Mets get day off before final spring push
New York Mets' Carlos Beltran singles to right field in the second inning in a spring training game against the Boston Red Sox. (March 6, 2011) Credit: AP
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets scattered into the Florida sunshine Sunday afternoon after a 13-3 exhibition victory over the Cardinals.
Monday's day off is the Mets' last before March 31, which is the day before the season opener in Miami against the Marlins. The Mets don't return to work until Tuesday afternoon for a night game.
"I do believe . . . when there's a day off, you take the day off," manager Terry Collins said. "That's what they're for. I want those guys to sleep in. I think they'll come back refreshed and be ready for the last couple of weeks."
Collins said he's going to start getting his regulars more at-bats when the schedule resumes. He also has to figure out who is going to play second base, who will play rightfield if Carlos Beltran is not ready to start the season, and who will man the final bench and bullpen spots.
Barring injury, the rotation is set. Chris Capuano pitched five shutout innings in an intrasquad game Sunday morning. Collins said Capuano and Chris Young have done nothing to make him think they won't join Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese and R.A. Dickey.
Beltran (left knee tendinitis) has not done any baseball activities since Wednesday and won't until Tuesday at the earliest.
"I told him when we get back on Tuesday afternoon to tell me where he thinks he is and we'll accommodate whatever we need to do," Collins said.
Scott Hairston started in rightfield against the Cardinals and went 3-for-4 with two home runs. He's hitting .407.
"He's certainly making a statement," Collins said. The manager also made his own statement in favor of rookie Lucas Duda, who did not play Sunday.
"Lucas Duda's got to be looked at," Collins said. "He's had such a good spring . If something should go wrong, we've got to certainly think about having that big bat in the lineup somehow."
Extra bases
Oliver Perez faced one batter -- lefty Daniel Descalso -- and retired him on a pop-up to first in the fourth inning. Perez threw seven pitches, five for strikes . . . Ronny Paulino, who arrived in camp Saturday, homered in his only at-bat in the intrasquad game.
