PHOENIX – Cliff Floyd is back. And to hear him tell it, Jose Reyes is progressing in his return as well.
After missing more than a month with a strained right quad, Floyd returned last night, going 1-for-5 with an RBI in the Mets’ 7-4 victory. He is still not 100 percent, but feels well enough to play.
“If you try to wait for this thing to completely heal,” he said, “you’re talking about June or July.”
Floyd’s ninth-inning single drove in Kaz Matsui from second with the final run of last night’s game. While the Mets can hardly expect Floyd to be their savior, his return couldn’t have been better-timed. Not with Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens on the pitching horizon.
“I don’t mind the pressure of being the guy who’s counted on,” Floyd said before adding, “without putting pressure on Reyes, he’s bigger for the lineup because he’s at the top of the order. We need him to jumpstart the offense.”
For the first time in two weeks, there was an encouraging development with Reyes. The Mets have brought in Mark Lindsay, a specialist who has trained top runners (including former 100-meter gold medallist Donovan Bailey), to work with their 20-year-old phenom.
Reyes has been out since March 14 with a strained right hamstring and has suffered five leg injuries in the last 17 months.
“I’m not sure if you call [Lindsay] a hamstring specialist, but he’s someone who works with world-class runners,” Peter Greenberg, Reyes’ agent, said.
With Reyes not wanting to miss rehab time, the Mets flew the Toronto-based Lindsay to St. Lucie to treat him. Greenberg is optimistic that Reyes can heal faster with Lindsay’s help (“I think he should advance more quickly this way”), and Floyd raved about the “difference” in Reyes since Lindsay arrived.
Asked when he thought Reyes might be back, Floyd said, “Depends on how long you keep Mark Lindsay around. The kid needs special attention. That hamstring needs work.”
When Floyd left St. Lucie, Reyes told him, “I’ll see you soon.” With Lindsay aboard, that may actually be true.
