PORT ST. LUCIE – The Mets are quickly running short of right fielders.
Ryan Church is sidelined indefinitely after taking a foul ball off his right knee during Wednesday’s Grapefruit League game against the Nationals in Viera, Fla.
Coupled with the expected departure of fellow right fielder Fernando Tatis to replace Alex Rodriguez in the World Baseball Classic, Church’s absence yesterday forced Manuel to start Rob Mackowiak in right field during a 3-2 comeback win over Team Italy.
Tatis has been playing third base this spring with David Wright off to the WBC, but is penciled in for a potential platoon with Church in right during the regular season.
Manuel said the Mets would be cautious with Church, but don’t consider the knee injury truly serious.
“I think he’s day-to-day, but we’ll take our time with that,” Manuel said.
*
After struggling to get their stories straight on Johan Santana and Opening Day, Manuel and the Mets have clammed up when it comes to their ace left-hander and his (possibly) injured left elbow.
Manuel refused to say yesterday when Santana would throw again or if Santana would make his first Grapefruit League start before the March 18 date that pitching Dan Warthen specified last weekend.
*
Elsewhere in the outfielder department, Manuel has been caught off-guard by the play of offseason acquisition Jeremy Reed.
Reed, a left-handed bat from the Mariners who appears to be fighting Angel Pagan and Cory Sullivan for the final outfield spot, is hitting .500 after going 2-for-4 with the game-winning double, a triple and an RBI against Team Italy.
“Jeremy has been very, very impressive,” Manuel said. “I am surprised at the power the other way off his bat.”
*
Tim Redding, the former National in contention for the fifth-starter job, faced batters yesterday for the first time all spring.
Redding, who went 10-11 with Washington last year, has been slowed all camp by the effects of offseason toe surgery.
Redding threw 26 pitches to four batters and said he feels ready to pitch in a game for the first time Sunday, when he is set to go one inning against the University of Michigan.