New York Mets News and Notes

The New York Mets got what they really didn’t need in their opening series against the Florida Marlins—a series loss. They desperately need to get off to a good start this season.

If they don’t, their fans are going to turn on them rather quickly. There will be no patience at Citi Field this year.

Let’s look at what else is going with the boys from Flushing and see if there is any help on the way.

Carlos Beltran To Begin Running

I’ll believe it when I see it. Beltran, who had arthroscopic knee surgery in January, will begin running any day now.

What exactly does “any day” mean? That’s kind of subjective, no? Any day could mean tomorrow or it could mean two weeks from now.

In baseball and in sports terms for that matter, “Any day” means “We really have no idea when he is going to start running, but if we just say something, we will appease our fanbase.”

Beltran is expected to return to the Mets’ lineup in mid-May. I am still on record as saying he won’t play an inning in a Mets’ uniform this year.

We shall see.

Jose Reyes To Return on Saturday

Reyes, who is currently rehabbing in the minor leagues, is set to make his season debut on Saturday against the Washington Nationals.

“Barring any setbacks, we anticipate that, the physical conditioning part of it is going extremely well,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel. “He’s getting enough at-bats, so we will do another evaluation on Thursday after he plays in St. Lucie.”

Reyes went 0-4 and played all nine innings Thursday.

Reyes will be a huge lift to the Mets’ lineup. If he is healthy, he is one of the most dynamic players in the game and changes the dynamic of the whole Mets lineup.

Ruben Tejada Makes Major League Debut

Being 20-years-old and making your major league debut in New York City has to be a little nerve wracking. I am not going to say how nervous I would be, but I am betting I would have had to change my underwear at some point before my first AB.

However, despite not getting a hit in two AB’s, Tejada got hit by Marlins’ pitcher Nate Robertson in the fourth. If his heart wasn’t racing before that AB, it was certainly racing afterward.

No matter what Tejada did in this game, his stint in the majors was going to be a short one regardless. With Reyes coming back on Saturday, the Mets will send down Tejada so he can get AB’s on a regular basis.

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