FORT MYERS, Fla. — Time for the Mets to accept the fact Carlos Beltran might start the season on the disabled list.
General manager Sandy Alderson dropped a significant hint yesterday, saying the hobbled right fielder could be excluded from Grapefruit League games, allowing the Mets to backdate a potential disabled list stint. The Mets used such a tactic last year with Jose Reyes, allowing him to miss only the team’s first four games as he worked into shape following an absence mandated by an overactive thyroid.
“We’re still planning on [Beltran] being ready for Opening Day, but we’ll see where he is [tomorrow],” Alderson said.
Beltran took batting practice yesterday in Port St. Lucie, his first baseball activity since incurring tendinitis in his left knee 10 days ago. He still has not been cleared to begin running.
“I’m improving,” he said. “The pain is 50 percent less than it was a week ago.”
Alderson said, in retrospect, it was silly to believe Beltran had a shot at playing center field this season. Angel Pagan was named the center fielder last month.
“This is a thing that will have to be managed over time,” Alderson said, referring to Beltran’s creaky knees.
* Mike Pelfrey allowed three earned runs on nine hits over five innings in the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Twins. Pelfrey’s fastball was stuck in the high 80s. The right-hander said he had trouble getting pumped up for the game.
“There’s not a whole lot of adrenaline in spring training,” Pelfrey said. “I even tried to get mad out there, make myself mad and get a little adrenaline, and wasn’t very successful at that.”
Pelfrey said he expects his fastball back in the 90s by opening night, when he is scheduled to face the Marlins.
Manager Terry Collins said he liked Pelfrey’s command, and the right-hander did not walk a batter.
“As I told Mike, what I liked most is he pounded the strike zone,” Collins said.
* According to an industry source, former Mets GM Omar Minaya is “antsy” for a return to baseball in some capacity, but still is exploring options.
Minaya, who still is owed about $2 million by the club, has an offer to rejoin the Mets in a scouting capacity. Minaya has not ruled out the Mets, according to the source.