Come To Think Of It: No Sense in New York Mets Rushing Injured Stars

It’s been a miserable season so far for the New York Mets.

But at least they lead the league in something—disabled list man-hours!

Okay, so this stuff just isn’t funny.  Mets fans are not grabbing their sides from laughter; they are hurting from all the hurling that has resulted from watching this achy, breaky team.

Now the latest, according to the AP wire, is that “Jose Reyes has returned to New York to be examined by team doctors because of continuing discomfort in his right leg.”

The Mets shortstop had previously been in Florida rehabbing an injured hamstring.

Look, with the season most likely down the drain, there is little sense in rushing Reyes back to the major leagues this year.

Let the man heal properly and make sure he’s ready for 2010.  There is simply no compelling argument that warrants bringing him back to a team that isn’t going anywhere.

As of Wednesday, the Mets are four games under .500 and nine games behind the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies, who added Cliff Lee at the trade deadline.

Perhaps even more challenging, they have four teams to climb over to win the division.

To show how unlucky the Mets are, they added another injured player in pitcher Jon Niese, who fell to the ground in the second after injuring his hamstring, during their 9-0 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday.

Hey, he learns quickly for a rookie!

Not to be outdone, Gary Sheffield left the game in the sixth inning with a hamstring issue of his own.

Now what would you pay? But wait, there's more...

Second baseman Luis Castillo left the game on Tuesday night with a sprained left ankle after he slipped on a banana peel and fell in the dugout.

Alright, I'm joking about the banana peel, but things are bad for the Mets.

How bad?

Well, players have to show their insurance card at the clubhouse door before they will be allowed inside, if that gives you an idea.

But seriously folks, Reyes is just one of a long list of star players who have spent time on the disabled list this year.

They currently have nine players on the DL, including Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, and probably even Carlos Santana.

Yes, if the Latin guitarist was on the Mets, he likely would be strumming a sad tune given the myriad of health woes surrounding this club.

And they say that the Cubs are cursed?!

Billy Wagner has been out all season following Tommy John surgery.  Setup man JJ Putz is out following elbow surgery of his own.  Did I tell you this stuff was contagious?

Hey, I understand that Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya want to win because they may be fighting for their jobs.

But I’m fairly confident that, despite the losing and the whole Tony Bernazard mess, Minaya likely will live to fight another year. Now, whether that's a good thing or bad is for you Mets fans to decide, I guess.

So, 2010 becomes a critical year for their future.  Might as well do what you can to ensure a healthier season.

Meaning, don't rush Reyes or any other critical players back to the lineup. It just doesn't make sense.

Meanwhile, the latest injured Mets are said to be “day to day."  Hey, aren’t we all, come to think of it?