Delgado's Absence Already Costing Mets

Reed's error in 11th costs Mets

On the night they found out that Carlos Delgado will miss a large chunk of the season after hip surgery, the Mets also found out that their in-house options for replacing him are imperfect. Jeremy Reed couldn't make a throw to the plate with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, allowing Mark Loretta to score the winning run in a 3-2 Mets loss.

Reed is an outfielder by trade, but he replaced Fernando Tatis in a double switch in the 10th inning. Tatis had his own hand in sending the Mets to defeat. The game may not have continued into extra innings if Tatis hadn't gone 0-for-5, stranding a pair of runners in scoring position, although neither of the ersatz first basemen carry the full blame for the loss.

Ryan Church and Angel Pagan are also wearing some goat horns. Church for failing to touch third base on his way home on a Pagan single in the top of the 11th, and Pagan for failing to yield to Carlos Beltran in the bottom of the inning. A ball fell between them to set up the winning rally. 

One game isn't enough to say that the Mets have to run out and get a replacement for Delgado via trade, any more than they need to get a replacement for Church because he failed to touch a base. Reed's error was a reminder that bad things happen when you keep playing players out of their comfort zone, however. Tatis and Daniel Murphy, if he ever finds his way out of Jerry Manuel's doghouse, are equally inexperienced as first basemen which means the Mets may have to get someone who knows how to play the position.

For a team that's all too comfortable making mental errors already, adding a guaranteed trouble spot is a dangerous proposition.

Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.

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