The 30 best moves of this year (cont.)

Source: Reyes didn't tear hamstring completely, but surgery still looks likely

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Star shortstop Jose Reyes, who personifies the Mets' disastrous and injury-wracked season, now has received an initial recommendation to have the hamstring tendon that's been bothering him for several months to be surgically fixed. The new recommendation came after Reyes suffered a tear in his hamstring this week but months after injuring the tendon behind his knee.

The decision was made not to have surgery in June on the tendon, and that now looks like a mistake. After the latest setback, doctors are re-evaluating whether the tendon issue led to the hamstring tear, and Reyes will learn in the next day or two if a second doctor also suggests surgery.

If the tendon is repaired, the Mets believe Reyes will be ready for spring training next year. Of course nothing they've thought all along regarding Reyes' injury has come true. He was originally only supposed to miss a few days.

The day before tearing the hamstring (that tear is said not to be complete and expected to heal with rest), Reyes remarked to friends that he was feeling as well as he had in months and even whispered that he was hoping to play in one last game this year. Reyes, who is known around the team has an especially hard worker, may have pushed himself too hard this week. But the question has to be asked whether the Mets pushed too hard this summer when they were suggesting Reyes' hamstring tendon injury might be only a matter of days.

Reyes is one of a long list of Mets who were out with injury a lot longer than originally expected. Carlos Beltran and John Maine eventually made it back after long layoffs, but Oliver Perez, J.J. Putz and Carlos Delgado never did.

A high-ranking Mets person suggested the Mets were hampered by bad luck and a couple wrong personnel choices in an apparent suggestion that their medical protocol is fine. But based on what's gone on, they might be best advised to re-evaluate all their medical practices.

Around the majors

• Cardinals star Chris Carpenter probably has the edge now over teammate Adam Wainwright following five more shutout innings Thursday in a 13-0 win at Cincinnati in which Carpenter also hit a grand slam (and had six RBIs). Carpenter leads the NL in ERA (2.24) and winning percentage (.810), a strong combination that's rarely overlooked by voters (only a handful of times has a pitcher led in both categories and not won the Cy Young). He also is second in WHIP at 1.01 (Dan Haren is at an even 1.00), compared to Wainwright's 10th-best 1.21. Carpenter has gotten significantly less run support than Wainwright while winning a higher percentage of games than his teammate (or anyone else). Whoever wins the award, both Cy Youngs should be from Missouri, as the Royals' Zack Greinke is the overwhelming favorite in the AL.

• The Dodgers are struggling mightily offensively. Andre Ethier has one hit in his last 29 at-bats, while Manny Ramirez is batting .229 in September. Folks are worried out in Hollywood.

• Diamondbacks people are perplexed that the whole isn't equal to the sum of their parts. Big years by Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton and others aren't adding up to very many wins. So the team's attitude has to be analyzed.

• The Braves made a smooth exit for Bobby Cox, who announced he will retire after next year, but he still has a year to figure out a way to stay. Chipper Jones said he doubted Cox will ever really leave, echoing the thoughts of many.

• The Red Sox should not have hung around the clubhouse to celebrate the occasion of their backing in. This is a team that's won two titles in the last half decade, so backing into a wild-card spot should not have been worth staying at the park 'til past midnight to toast. They turned it into a late night, making their matchup the next day vs. Roy Halladay the surest bet of the season. They lost 12-zip.

• Joba Chamberlain appeared to pitch himself out of any hope of an October start. The Yankees should put him in the 'pen this weekend with an eye on relief work for Chamberlain, who hasn't been nearly as effective as Gaudin as a starter in recent weeks.

• Kudos to the Padres and manager Bud Black for playing hard until the end. San Diego was 17-9 in September. The A's and Royals also kept playing long after they were finished. Good for them. Not every team can say the same.

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