Manuel says Mets' centerfield job is wide open
Mets manager Jerry Manuel watches as the team works out at Tradition Field. (Feb. 19, 2010) Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Jerry Manuel gives Daniel Murphy the edge at first base and prefers that Jon Niese earn the job of fifth starter in spring training. But when it comes to finding Carlos Beltran's replacement in centerfield, the manager says he does not have a favorite between incumbent Angel Pagan and newly acquired Gary Matthews Jr.
Said Manuel, "I see it as a competition that's wide open at this point - obviously until we can get Carlos back."
Manuel added that his choice of centerfielder will not necessarily affect his plans to use Jose Reyes in the third spot in the batting order. Last week, he talked about either Pagan or Luis Castillo atop the order but did not mention Matthews in that mix.
"I would probably look at Gary and see if he could lead off," Manuel said. "I'm probably a little stubborn right now in thinking of Jose being my third hitter. As a manager, I have the right to make that lineup the way I'd like, you know? I'm a little stubborn with that right now, so I'll throw anybody up there in leadoff."
Matthews was relieved when the Angels traded him - along with $21.5 million of his remaining $23.5-million salary - to the Mets for the promise of more playing time. But he still has to beat out Pagan and then deal with the return of Beltran, who is expected to miss the first two months of the season.
"Those are things that are going to be better questions when he comes back," said Matthews, who arrived Sunday. "None of us know what's going to happen tomorrow, never mind three months from now."
Extra bases
Manuel was impressed by top pitching prospect Jenrry Mejia, who threw his first side session. The manager even joked about considering him for a late-inning bullpen role. "He had real electric stuff," Manuel said. "But this is February. [Albert] Pujols isn't ready yet. I need to see that again when Pujols is ready. If I set that up and he does well, I may have found my eighth-inning guy." . . . Omir Santos was understandably disappointed Saturday when his brother Jose called and informed him of the Mets' signing of Rod Barajas. "A little bit, but it's out of my hands," Santos said. "I guess they wanted a guy with experience and he's a more experienced guy." Under this scenario, Santos will go from potential starter with the Mets to Josh Thole's backup with Triple-A Buffalo.
