Tatis To Be Delgado's Late-Inning Defensive Replacement...

Anthony DiComo, of www.mlb.com, reports that Fernando Tatis will be replacing Carlos Delgado, for defense, late in games.

There was a diving play in Anaheim that really dazzled Mets manager Jerry Manuel, and there was another in the Bronx that impressed him. Fernando Tatis made both plays. So from now on, with any game on the line, Manuel will plan on replacing regular first baseman Carlos Delgado with Tatis. He told Delgado as much on Sunday.

"Those to me were tremendous plays," Manuel said. "I felt, 'Wow, if I can get some of that, it could save us a ballgame at the end.' I try to do what is best to win the game."

The first instance came after Delgado dropped a bad throw from Jose Reyes in the seventh inning Sunday, and Manuel replaced him an inning later with Tatis. Manuel said that had been the plan all along.

Tatis, a natural middle infielder, has shown more range than Delgado at first base this year, giving Manuel more reason to play him. So as long as Delgado isn't due up in the batting order, he will spend the final innings of most tight games on the bench.

Manuel gave Delgado a quick primer on the situation during Sunday's game, then later explained his reasoning in full.

"I explained to him, the professional that he is, the man that he's been since I've been here, the respect that I have for him," Manuel said. "I explained to him, hoping that he would understand -- which he did -- but knowing that he wouldn't like it."

(Earlier today, Tony Armas Jr., tonight’s starter, was called up from AAA, and Andy Phillips was designated for assignment. The Mets currently have 13 pitchers, and 12 position players, leaving a 4-man bench. For Tatis to be used as a defensive replacement, the Mets will need to score runs, so Tatis is not needed as a pinch hitter. Also, the pitchers will need to pitch deeper into games, so that the 4-man bench is not used as pinch-hitters. Take into account that the Mets currently have only 2 catchers, so Castro probably will not pinch hit, leaving only a 3-man bench for pinch-hitting.)