MET NOTES
The latest measure of Carlos Beltran’s improved health came in the seventh inning yesterday when he stole second base and then third.
“I hope that that’s a great sign for things to come,” manager Willie Randolph said.
After suffering a strained right quad on May 21, Beltran is now 100 percent. He had not stolen a base since April 10 and had not even attempted one since May 1. Even that attempt, in which he was caught, was a pickoff and not a true caught stealing (in fact, Beltran’s two caught-stealings this year have both been on pickoffs). He has three steals this year.
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Cliff Floyd exploited Philly’s pull shift against him in the third inning yesterday, bunting to the left side of the infield for a hit. He guessed that the last time he bunted was maybe 1993.
“These guys want to put the shift on, that’s fine,” Floyd said.
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Asked yesterday about going to the All-Star Game, Pedro Martinez replied, “As of now, I’m thinking, if they select me, I’m going. Or if my manager and my training staff believe that I should take the rest, then I will do that. But as of now, we haven’t discussed that. So we’re just waiting.”
Martinez indicated that being a Met for the first time could influence the decision, saying, “That’s a big factor. I’m pretty sure [GM] Omar [Minaya] and those guys are probably going to consider that, knowing the fact that Omar wanted to make a statement when he brought me over, when he brought Carlos over. It would be a great deal for the Mets to actually have both of us in the All-Star Game, along with Cliff Floyd and whoever deserves to be there.”
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Miguel Cairo (strained left hamstring) played in a doubleheader yesterday in the Gulf Coast League. As a DH in the first game, Cairo went 3-for-6 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Playing second base for four innings in Game 2, Cairo went 1-for-2. He’ll play another rehab game today, meaning the earliest he could return to the Mets is tomorrow.
A possible roster casualty with Cairo’s return is Victor Diaz, who has not started since June 21 and has had just four at-bats since that time.
“We have to make a decision when Miguel comes back, so we’ll see where that takes us,” Randolph said of Diaz’s status.