PORT ST. LUCIE — For a franchise that is supposedly bleeding cash, the Mets sure know how to travel in style.
That was evident about 5 p.m. yesterday when a helicopter carrying team COO Jeff Wilpon, manager Terry Collins and members of the front office, including general manager Sandy Alderson, lifted off from a practice field at the Mets spring training complex for last night’s Knicks-Heat game in Miami.
It also came as the Mets, who say they lost $70 million last season, were in court trying to fight a clawback lawsuit by the trustee for the victims of the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. The Mets have reduced their payroll by about $50 million this season.
Miami is about 120 miles south of Port St. Lucie, but with I-95 rush hour traffic considered, the Mets contingent would have had no shot at making last night’s 7:00 tipoff unless they had departed hours earlier.
Earlier in the afternoon, Collins — without divulging he would be traveling by helicopter — indicated he was looking forward to watching Jeremy Lin in person.
“I’ve seen three of the games on TV and I’m as enamored as anybody because I think [Lin] one of the great stories,” Collins said. “He’s the perfect guy that any coach can now talk about: Here’s a guy that was days from being released, finally got his chance and said, ‘I’m not coming out.’ ”
Told that new Marlins shortstop Jose Reyes was expected at last night’s Knicks game, Collins said he would be prepared. Reyes accepted a $106 million deal from the Marlins after the Mets failed to make him an offer.
“I’ll be sitting behind [Reyes] and throwing popcorn down his shirt,” Collins said.
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Johan Santana threw 32 pitches from a bullpen mound and reported no problems with his left shoulder. He is expected to throw again Sunday. Collins said the lefty could begin facing hitters in batting practice by the middle of next week.
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Carlos Beltran reported to spring training for the Cardinals and informed reporters he fully plans to reimburse Jon Niese for his nose job.
Beltran, who offered to pay for the procedure last year, indicated he will give Niese $10,000 when the Cardinals play the Mets in spring training next month. Niese, who initially wanted the surgery for cosmetic reasons, also had a nasal blockage repaired during the process. He credits that for better respiration and losing 10 pounds in the offseason.