PORT ST. LUCIE — Carlos Beltran became “The Running Man” yesterday, but the Mets won’t be happy until he is the “Terminator.”
Playing a simulated game, the hobbled right fielder ran bases at full speed for the first time this spring and moved a step closer to making the Mets’ opening night roster. Beltran also played right field.
“My main concern was being able to run the bases — stop and run and things like that,” Beltran said after participating in a 45-minute simulated game. “Thank God I got that out of my head, and I’m looking to do a little bit more the next couple of days.”
Beltran, who is recovering from left knee tendinitis — he previously had weakness in his right knee — is scheduled to repeat the process today after playing as the designated hitter in a minor league game. If all goes well, Beltran could play right field in a minor league game tomorrow.
“He’s ready to go in the outfield and play. I don’t know how many innings, probably five,” manager Terry Collins said. “We’ll see what our thoughts are [today], but we discussed it, and we’ve got to get him in and see how he handles game situations.”
Barring a setback, general manager Sandy Alderson said he expects Beltran ready for the regular season opener at Florida next Friday.
“I think everybody understands we’re on a tight schedule at this point — there’s not a lot of flexibility between now and Opening Day as far as [Beltran] is concerned,” Alderson said. “Unfortunately, I think it is a day by day proposition at this point. We just have to see if we hit the benchmarks between now and Opening Day.”
Alderson would like to get Beltran at-bats against major league pitchers, but the Mets will likely wait until the weekend to decide if he can participate in Grapefruit League action.
If Beltran appears in a Grapefruit League game, a potential disabled list stint cannot be backdated. Otherwise, the Mets can place Beltran on the DL and lose him just for the first series.
Beltran running the bases 100 percent was probably more significant than the fact he played right field, according to Collins.
“Probably the bases, because you’ve got to make sharper cuts, you’ve got to stop,” Collins said. “The first swing he took he rounded first, and the fact he had no discomfort stopping, that is where it really comes. I said, ‘Did it bother you at all?’ He said no. I thought that was really big.” Beltran agreed with that assessment.
“Those couple of steps when you’re slowing down, normally when you have tendinitis, you feel it there,” Beltran said. “But I didn’t feel anything there. This is a good step for me to move forward. Defensively I feel very comfortable. My main concern was being able to run the bases.”
Alderson would like Beltran in the opening night lineup just for peace of mind.
“Opening Day is kind of like the Dow at 10,000,” Alderson said. “It if dips below it, then you don’t know where it comes to rest. The idea is, let’s see if he can be ready for Opening Day, and let’s go for it. If he can’t be, he can’t be. But I think that’s what he wants, so that’s what we’re trying to reach.”