Major League Baseball

A farewell for Reyes? Phillies-Mets game postponed

Published Sep. 23, 2011 11:32 p.m. ET

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Jose Reyes knows this could be his last homestand with the New York Mets, and even his manager was wondering if that's weighing on his mind.

''Probably today, no. But you know, when it gets closer and closer like Monday and Tuesday, maybe I'll (be) thinking about it a little bit because I don't know if I'm going to be back next year, to be honest with you,'' Reyes said Friday. ''It's going to be interesting to see what's going to happen and everything. But right now I just want to finish all these games strong and help this team to win the most games that we can.''

With their star shortstop eligible for free agency after the season, the Mets were set to begin their final homestand of the year Friday night before the series opener against NL East champion Philadelphia was postponed because of rain.

The game, which never started, will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader Saturday - though showers are in the forecast again. The first game is slated to begin at 1:10 p.m., with the nightcap set for 7:10 p.m.

That means Mets fans might have only five more days to cheer Reyes as one of their own. After facing the Phillies three times, New York ends the season with a three-game set against Cincinnati.

A homegrown All-Star in the prime of his career, the speedy Reyes had a huge first half before hamstring injuries slowed him this summer. He's a fan favorite who fits perfectly at cavernous Citi Field, but it's uncertain if the cash-strapped Mets can afford to keep him in 2012 and beyond.

''I actually thought about that on the plane last night - would these be his last games?'' manager Terry Collins said. ''And my first thought was, this guy has enough on his mind right now with the legs, the contract, batting title, and I knew that somebody was going to ask the question about, is Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday going to be the last three days here?

''I think it's going to be very hard for him,'' Collins added. ''There's going to be huge distractions. But the one thing I think that he has going in his favor, is that when he crosses those lines, he plays baseball. And I am sure if there's one guy who can't wait until it's 7:10, it would be Jose Reyes. So I hope he just understands, go play and have some fun.''

Reyes said he and Collins ''had a good conversation'' about all those things Friday.

''We're on the same page,'' Reyes said.

The switch-hitter is batting .329, which was one point behind NL leader Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers going into Friday. The Mets, born in 1962, have never had a batting champion.

''I know,'' Reyes said with a smile. ''Next couple of days, we'll find out.

''I don't think about that to be honest with you because if I put that kind of stuff in my head, when I go to home plate I'm not going to do what I love to do,'' he added. ''But if it happens, that's going to mean a lot for me.''

The Phillies are winless since wrapping up their fifth consecutive division title last Saturday, having lost a season-worst six in a row. They are averaging 2.47 runs while going 5-10 in their last 15 games, scoring three or fewer 13 times during that stretch.

Not exactly how they want to be swinging the bats heading into the NL playoffs, where the pitching-rich Phillies will be heavy favorites thanks to a fearsome rotation that features Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt.

''We want to get winning. We want to get rolling,'' said center fielder Shane Victorino, who went 0 for 15 during Washington's four-game sweep in Philadelphia this week. ''You've got to figure it out sooner than later.''

Hamels had been slated to pitch Friday night against New York knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Both starters were pushed back to the first game Saturday, when Hamels will try to match a career high with his 15th win.

Mets rookie Dillon Gee starts the nightcap against Joe Blanton, with the Phillies planning to use their bullpen extensively.

During the final week of the regular season, Major League Baseball makes the call on rainouts in order to preserve the integrity of pennant races. Across town, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees also had their game postponed in a series with much more at stake than the one at Citi Field.

''It's really an extra night's sleep, if anything,'' said Dickey, who is 4-5 during a run of 11 consecutive quality starts. ''It can be to your benefit, because you have one extra day to kind of recover.''

NOTES: The start time of Sunday's game was moved back an hour to 2:10 p.m. ... Mets RF Lucas Duda is still having headaches after crashing into the outfield fence Wednesday in St. Louis. He had an MRI exam and Collins said Duda won't play until the team receives the results and the headaches go away. Collins also said, however, that Duda's production at the plate has earned him a projected starting spot in the outfield going into next season. ... New York CF Angel Pagan also is having headaches after hitting himself in the back of the head on a backswing Thursday. Pagan was pulled from the posted lineup and replaced by Jason Pridie.

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