Manuel: I'd disregard pitch count if no-no is in progress
Jerry Manuel's moves in Sunday's game provided Ken Davidoff with a rare oportunity to praise the Mets' manager. Credit: Christopher Pasatieri, file
If a Mets pitcher has a chance to throw the franchise's first no-hitter while under Jerry Manuel's watch, pitch count won't be a factor.
On the heels of Edwin Jackson's 149-pitch no-hitter Friday night, Manuel supported Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch's decision to keep his pitcher in the game that long. "I don't think you can interfere with history," Manuel said. "If a guy is trying to make history, you've got to give him every opportunity to do that. I don't have a problem with that."
Manuel added that he's not a fan of pitch counts, suggesting that young pitchers today have been trained to think they are going to get tired - or perhaps hurt - after they reach a certain number. "I think we've probably taken that a little too far,'' he said.
Beltran update
Carlos Beltran went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs last night for Class A St. Lucie. He played seven innings in centerfield and had two putouts, but there still is no timetable on a return. "I'm looking forward to rejoining the team," he said after his third rehab game. "I'm feeling better. The knee feels good. When I'm playing, I'm playing the game right. I'm not thinking about my knee, I'm just reacting."
Royal touch
Prince Harry, on a three-day visit to New York, stopped by Citi Field to throw the ceremonial first pitch.
He met with the Mets in the clubhouse beforehand and R.A. Dickey worked with him for a few minutes, giving him some pointers on throwing a strike. But he didn't show him how to throw a knuckleball. "He wanted to throw it over the plate,'' Dickey said, "and that's not where you start."
Pagan sits
Angel Pagan missed his third straight game with muscle spasms in his right side and probably is another day away from returning.
He took swings only from the right side before yesterday's game, saying the team wanted him to wait a day before trying to swing from the left side. With righthander Scott Baker pitching today, it seems likely that Pagan will be on the bench again. "I feel a lot better," he said. "Just want to make sure there are no setbacks." With David Lennon
