Beltran wants to move on after knee dispute

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Carlos Beltran said Monday that his surgically repaired right knee felt better immediately after the Jan. 13 operation. Healing the rift that developed with the Mets, however, took a little longer.

Beltran figured that he needed about a week to cool down after his dispute with team officials, who claimed that the All-Star centerfielder did not follow "protocol" by deciding to have surgery at Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo. But he took the high road back Monday and Beltran insisted there were no lingering "hard feelings" between himself and the Mets.

"Honestly, what happened to me is in the past," Beltran said. "Actually, I don't feel like I want to talk about that. What I'm really concerned with now is making my knee feel better and trying to get back in the field. I already made my statement, that's what I wanted to say and I don't want to get into details.

"I just want to move on. I look forward to what is ahead, and what is ahead for me is to get ready, get better and get back on the field."

Beltran, who had the arthroscopic procedure to help alleviate the osteoarthritis in his knee, still has about seven weeks before he can resume full baseball activities. But it had to be considered a positive first step that he even showed up for spring training. Immediately after the operation, the Mets picked a fight with arguably their best player by claiming that he had surgery without their permission.

In last month's statement, Beltran insisted that was not the case, and went as far as to say that Omar Minaya "wished [him] well" on the eve of the procedure. As Beltran began his rehab, he privately fumed in Vail.

"It took me a while because I'm a human being, of course," Beltran said. "I'm a person who has feelings. It took me like a week for me to forget about everything, to focus on what is important for me. What is important for me is to be with the team, to be ready, and to be able to play."

Beltran missed 21/2 months last season with a bone bruise under his right knee and finally opted for surgery when it suddenly became worse during his winter conditioning program.

"When [Dr. Richard Steadman] went inside, he said to me he couldn't believe how I was playing with so many little pieces floating around the knee," Beltran said. "When he cleaned this out, he said you're going to feel 100 percent the day after I do the surgery and actually that's how I felt."

Beltran said he must have a series of four MRIs to track the healing, but that process has not begun, so it's impossible to determine a timetable for his return.

Jerry Manuel intends to use either Angel Pagan or Gary Matthews Jr. as Beltran's replacement in centerfield and drop Jose Reyes from the leadoff spot to third to help fortify the lineup in his absence. Still, a speedy recovery would help.

"Switch hitter, middle of the order, power, speed, centerfielder," Manuel said. "When you have it, you kind of take it for granted. But when you lose it, it's tough to lose. In going forward, it's probably easier for us to adjust now than it would have been if this were to happen later, and I think we'll be OK with it."