Mets want Beltran ready for Opening Day
The Mets' Carlos Beltran pauses during batting practice before the start of a spring training game against the Washington Nationals. (Feb. 28, 2011) Credit: AP
JUPITER, Fla. -- After five weeks of glacial progress, the Mets delivered a message Wednesday morning to Carlos Beltran: Time to pick up the pace.
Shortly after his arrival, Beltran was called into the manager's office, where he talked with Terry Collins and general manager Sandy Alderson about the steps necessary to get him ready for Opening Day.
"I think it was important today to have a schedule for the next eight days," Alderson said. "Obviously we have to be flexible on it. It will depend day to day on whether that schedule gets moved back. But I do think that it's fair to say that at this point, there's not a lot of wiggle room in that schedule between now and Opening Day if he's going to be on the active roster."
Beltran played in a second straight minor-league game, but again was used as the DH and required a pinch runner. He batted only lefthanded -- the side of his most recent knee issues -- and went 0-for-5. Collins will check on him again this morning, and he'll have to play rightfield soon to have any shot at April 1 against the Marlins.
"We've got to get him out there pretty soon, to see how his knee is going to handle playing the outfield -- it's a must," Collins said. "We talked about that this morning. Hopefully in the next few days we'll get him out there."
Said Alderson: "As of this point, he's still on track for Opening Day."
Izzy's elbow passes test
Jason Isringhausen, fresh off a three-day dose of anti-inflammatory medication, looked perfectly fine throwing a bullpen session. Isringhausen had been bothered by muscle soreness in the area of his right elbow but afterward felt fine and plans to pitch Friday in a minor-league game.
"It's just part of dealing with an elbow that's been surgically repaired a number of times," Isringhausen said. "That's as good as it's going to get."
