DENVER – Jose Reyes drew as much applause from his manager and teammates for an infield pop-up Wednesday night as he did for his 3-for-5 line and three runs scored in the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Angels.
Reyes, who has been pulled for loafing before, sprinted so hard during the fly ball to short in the seventh inning that he was almost to second base by the time it settled into Erick Aybar’s glove.
Reyes might have been trying to get in good with interim manager Jerry Manuel, especially after Reyes showed him up with an on-field tantrum the night before when Manuel pulled him due to a tight hamstring.
But if Reyes was trying to make a good impression on his new boss with the all-out hustle, it worked.
“That was great to see,” Manuel said of Reyes’ sprint. “We had some conversations and we’ll continue to have conversations to keep him somewhat focused, because he’s a tremendous talent. He’s got to take his place as one of the top shortstops in the division.”
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Manuel might want to think twice about joking references to gangsters and knife violence. Asked about Reyes’ on-field snit Tuesday, Manuel laughingly told reporters: “I told him the next time he does that, I’m going to get my blade out and cut him right on the field. I’m a gangster.”
The Drudge Report initially took Manuel seriously and posted a description yesterday with no reference to it being a joke, prompting angry e-mails to The Post and other news outlets criticizing him.
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Unlike Willie Randolph, fired pitching coach Rick Peterson said he doesn’t think he was treated unfairly by the Mets.
Peterson told XM Radio yesterday that general manager Omar Minaya delivered the news of his dismissal – with compassion and sympathy – and that he hopes Minaya can “turn the organization around.”
Of the Mets, Peterson said: “I don’t have any animosity or vindictive or angry thoughts. I’m sad, you’re always sad when you leave a home that you felt very comfortable at.”
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The Mets resume interleague play next Monday against the Mariners with a 6-2 record against AL teams, including four wins on the road with the benefit of the designated hitter.
“Some teams, when they get a chance to rest some players [as the DH], perform better,” Manuel said when asked to explain the Mets’ interleague success. “You feel better when you have an extra bat in the lineup.”
