Manuel: Matthews Jr. on tenuous ground, too
The Mets might not be done reshaping their bench if Gary Matthews Jr. doesn't pick it up soon.
One day after the team designated Smithtown product Frank Catalanotto for assignment and replaced him with Chris Carter, manager Jerry Manuel expressed doubt about Matthews, who is batting .156 with 18 strikeouts in 45 at-bats.
In spring training, the Mets thought Matthews could be a candidate for the centerfield job in Carlos Beltran's absence or at least a valuable fourth outfielder. He started in center on Opening Day but lost that spot to Angel Pagan. He is 1-for-12 as a pinch hitter after last night's fifth-inning single.
"I thought in spring training we saw a pretty good player," Manuel said. "The result of that was probably the fact that he was playing a lot. What we have to find is if we get in a situation where we can use him maybe three or four days in a row and he gets going and then somebody else comes into the picture, can he handle sporadic play? Right now, he's obviously not handling sporadic play . . . We'll have to make a decision. Some guys are good everyday players but don't play well off the bench. I don't know if that's the case with him at this time."
Matthews, 35, was acquired from the Angels for pitcher Brian Stokes on Jan. 22. The Angels are paying $21.5 million of the $23.5 million left on his contract, which runs through the end of next season.
Matthews' value to the Mets seems to be that he can play centerfield; Pagan has not always been the most durable player, so they need someone who can back him up until Beltran returns.
Beltran, by the way, has begun light jogging, the Mets announced. Manuel, asked when Beltran might play for the Mets, said, "I have no idea."
Extra bases
Manuel said he did not know when Henry Blanco would return from the bereavement list. He also said he expects Rod Barajas and not Josh Thole to catch today's series finale if Barajas feels OK after catching last night . . . Daniel Murphy (knee) is playing in extended spring training games . . . Ryota Igarashi (hamstring) has graduated to throwing in the bullpen.