MLB

Mets’ Beltran ‘kneeds’ Opening Day boost

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PORT ST. LUCIE — The baseball card sits in the top left corner of his locker. When Carlos Beltran is at his lowest, when the frustration of being sidelined because of knee woes is at its worst, the little kid in Beltran comes to life.

To remind himself of the star player that he once was and desperately hopes to be again someday, Beltran will read the back of his bubble gum card.

He took that card from his locker yesterday after another limited day of workouts that included no running. He looked at some of the staggering numbers that he once produced playing on two good knees and smiled.

PROSPECTS COUNTDOWN

“When I feel down, that’s what I do, I look at my numbers,” Beltran said. “I see how many times I have driven in 100 runs. I say, ‘You know what, I’m a good player.’ ”

When the Mets open up against the Marlins and Josh Johnson April 1, chances are Beltran will have to again look at the card to put good thoughts in his head. Beltran said yesterday that he might not be ready for Opening Day because of tendinitis in his left knee.

That’s not the knee that required surgery before the 2010 season. That knee injury kept him sidelined until July 15 last season.

When it was mentioned to him that his life has been a baseball “Groundhog Day”, Beltran said. “It’s been that way for me for almost two years. I’m trying to get better, brother.”

Beltran has played in just one spring game and has yet to play the field. He is shifting to right field and will need time to make that adjustment from center.

He said he is “shooting” to play Opening Day, but doesn’t want to suffer a setback because he rushed back too soon.

“I want to make sure that it’s good to go,” he said. “We’re going to be careful with this.”

Beltran hit only right-handed yesterday in the cage. The Mets do not want him to put extra stress on that left knee yet.

“I’m improving. The pain is 50 percent less than what it was a week ago,” Beltran said. “Tendinitis doesn’t get cured in a week.”

Beltran said his Mets career has not been anything like he envisioned.

“I thought we were going to win championships,” said Beltran, who is in the final year of his monstrous seven-year, $119 million deal. “I want to finish strong, not only for New York, but for myself, also.”

Beltran, who turns 34 next month, said if he gets in games the last week of spring training he will be able to play Opening Day but, really, everything is up in the air.

“God has put me in places that I never thought I would be in my life,” Beltran said. “I have to be thankful for all I have.

“A lot of people say, ‘You don’t have to worry. You’ve made lots of money.’ This is not about how much you make or where you play, this is about your personal competitiveness,” he said. “When healthy I can be one of the best in the game. All I want to do is play. All I can do is come to the ballpark and put in my best effort and continue to pray.”

Beltran said he worked so hard over the winter and remains energized because the previous offseason he could not do anything.

“I couldn’t even lift a five-pound weight last year, this year I feel like I’m more prepared for the battle,” Beltran said. “Last year, I felt like I was naked to the battle. Now I feel I have armor, even though I haven’t played in the field, I’m confident it’s going to pay off.

“Every day I visualize myself doing things in the field, throwing from the outfield, running the bases,” he said. “That’s my faith. How far I am away from that, I don’t know.”

And when those times come when he is at his lowest, he will sneak a peek at the back of his baseball card and dream of better days.

kevin.kernan@nypost.com