Kaz

Matsui

Jose Reyes will move back to shortstop, assuming he can stay off the DL long enough.

He has been taking grounders at second base since August 23rd while rehabbing a back injury. The Mets are probably better off with Jose Reyes at short and Matsui (who has committed a league-high 23 errors while playing shortstop) at second. It’s nice to see an athlete put his own personal desires aside and put the team first for a change.

Matsui is taking anti-inflammatories, receiving treatment and doing conditioning work for his injured back in St. Lucie, Florida. There is no set timetable for his return, but the Mets do think he will be back at some point in September.

“Kaz [back] didn’t look like he was feeling any better,” Piazza said. Reyes [stress fracture left leg] “looks better. He swung the bat well.”

Manager Art Howe indicated this may be a last-ditch effort to reduce inflammation to allow Matsui to return this season.

That said, Matsui is still feeling discomfort when he engages in most baseball-related activities and as such, there is no timetable for his return to action.

Matsui has a no-trade clause covering the other 27 teams. The Mets are open to dealing him, but there isn’t going to be much interest. Expect him to head into next season as the team’s second baseman.

Interesting if true. The Red Sox apparently are confident most of Matsui’s problems at shortstop last year were actually Mike Piazza’s fault. Matsui has a no-trade clause, so he wouldn’t necessarily have to go to Boston even if the deal is eventually agreed to.

Reyes had five walks last season, the fewest of any major leaguer with at least 220 at-bats. Matsui (.331 OBP) struck out 97 times in 460 at-bats. Randolph said he had a general ''chit-chat’’ with players about the topic, but will make more observations before he recommends any changes.

Matsui is set to lead off and play shortstop in his debut today.