The only thing missing was Terry Collins cracking a self-deprecating joke.
Friday was straight out of last year’s injury-filled, 92-loss season. The only difference was Mickey Callaway, not Collins, trying to come to grips with losing a key player, possibly for the season, 48 hours after that player suffered an injury that seemed minor at the time.
Two days after Juan Lagares hurt the big toe on his left foot while chasing a fly ball into the center-field fence in an ugly, lopsided loss to the Blue Jays, it was announced an MRI exam on Thursday revealed a complete tear in his big toe plantar plate. The oft-injured elite defensive player was placed on the 10-day disabled list, will have surgery next week and is likely done for the season. Reliever Jerry Blevins came off the paternity list to replace him on the roster.
“It’s unfortunate,” Callaway said before the Mets opened a three-game series with the Diamondbacks at Citi Field. “We got the news [on Thursday] that he’s probably going to be out the rest of the season. That was really tough. It’s going to hurt us a little bit.”
It’s particularly frustrating for the 29-year-old Lagares, who had gotten off to a strong start, batting .339. He has battled injuries the previous two years, appearing in just 173 games as a result, and he will wind up playing very little this season. Lagares wasn’t available for comment.
“I [feel] really bad for him,” Callaway said. “I know he was on a roll, and playing great, and now this happens.”
As was so often the case last year, the injury comes at an inopportune time. The Mets are struggling, having lost 10 of their past 13 games, and are already without outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (right hip flexor strain) and third baseman Todd Frazier (left hamstring strain), two of their best right-handed hitters.
Lagares had been set to see a lot more playing time over the next week with Cespedes out. Instead, the Mets will rely on Michael Conforto in center field, flanked by Jay Bruce and Brandon Nimmo. All three are left-handed hitters, making the Mets susceptible to southpaw pitchers. The only other outfielder on Friday night’s active roster was recent call-up Phil Evans, an infielder by trade and a right-handed hitter.
“At this point the smart thing to do would be to play the guys that are going to be playing every day, and give them a chance to get going,” Callaway said. “We haven’t been getting the job done, so the guys that are out there, starting [Friday night], they’re going to be playing a lot.”
In an emergency, Callaway said he is more comfortable using slow-footed infielder Wilmer Flores in the outfield rather than veteran Jose Reyes. Flores saw some action there in spring training. General manager Sandy Alderson told The Post it’s possible the Mets may stick with 13 pitchers and not call up an outfielder. If the Mets do call someone up, Matt den Dekker seems like a logical choice. He’s a strong defender and has posted a .286/.326//508 slash line at Triple-A Las Vegas with an .834 OPS in 37 games.
“I think we need some depth obviously,” Callaway said. “I’m comfortable with the three that are going to be out there playing. That’s the main concern at this point. If we have another injury, we’re going to need somebody to step up big time. For now, I think we’re in a good spot with who’s going to be starting.”
Famous last words. It wasn’t so long ago the Mets had too many outfielders. Now they don’t have enough of them.
— Additional reporting by Mike Puma