PORT ST. LUCIE — If you were a really optimistic Mets fan — perhaps an oxymoron at this point — you might have thought the ability to stay healthy was one bright spot regarding the team’s inexpensive and relatively youthful roster.
So far, that hasn’t worked out, either.
Ruben Tejada is among the latest casualties, going down with a strained left groin while fielding a slow ground ball during an infield drill prior to yesterday’s 7-1 loss to the Cardinals.
“It’s a little bit tight,” said Tejada, who was replaced by Omar Quintanilla, who went 1-for-22 for the Rangers last season. “I’ve got to take care of that.”
And though an angry Terry Collins lambasted the state of the team before the game, a calmer Collins explained how damaging the injuries have been.
“I’m not mad at anybody,” the Mets manager said. “I’m allowed to be frustrated. This is a team I’m trying to get ready to win. I’m sitting here, trying to tell you how we’re going to compete, and we aren’t going to compete if we don’t have our players on the field … This spring, so far, we have been unable to put the team on the field. We eventually have to do that.”
That’s not likely to happen anytime soon, since Mets’ camp has been filled with hobbled players in need of MRIs, injections and days off. Now Tejada will sit at least for today with David Wright (ribs) and Tim Byrdak (knee surgery) still out.
Collins and his staff are trying to figure out how to stay away from such issues in the regular season.
“I just addressed it the other day to the entire unit, about making sure when they get out there to make sure they’re good and warm … [and] loose,” Collins said. “And then all of a sudden, you lose two guys during the [pre-game] workout.”
Asked if players might be skipping steps in their workout routines, Collins replied: “They are not. I am getting feedback from everybody. I met with [strength coach] Brad Andress this morning and we talked about the whole thing. Guys are doing what he’s asked them to do.”
But the results aren’t the same around Digital Domain Park as they are in other parts of Florida.
“[Monday], I looked at the Tigers,” Collins said of their spring training game in Lakeland. “They ran their whole lineup out there except for Ryan Raburn. Nobody’s got a bad back? Nobody’s got a bad shoulder? We do.”
And then some. Most of the Mets’ injuries don’t appear to be serious. D.J. Carrasco will be out for a few days after twisting his ankle yesterday, and Ronny Cedeno is shelved because of tendinitis in his knee.
It all has left Collins a bit rattled.
Prior to yesterday’s game, he said the minor bumps and bruises were wearing on him: “You need an aspirin, you’re off for the day.”
And after the game, Collins told a bizarre story about being able to find patience during trying times.
“I had a buddy that used to have a bear, a pet bear,” Collins said. “When he got mad, the bear would go kick him around the cage. And he finally said, ‘OK, I’m back down to earth now.’ ”
It’s only March and things don’t seem to be improving for the Mets. Maybe Collins should stay away from zoos.