Beltran gets his ABs -- gingerly

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Technically, Carlos Beltran played in a game Tuesday at the Mets' minor-league complex. But it involved such a controlled environment, against Class A pitching, that evaluating his status for Opening Day remains an inexact science.

With the Mets breaking camp a week from Wednesday, however, it seems unlikely that Beltran will be ready for the April 1 opener against the Marlins. There is just too much work for him to do, and too little time to do it. As good as his left knee felt Monday during outfield drills, and again during his plate appearances Tuesday, there is no real enough simulation for actual games.

"I have to be smart," Beltran said. "I just can't throw myself out there like that. It doesn't work that way. Just because it feels great doesn't mean I'm healed 100 percent, you know?"

The Mets have even talked about keeping him out of Grapefruit League games to possibly backdate him for the DL, and if that happens, the earliest he could return is April 5 in Philadelphia. Beltran said he hasn't been approached about that yet, so he's going on the presumption that April 1 is still his target date.

From a numbers standpoint, Beltran went 2-for-8 Tuesday with a double, a home run and a strikeout. He was limited to DH duties, and when he did reach base, a pinch runner replaced him. Afterward, Beltran said his knee was not a problem but also credited last Friday's cortisone shot as the likely reason for that.

"What that does is basically numb the area around it," Beltran said, "and probably help a little bit to get the inflammation out."

There is always the concern, however, that the shot works only as a masking agent, and after two weeks, the tendinitis returns. Beltran has played in only one Grapefruit League game, as the DH on March 6, and was sidelined after scoring from second base, a dash that included an ill-advised slide into the plate.

So far, the cortisone has done its job. But Beltran has no idea how long it will last, or if the left knee will be an issue again.

"I don't know," Beltran said. "The doctor said to me it could go away. I'm still doing my rehab exercises so I can't pull myself away from those. As I can do all my rehab, plus the work, I think it's going to get better. It's not going to heal from one day to another. Right now, I feel good. Tomorrow is a different day."

Beltran hopes to play in another minor-league game Wednesday but is unsure if he will continue to use a pinch runner. He also is uncertain when he will play rightfield. One thing Beltran does know: He has to preserve the knees at all cost, which means not running until it is absolutely necessary.

"Based on the tendinitis I had in the past, I can't do what everyone else does," Beltran said. "I need to back off on things. If guys are doing rundown [drills], I can't throw myself into that. I have to make sure that when I'm good to go play in the outfield, I'm good to go. I know there's going to be situations in games where maybe you have to react that way, but I prefer that to happen in the game. To save it."