“Extension for Reyes in plans” plus 1 more

Posted: 15 Aug 2010 11:33 PM PDT

Obviously the philosophy can change, but the Mets plan to pick up Jose Reyes' club option this winter and explore signing him to another long-term deal, a person familiar with the team's thinking told The Post yesterday.

Reyes ideally wants to stay in New York long-term, but he said yesterday that next year is not even on his mind yet and a long-term contract is too far away to consider.

"We need to wait and see," he said.

Reyes is the longest-tenured Met, but there's actually no guarantee he's on next season's team; his four-year $23.25 million pact is expiring, and there's only an $11 million club option for 2011.

Reuters

OOPS: Chris Carter can't handle a single by the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins in the Mets' 3-1 loss last night at Citi Field.

It is possible Reyes is in the midst of his final 45 games as a Met, though he insisted he is not looking at his status for next year.

"Right now I don't think about that," he said.

However, he will not complain about his 2011 salary if the Mets exercise the option. He won't be a Manny Ramirez or a Darrelle Revis and become a disgruntled player.

The 27-year-old Reyes, whose homer delivered the Mets' only run in last night's 3-1 loss to the Phillies, said he wants to stay in New York.

"I want to finish my career here," he said. "But this is a business."

Today marks the 11-year anniversary of the day the Mets signed Reyes at 16.

The Mets' deadline on Reyes' option is Nov. 15. Assuming they exercise it, they would have further options. The Mets could sign him to a long-term deal that replaces the option. They could explore trades. Or they could fail at reaching or simply pass on a long-term deal and re-evaluate the relationship during or after next season.

In a sense, Reyes has rebounded from last year's injury-marred 36-game debacle. But the three-time All-Star has had an uneven campaign. He has dealt with a thyroid condition that shelved him for most of spring training and the start of the season as well as an oblique problem.

"I know I can be better," he said.

mark.hale@nypost.com

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Can't 'stand anymore

Posted: 15 Aug 2010 10:15 PM PDT

Sox trying to roll with the punches after 2-4 stretch at home vs. rivals

August 16, 2010

BY TONI GINNETTI tginnetti@suntimes.com

Assume the worst and hope for the best.

It's a philosophy White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen follows when it comes to the Minnesota Twins.

''I expect them to win every game, and when I look at the scoreboard and they're winning, I don't get crushed,'' he said.

Even after dropping an ugly game 13-8 to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday -- losing the series 2-1 and the six-game homestand 2-4 in the process -- Guillen insisted he was disappointed but not discouraged.

''A very bad homestand,'' Guillen said. ''Terrible. Very bad pitching. When we pitched well, we didn't hit. And that makes it a very bad homestand. We've got to prepare better for the next road trip and play better, there's no doubt. Those games coming up, they're very important. We've got to go up there [to Minnesota] and perform better. If we want to win this thing, we've got to play better.

''I'm very happy where I am and very optimistic in the situation of where we are. But I'll be honest, the ballclub didn't have energy today. We score eight runs? But I don't see any energy today in the ballclub. I hope it was me.''

There was energy enough to come back from a 5-1 deficit after starter Freddy Garcia labored through five innings. The Sox took a 7-5 lead in the sixth and closed another gap to make it 9-8 in the eighth -- all before a ninth-inning knockout by the Tigers, who scored four against Tony Pena.

The loss dropped the Sox to three games behind the Twins, who won their fourth straight in completing a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics. Losing the series dropped the Sox' record against American League Central opponents to 22-25.

Dropping three of four during their visit to Baltimore and two of three in the crucial series that saw the Twins take over first place might have caught up to the Sox.

''I think everybody is just a little beat going to Detroit with the day-night doubleheader there, and Baltimore was a long, hot weekend that wrapped around to Monday,'' first baseman Paul Konerko said. ''I think everybody is looking forward to having an off day [today] and just forgetting about the game for 48 hours here until we get to Minnesota, and then hopefully we come back refreshed and ready to compete.''

Guillen said he didn't think the Twins series earlier in the week took a toll.

''We're going to play the Twins [again] Tuesday,'' he said. ''I don't think you have to be up or down in this game. You have to stay at the same level. I know this ballclub very well. I think I know this ballclub better than anyone else. I just didn't see any energy today.''

It was an especially difficult series for reliever J.J. Putz (5-5), who gave up the go-ahead runs again Sunday in the eighth after blowing a save the night before.

''He's tough,'' Konerko said. ''He's closed before and been in tough situations for a long time. He'll be ready to go on Tuesday. We're all behind him, and that goes for anybody in here. I'm sure he's just disappointed, but there are no worries. Anytime he touches the ball, I feel pretty good about it.''

The problems at the end of the game were about the bullpen, but Garcia's effort -- five earned runs and eight hits in five innings -- will raise concerns, too. Garcia is 1-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his last five starts.

''I should have pitched better,'' he said. ''I feel bad because I should pitch better and maybe go one more inning and save the bullpen. But lately we've been struggling late in the game. Hopefully we'll start playing better in Minnesota.''

The Tigers, who have fallen out of the Central race at 10Â½ back, pounded out 16 hits in winning back-to-back games for the first time in a month. Their four home runs equaled a season high.

It was the kind of play Guillen said the Sox must expect in the final two months -- and not just from contenders.

''When you are fighting for the pennant race, everybody who comes here is going to come after you,'' he said.

68-50 .576

65-53 .551

Philosophy

Monday, August 16, 2010