It’s black and white for Mets manager Willie Randolph: Either you produce or you don’t.
“If you produce, you play,’’ was how Randolph announced the benching of second baseman Kaz Matsui and temporarily going with a platoon of Jose Valentin and Chris Woodward.
Randolph said it won’t be a strict platoon, and would determine his starter based on match-ups and his gut feeling.
Matsui’s average has dropped from .297 at the end of April to .213, in large part by a 4-for-39 slide that included flying out today for Orlando Hernandez in the sixth.
Bringing up Anderson Hernandez or Jeff Keppinger weren’t discussed. Hernandez is a prospect needing at-bats and is a better fit for the minors, while Keppinger doesn’t fit their profile of an athletic and fast infielder.
Around the Horn …
SS Jose Reyes’ error today snapped a streak of 40 errorless games. … David Wright had reached base seven straight times against the Marlins before striking out to end the fourth inning. … Steve Trachsel, tomorrow’s starter, said he could have gone today. He was given an extra day after suffering back stiffness following last Tuesday’s start. … Pedro Martinez is complaining of a sore right hip, but remains in line to start Wednesday against Arizona. With an off day Thursday, don’t be surprised if he is pushed back to Friday against San Francisco.