Season-ending surgery for Mets' Escobar

CINCINNATI - Kelvim Escobar will not throw a pitch for the Mets this season.

The team announced Monday night that the righthander will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair a torn capsule in his pitching shoulder. GM Omar Minaya signed Escobar, 34, to a guaranteed $1.25-million contract in December even though he only pitched in one major-league game in the last two seasons because of injuries.

The Mets had hoped he could be their main setup man. But he reported to spring training with shoulder troubles and never recovered.

Frankly speaking

As Daniel Murphy continues to inch his way back to health - he took batting practice Monday in Port St. Lucie, Fla. - and spring training favorite Chris Carter hits the tar out of the ball at Triple-A, Frank Catalanotto's .143 batting average seems conspicuously low.

Catalanotto has the support of manager Jerry Manuel, who said he is looking beyond the stats. He wants to get him some more at-bats soon so the Smithtown product can be better equipped when he is called upon to pinch hit. "I think you judge on the quality of the at-bat," Manuel said. " . . . You could be seeing a lot of pitches, you could be fouling off some tough pitches, it could be hitting a line drive right at somebody."

Carter is batting .325 with four homers and 17 RBIs.