Alex Cora News

There were quite a few comments in your story about how the Mets need help on defense and pitching.

Carlos Beltran traveled the Brooklyn for a rehab assignment with the Cyclones, but the New York Mets may be shipping off to Puerto Rico in 2010.

Mets general manager Omar Minaya met with agent Scott Boras on Tuesday night to discuss parameters of possible deals for two of his clients -- Matt Holliday and Alex Cora.

Characters Unwelcome: Every obsession starts out small sample. So much was made about what Alex Cora brought to the Metsa clubhouse this year, and Ia m not going to argue otherwise.

Omar Minaya met with Scott Boras for 45 minutes last night to begin to determine the price on Matt Holliday.

Sources say that Matt Holliday's salary demands may be too high for Mets, which recently began to investigate free agents.

The Mets picked up the 2010 option on Mike Pelfrey yesterday and officially declined their option on reliever J.J. Putz.

The Mets' offseason to-do list has one more entry and their roster has one less.

Let's cut to the chase. Is it time for a complete overhaul? The Mets can't hit at all -- 12 home runs for their home run leader.

Jerry Manuel completed his first and possibly last full season as Mets manager, and how he handles things this coming season will determine how many more years he will be a manager in this turbulent Mets organization.

The Mets said they were confident that the right hamstring Jose Reyes tore during a workout Tuesday would heal on its own and not need surgery.

It's sure great to see the Mets lowering ticket prices for 2010. They shouldn't have been so high to begin with-like at the start of the season when the team was talking playoffs, By the time we hit July, the team-even with their injuries-was exposed as poorly put together with inept management from GM Omar Minaya on down.

Some quick pre-game notes from Citi Field, where Snoopy is prancing around the Mets' dugout before the game and posing for photos with players : -- Manager Jerry Manuel said Pat Misch will be available out of the bullpen Wednesday and could be replaced in the rotation Sunday by Tobi Stoner or Lance Broadway .

With a fully healed Jose Reyes likely to get more days off than usual next season, the importance of having a capable backup shortstop is amplified.

The focus of the Mets' 2009 season changed to next year weeks ago. The promotion of Josh Thole, the trade of Billy Wagner and the decisions to end Alex Cora's season with surgery and to seek waivers on Gary Sheffield were indications of that revised perspective.

Injuries to so many others notwithstanding, the Mets' season has been undermined as well by disappointing performances by Mike Pelfrey and Daniel Murphy.

Life on the disabled list is quite unsettling for Alex Cora. He watches the Mets on television when they're on the road, but when he has some wisdom to impart -- and that is often -- he has no one to share it with.

The Cubs will look to win their third consecutive series on Sunday behind Randy Wells, the rookie that has arguably been their best pitcher this season.

Hideki Matsui has belted six home runs with 18 RBI over his last 10 games. The Major League Baseball season begins to unwind, and while there are not many Mets still with us, veterans Hideki Matsui and Torii Hunter are heating up, while trade rumors swirl concerning a legendary closer in Milwaukee.

A source tells the News that Jose Reyes' hamstring is completely torn, and he might need surgery.