PORT ST. LUCIE — Ruben Tejada is the latest Mets infielder who evidently doesn’t understand the difference between on-time and Terry Standard Time.
Though the Mets shortstop won’t technically be late in reporting to camp if he arrives Saturday as scheduled, manager Terry Collins is agitated Tejada hasn’t gotten an early jump on mastering his new job, replacing Jose Reyes.
“A lot of it is just selfishness on my part,” Collins said yesterday. “I take great pride in the game itself and respecting the game.
“I wish everybody had the same respect for it where they wanted to get started as early as possible.”
Tejada remains in his native Panama, because he was late in making an appointment to receive his visa.
He is scheduled to arrive in camp on Saturday, the deadline for position players to report. Other position players still absent include veterans Jason Bay, Scott Hairston and Ronny Cedeno.
The Mets think highly of the 22-year-old Tejada’s ability, but as one player said yesterday: “We’re going to have to stay on him to make sure his head doesn’t get too big.”
Last season, Collins became upset when Luis Castillo was among the last position players to report.
The manager had wanted Castillo to make a strong early statement that he was serious about claiming the second-base job.
Castillo ultimately was released in spring training.
“I know Ruben will come in great shape, and I know he’ll be ready to go,” Collins said. “I just wish he was here.”
Not only is Tejada set to become an everyday shortstop for the first time in his major league career, he will be working with a different second baseman than last season, when Justin Turner mostly handled the position.
Tejada played shortstop during Reyes’ two stints on the disabled list.
The new double-play combination features Daniel Murphy at second and Tejada at shortstop. Murphy, who arrived in camp 12 days ago, said he isn’t troubled Tejada is still absent.
“We would like to have him down here, but I think he’s working 100 percent and he can pick it for sure,” Murphy said.
“He’ll get down here and we’ll talk to him,” he said. “He doesn’t mind the work, especially when the season starts. We still have six weeks of spring training — there is plenty of time.”
David Wright said he would prefer to have Tejada here already.
“In a perfect world you would have everybody here, especially the infield because we all work together and we have to know each other,” Wright said.
“But there’s a reason the report date is when it is, and you have every right to kind of show up when you want to, so I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed or upset.
“Of course we would like to have him here, but we’ll get plenty of work in. Spring training is long enough.”
Collins was asked if Tejada knew he should arrive early.
“I didn’t spell it out. I pretty much suggested he get down here early,” Collins said. “I probably should have spelled it out.
“It’s never too soon to start working on your trade, especially with a new second baseman. Obviously, there will be a lot of work to do here when [Tejada] gets in.”