Beltran Sidelined

Mets CF Carlos Beltran is sidelined with tendinitis in his left knee.  Beltran believes the tendinitis was caused by him compensating for his surgically-repaired right knee in the off season.  The Mets are admittedly worried about his availability for the regular season.

The injury is not thought to be serious and Beltran is expected to return in four or five days.  He has said that the knee has been bothering him since he started running in camp.  Both Beltran and GM Sandy Alderson have said that he could play if needed and that the time off is simply a precaution.

Beltran has begun taking anti-inflammatory drugs, though cortisone has not been administered.  He has said that he can be ready for opening day, although he's only played in one game thus far and has yet to play the field, despite the fact that he's learning a new position.  Manager Terry Collins had planned to use Beltran in back-to-back games before the outfielder begged out of the lineup (he was penciled in as the DH) on Monday.

Beltran initially described the pain as "sore in a good way," and most reporters and Mets fans believed the pain was in his surgically-repaired right knee, not the left one, which was presumed to be relatively healthy.  He was also penciled into play a simulated game yesterday where he could hit but wouldn't be required to run, although the Mets backed off that plan too.  The continual downgrading of his status suggests that the pain in his left knee is increasing.

Beltran is adamant that the problem has been caused by compensating for his surgically-repaired right knee and is not a more serious problem.  If Beltran isn't ready for Opening Day, the Mets would look at OF Fernando Martinez, OF Scott Hairston, OF Willie Harris, and 1B/OF Nick Evans in right field, though not necessarily in that order.