PORT ST. LUCIE — Gary Matthews Jr. felt right at home in the leadoff spot yesterday.
If Jerry Manuel’s plan of batting Jose Reyes third in the lineup is to succeed, the Mets manager will need either Matthews or Angel Pagan to emerge as a reliable leadoff hitter. Manuel seems committed to batting Luis Castillo second and Reyes third, at least until Carlos Beltran returns to action.
Matthews reached on an error, walked and stole a base in yesterday’s intersquad scrimmage. Pagan was the leadoff hitter for the opposition and finished 1-for-2.
The last time Matthews hit leadoff on a consistent basis was for the Rangers in 2006. Matthews says he is a natural to bat leadoff.
“Just the ability to switch hit, I’m comfortable taking pitches and obviously I’ve done it and had success in Texas,” Matthews said. “Hitting leadoff is where I’ve had my most success, so it’s where I’m most comfortable.”
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Left-hander Hisanori Takahashi struck out four over two innings, but also allowed a homer to lefty Jason Pridie and a single to lefty Mike Jacobs.
“[Takahashi] threw strikes,” Manuel said. “He seemed to have a feel for in and out, especially against the right-handed hitters. Those left-handed hitters you would like to see a little different, but the main thing is he threw strikes.”
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Johan Santana‘s first Grapefruit League start is slated for March 9 against the Astros. . . . Nelson Figueroa will start today’s Grapefruit League opener against the Braves. The Mets are also scheduled to send Ryota Igarashi, Bobby Parnell, Elmer Dessens, Pedro Feliciano and Eddie Kunz to the mound.
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Jason Bay is scheduled to play today, but did not participate in yesterday’s scrimmage. Manuel said he gave players the option of playing.
“[Bay] was so caught up in that Canada thing that we gave him a day to breathe,” Manuel said, referring to Canada’s hockey victory over the U.S. for the Olympic gold.
Bay is a native of British Columbia.