Why Jose Reyes Is Not On the DL

There’s only one logical reason that Jose Reyes is not yet on the disabled list. Revenues.

When he missed his first ballgame, on May 14th, it was understandable to go “day to day” with Reyes’ calf injury. When he aggravated it the next day, it still made some sense to wait a few days before considering the disabled list. After all, the Mets had already lost Carlos Delgado and were playing with a weakened lineup. To be without both Reyes and Delgado for two solid weeks, one of them during the team’s most difficult road trip of the season, would have been an emotional downer for the team.

But to continue with the “day to day” nonsense once you return to your home park? That reeks of a business decision.

In other words, you put Jose Reyes on the disabled list during a homestand, and you can say goodbye to several hundred (or several thousand?) fans walking into Citi Field wearing their Reyes jerseys. The Mets are having enough trouble drawing in people to watch them play weekday games against the Nationals. If you don’t DL him, fans still can hold onto the hope that Reyes will make an appearance.

Of course, that’s just my insane conspiracy theory, and you have to buy into the idea that Jose Reyes by himself puts fannies in the seats. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that the team will make a decision regarding the DL at the end of the week.

Now, if my theory holds any water, then the Mets might consider DL’ing Reyes (or Ryan Church) immediately and replacing him on the roster with Fernando Martinez — a player many thousands of Mets fans are anxious to see.

Most likely, all this is hogwash. But I can’t think of another logical reason to shorthand Jerry Manuel so badly for so long a period of time.