BlackAmericans.com

The jolting bulletin that came out of Manager Jerry Manuel’s pregame news conference was that second baseman Luis Castillo would start Saturday.

Luis Castillo, who has a strained hip flexor, may come off the disabled list on Thursday. But in his absence, Damion Easley and Argenis Reyes held down the fort.

Damion Easley has been so effective that Manager Jerry Manuel has raised the possibility that Luis Castillo will not automatically reclaim his job when he returns.

Luis Castillo and Jerry Manuel are wondering whether it is Castillo’s strained hip flexor will put him on the disabled list.

Shoddy fielding, a slumbering offense and poor pitching, stalwarts of the first 81 games, reappeared as the Mets opened the second half of their season with a 7-1.

Luis Castillo, who injured his left quadriceps while running out a triple on Sunday, was left out of the lineup on Wednesday.

While two starters are rehabilitating their injuries, the pitcher has reaffirmed his spot in the rotation by doing well in his last three starts.

Luis Castillo spoke optimistically about playing enough in the team’s final 13 spring games to be ready for the regular season.