitches and is coming back from a hamstring injury that shortened his 2009 season. “Even deep in the game, I felt good,” Niese said. “A pitcher’s job is to keep the team in the ball game. The hitters’ job is to produce runs. I’m here for a reason. I’m not looking to fail.” The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks in part to two singles that could have been outs. The first was a hard ground ball by Cameron Maybin that got past Fernando Tatis at first base. The second, which scored Maybin from second base with two outs, was a hard ground ball by Dan Uggla that got past Wright at third base. Those plays helped turn the first inning into a 23-pitch affair for the left-handed Niese, who won the No. 3 spot in the rotation almost by default when Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey struggled in spring training. Rod Barajas, the catcher, said that Niese had a fastball, a cutter, a curve, a changeup and a two-seamer. “A variety of average t0 above-average major-league pitches,” Barajas said. “He’s going to be tough.” Also making their season debuts as starters for the Mets were center fielder Angel Pagan and Ruben Tejada, the rookie shortstop. Tejada is likely to be sent to the minor leagues if Reyes returns. But Manager Jerry Manuel said Tejada would play shortstop again Friday night with Alex Cora at second because second baseman Luis Castillo sustained a calf injury on Thursday. The Mets tied the score, 1-1, in the fourth on an infield hit by Jason Bay and a double by Jeff Francoeur. The Marlins took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Jorge Cantu doubled home Maybin with a drive out of the reach of Pagan, who did not seem fluid in his position. Gary Matthews Jr. played center field in the first two games. Both Matthews and Pagan are playing in place of Beltran. The Marlins made the score 3-1 in the sixth, when Gaby Sanchez doubled home Ronny Paulino. The victory went to Nate Robertson (1-0), who worked five innings. Manuel said Robertson “kept the ball in on us” but conceded, “We’re going to have come challenges here” regarding hitting. “It’s difficult in the course of 162 games to scratch and claw all the time,” Manuel said. “You’ve got to have some power.” (NY Times)