I’m sure you’re as sick of reading about injuries as I am writing about them but the main theme of spring training 2008 for the Mets is not just injuries but injuries that will linger throughout the season. The team to beat in the NL so far looks like a team that will be without its major players come the 31st of this month in Miami

Omar Minaya has to stop downplaying the injury factor as so this spring. Every inquiry about the walking wounded gets the same response “We’re not concerned” which is such bullshit.

Carlos Beltran is nowhere near ready to play in fact the way he’s talking I don’t see him starting the season any place but the disabled list:

{ “When you have surgery, you lose all the muscle in your quads, everything goes away,” Beltran said. “Because the knees are fixed, the sensation of tendinitis I was having, I don’t have any more. But if I don’t strengthen my quads, then all the pounding is going to be in the knees, and I’m going to aggravate the knees again.”

As Beltran spoke, he demonstrated with his legs, showing how they might get tangled up and put his knees at risk. For everything that he has done so far, it’s the high-impact activities that worry Beltran the most. Bel.tran says he’s fine in the batter’s box because of the hitting program he began while in Puerto Rico this winter.

That would be fine if Beltran was a DH. As a centerfielder, there are other concerns. Beltran shagged fly balls Tuesday, but there’s one hitch: He can run in a straight line, but stopping is a challenge. And he can’t plant his feet to make a throw.

“The problem in the outfield is the stop-and-go, when I have to stop and turn,” Bel.tran said. “I can run, but I can’t stop way out there. Also, when you run the bases, sometimes you’ve got to stop real quick, and that’s a problem right now. I don’t feel confident doing it.”}What we know about Beltran during his Mets career is he will not play unless he feels 100 % so that’s why I see Angel Pagan starting in center field on opening day. Add Marcus Thames name to the list of right handed hitters the Mets are looking at. Thames has power and plays both corner outfield positions and some first base. Mets are dangling Schonenweies, Sosa and Joe Smith as trade chum.Here is how bad the spring injury epidemic has gone for the Mets we are relived that Ruben Gotay only has a sprained ankle than a broken ankle.El Duque is trying out a new leg kick that won’t put as much pressure on his bunion. And guess what? Duaner Sanchez will not pitch again today versus the Dodgers. He has not pitched since last Friday. And of course there is nothing to worry about here.If you got ‘em you can’t smoke ‘em at Shea this year.

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