Mets get hot, then fall back into state of flux

Just when the Mets finally started to roll, winning 11 of 13 games, they again lost their equilibrium.




Center fielder Carlos Beltran sniped to reporters about left fielder Angel Pagan after a flyball dropped between them in the 11th inning of Monday night's loss to the Dodgers.

Manager Jerry Manuel denied a problem with outfielder Ryan Church on Tuesday, evidently forgetting every dig he has taken at the outfielder since spring training.

And, perhaps most important, the Mets seem torn on how to replace first baseman Carlos Delgado, who will be out at least 10 weeks after undergoing hip surgery.

One scout makes a logical point: Jeremy Reed is an outfielder. Daniel Murphy is an infielder. So, why is Manuel playing Reed at first base and Murphy in left field?

Mets general manager Omar Minaya told reporters Tuesday that Murphy and Fernando Tatis would be the team's primary options at first. But Reed was again at first Tuesday after making the Mets' fifth and final error the previous night.