Yet another setback

Just as Kazuo Matsui appears to be healthy enough to be in the Mets' lineup come opening day, Jose Reyes' uncertain status has seemingly been clarified, but not in a manner Mets fans will appreciate. A batting practice session quickly came to an end when Reyes apparently reaggravated the injury to his right hamstring. Reyes' aggresive rehab will not be enough to keep him off the disabled list to start the season, according to an anonymous source talking to the New York Times. Hopes of Matsui and Reyes playing even a single game together in Spring Training will go unfulfilled as Reyes and the team continue to try to figure out how to deal with his current injury and prevent it from recurring. Those of us who balked at trading Reyes for Alfonso Soriano are going to look pretty stupid if Reyes never actually gets on the field.

In other fabulously encouraging news, one-time favorite to win the fifth spot in the Mets' starting rotation Grant Roberts failed to bounce back from a rough start last week, giving up seven runs on nine hits, including two home runs, while walking two and striking out four, in five innings against the Dodgers on Wednesday. No decision has yet been announced as to who'll start fifth (or fourth, for that matter) for the Mets, but the trends in a race that recently seemed too close to call due to how well all the candidates were performing aren't encouraging.

Elsewhere in the Mets 11-5 loss, apparent opening day middle infield partners Kaz Matsui and Ricky Gutierrez each had a hit, while Jason Phillips and Mike Cameron each homered for the fourth time this spring and Mike Piazza went three for four with a double.  ¶ joe | 1:45 AM |