Super sub Joe McEwing is not at all happy about having to play shortstop while Mets starter Jose Reyes sits on the shelf with a sprained left ankle. Reyes’ injury may keep him out the rest of the season, thereby increasing McEwing’s reps at short, and the versatile vet isn’t thrilled one bit about it.
“You can’t be happy when you’re playing for someone that’s hurt,” McEwing said after going 2-for-4 in yesterday’s 3-2 win over the Braves. “He’s a young kid that’s the future of this organization.”
Such is life for the man the Mets call off the bench when someone gets hurt or starts to drown in a slump. McEwing has appeared in 48 games this year (35 starts) at short, three games at first, 47 games (35 starts) at second, one game at third, one game in right and 14 games (four starts) in left, making him Art Howe’s most valuable sub.
“I’ll come to the ballpark and if I’m in there, I’m in there,” said McEwing, who is signed through this season. “I’ll prepare to play and be a piece of the puzzle to help us win that night.
“That’s my job. My job is to be prepared to play every day.”
Yesterday he got his first start after Reyes sprained his ankle Sunday. Reyes was taken for X-rays, which turned out negative, but Mets team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito recommended that the rookie not play for a minimum of three weeks, thereby giving McEwing his best opportunity to see extended playing time since he came to the Mets three years ago.
“He’ll be getting some playing time there, obviously,” Howe said. “He did a nice job today. He made a couple of real outstanding plays for us.”
McEwing, who says he’s comfortable at any position on the field, turned two wonderful plays to throw out Atlanta runners at first yesterday – both times scampering far to his left to field balls on the far side of second base.
Robert Fick rolled a slow grounder towards center in the sixth inning, but McEwing retrieved the ball, spun and fired it for the out at first. In the ninth, he executed nearly the same play to gun down the considerably speedier Marcus Giles as the Mets clung to a one-run lead.
“I was just glad the ball didn’t go into the fourth row,” McEwing said.
