Mickey all fore golf the ‘right way’

ATLANTA — Mickey Callaway understands the pull of the golf course. After Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes said he was reconsidering his decision to give up golf during the season, the Mets manager said he was fine with his players golfing in season with some stipulations.

“I think golf is like anything else. If he does it the right way,” Callaway said. “If he’s smart about it: (on) off days, days we come in and we’re not taking (batting practice) and it doesn’t fatigue him or affect baseball, then guys can do what they want away from the field as long as it doesn’t affect what we are doing with the team.”

Cespedes said he decided to give up golf after dealing with two hamstring injuries that cost him 81 games last season. Off to a slow start, hitting .195 with 37 strikeouts in 82 at-bats this season after going 0-for-5 in Saturday’s loss to the Braves, Cespedes is now reconsidering his decision. In the past, he felt golf helped him with the mechanics of his hands and shoulder at the plate, besides being something that would let him relax before taking the field.

But his golf game became a lightning rod of controversy among Mets fans in 2016. General Manager Sandy Alderson called Cespedes’ obsession with the game “bad optics” during the 2016 Subway Series. That was the day pictures surfaced of Cespedes golfing with former big leaguer Kevin Millar despite a nagging quad issue. Cespedes went on the disabled list the next day with the injury and the Mets quietly asked him not to golf while on the DL. It had been an issue before in 2015, when Cespedes left Game 4 of the NLCS with left shoulder soreness, and fans began reporting that they had seen him at Medinah Country Club that morning. The Mets clinched that night and Cespedes went on to go 3-for-20 with no extra-base hits in their World Series loss to the Royals.

REY-DEMPTION TOUR

After going 0-for-20 to start the season, Jose Reyes put it out there in the universe. The Mets’ utility infielder sent a tweet before Saturday night’s game that said ‘Jose Reyes will get a hit,’ 11 times. It seemingly worked. The veteran, starting for Amed Rosario Saturday, had three singles in the Mets’ 4-3 walk-off loss to the Braves.

“That was nice, to get that first hit of the season out of the way,” Reyes said. “But we lost that game after the unbelievable start by Jacob (deGrom).”

Reyes, who led the Mets in at-bats last season, said he is having a hard time getting comfortable in his role as a part time player.

“Tonight was the first night I felt comfortable at the plate,” Reyes said.

NEXT UP IN THE PEN

The revolving door to the Mets bullpen continued Saturday. After a 12-inning game Friday, the Mets recalled Corey Oswalt to give the bullpen a fresh arm. They sent young right hander Gerson Bautista back to Double-A Binghamton.

Oswalt, 24, was 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts for Triple-A Las Vegas. He allowed six hits, issued four walks and struck out 12 in those two starts.

Oswalt was with the Mets earlier this year from April 10-11, but did not appear in a game.

Bautista, 22, appeared in two games for New York. He worked 2.1 innings and allowed two runs.

“We just told him to continue to work and improve. He’s done such a good job from last year, coming into spring training, he looked great, he’s had a great season so far,” Callaway said. “Just continue to do the things that (Dave Eiland) is asking him to do.

They talk a lot about his chin staying on target and not pulling through. We’ll continue to communicate with his minor league coaches.”