You could tell. And if you couldn’t tell, Jeff [Wilpon] was there to remind you. It was fun. It’s a little different down here in Florida. You’ve got the wind. You’ve got the humidity. So the ball doesn’t probably carry as much as it will in different conditions. But obviously if you ask a hitter if they enjoy hitting in a more-hitter-friendly park, they’re going to say yes. And I’m no different than that.”

~David Wright

The wind was blowing out to left pretty good, so that felt pretty good. I saw David hit some balls out. I think he hit one out to right-center. I think Jeff came up and said something to him. He was like, ‘See, I told you we brought them in.’ And then Duda hit a couple out to left. And there was one ball, the last swing I took, to 358 in left-center that ran out of real estate that I was like, ‘All right, I kind of like that a little bit.’”

~Daniel Murphy

Here are some pictures from the Mets official Twitter page of the construction that is taking place back at Citi Field:

Right field Wall construction

Left Field platform where new seats will be

My favorite question (and answer) came from our friend over at MetsPolice who asked the following about Sandy’s dog Buddy:

Photo taken by Mets Official Twitter Feed

It’s been a tough time, a lot of challenges out there. But this is part of the game. Injuries are part of the game. You battle, yourself, until you get back. And that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m not trying to hurry anything. I’m just going to go one step at a time. If it’s there, great. If it’s not, I’ll work my way up. That’s what we’re looking for.”

Prior to Santana’s mound session, Mets manager Terry Collins gave a state-of-the-team address and according to David Lennon of Newsday was very optimistic when talking about #57:

In my mind right now, in my heart, he’ll be ready.  I don’t think there’s any question. He’s gearing himself up for that to be ready. We’re going to take this as Dan [Warthen] has said and I have said and I’m sure Sandy [Alderson] has said, we’re going to take this very slowly and very cautiously.  He’s going to have a lot to say how he feels and how we’re going to go about it. This guy has worked so hard in the last 18 months to get ready, I think he’s going to be ready. I really do.”

While Collins believes Santana will be ready for opening day, the left-hander would not confirm:

Going through everything I went last year, one day you feel good, one day you don’t feel so good. It’s like a rollercoaster. Right now, so far, I’m feeling really good and hopefully toward the end, mid-spring training, we’ll have a better idea where we’re at and see if we’ll be ready for Opening Day.”

A lot has to happen before Santana makes that March 5 start, but at least it's something to shoot for. #mets

February 21, 2012 1:06 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@DPLennon

David Lennon

Justin Turner will be the primary back-up to Ike Davis at first base and according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the 27-year-old is eager to get acclimated to the position:

I played in spring training last year. I played a couple of games in the Dominican two winters ago. Obviously it’s a little different over there — a different angle.  I’ll put some work in over there and get acclimated to it as quick as possible and see what happens.”

In other news from PSL, it looks as if there will be a #7 roaming the field.  Too bad it won’t be the speedy, highly skillful shortstop who donned the number over the last eight years:

Looks like we'll be seeing the return of No. 7 for tomorrow's workout. Bench coach Bob Geren listed on roster with the Reyes' old number.

February 21, 2012 1:13 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@DPLennon

David Lennon

*NOTE-

Mets prospect Jeurys Familia threw a bullpen session today as well. To view a video of Familia’s session, check out this video posted to MetsBlog.com.

Johan Santana. Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey, Frank Francisco, Miguel Batista, Tim Byrdak, R.A. Dickey, Jeremy Hefner, Jeurys Familia, Armando Rodriguez, Fernando Cabrera and Daniel Herrera also are scheduled to throw off a mound tomorrow.

Jenrry Mejia, who who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on May 16, 2011 could possible join the above group of names in a mound session tomorrow as well; although manager Terry Collins told Rubin, Tuesday probably is a little too soon.

Jenrry Mejia could throw off a mound for the first time tom. Hoping to get clearance today in his return from Tommy John.

February 20, 2012 9:04 am via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite

@KBurkhardtSNY

Kevin Burkhardt

According to David Lennon of Newsday, it seems as if Jason Bay has taken over the locker formally occupied by Jose Reyes (I’m loving the blue Spring Training jerseys; may have to pick one up).

The weirdest and possible the funniest story to come of the day is that of Jon Niese; who according to Andy Martino of the Daily News, got a nose job because of Carlos Beltran.

“He wanted me to have a new nose,” Niese said, according to Martino. “So he offered to pay for it, and I was just like, ‘all right.’ Then it turned into seeing doctors, then it turned into getting it fixed.”

As Martino explains in his post to the Daily News, while there is little physical difference, Neise claims to be breathing better than ever before:

— On Monday, 10 pounds lighter than last fall, Niese said that the surgery had made cardiovascular exercise far smoother.

“It’s just so much easier for me to breathe,” he said. “Working out, it just seems so much easier for me.”

The ability to enjoy better exercise was an unexpected benefit of the process that began with Beltran’s teasing. After meeting with a surgeon, Niese was surprised to learn of problems that ran deeper than appearance.

“It was all messed up,” Niese said. “If you saw the CAT scan, you would have been pretty grossed out. The surgeon, he told me, ‘a normal nose should be like a doorway with the door open a little bit. (Niese’s nose was) like somebody ripped the hinges off the door and smashed it sideways into the wall.’”

Niese said he always knew there was an issue with his nose, but had no idea of the effect on his workouts and breathing.

“I grew up with it, so I never knew the difference,” he said. “But now that it’s done, it feels a lot better

Rodriguez, earning $11.5 million in 2011 in the final year of his three-year, $37 million contract with the New York Mets, believed that he had a provision in his contract stipulating 10 teams to which he would not accept a trade, including the Brewers. Yet, after discovering last July that a no-trade provision was never filed on his behalf, he fired Kinzer and Tellem and hired Scott Boras. He was traded a few days later to Milwaukee.

Boras negotiated a $500,000 payout to eliminate a $17.5 million vesting option in hopes that Rodriguez would still be used as a part-time closer, which never materialized. The trade and the Brewers’ subsequent use of Rodriguez as a set-up man likely diminished his value on the free agent market entering this season. … If Rodriguez had been aware a no-trade provision was never filed during his career, his attorney [Richard] Johnson said, he would have been much more amenable to signing an extension with the Mets. Rodriguez believed he had leverage, Johnson said, that never existed.”

Rodriguez, who signed a 3 year/$37 million contract with the Mets prior to the 2009 season, was on pace to finish 61 games for NY which would have surpassed the 55 games finished required for his atrocious $17.5 million option to vest.  He posted 23 saves with a 3.16 ERA for NY in 2011, but was never used in a save situation following his trade to Milwaukee.

K-Rod will return the Brewers as the set-up man to John Axford after accepting arbitration and signing a one-year, $8 million contract.

Alderson said last spring there was a "presumption" Beltran might be traded at deadline. With Wright, "there isn't that presumption."

February 18, 2012 12:11 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@McCulloughSL

Andy McCullough

Alderson, asked if Mets could up payroll if in contention: "Yes, uh huh." And does he know by how much? "No, uh, uh."

February 18, 2012 11:51 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@SurfingTheMets

Andy Martino

Alderson, asked if Mets could up payroll if in contention: "Yes, uh huh." And does he know by how much? "No, uh, uh."

February 18, 2012 11:51 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@SurfingTheMets

Andy Martino

Also, Alderson said Wright's future with #Mets is independent of team performance. Stressed Mets-only option for 2013 as one big reason.

February 18, 2012 11:29 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@DPLennon

David Lennon

Alderson spoke for roughly 20 minutes this morning. Didn't want to compare Wright's situation with Reyes because "Reyes isn't here." #mets

February 18, 2012 11:28 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@DPLennon

David Lennon

Also said Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia types not on his list of alternate candidates to break camp in rotation if someone hurt.

February 18, 2012 11:28 am via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite

@AdamRubinESPN

Adam Rubin

And don't expect to see Zack Wheeler or Matt Harvey early this season. @MetsGM: "I'd be very surprised if we broke from that timetable."

February 18, 2012 11:26 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@mikekerwick

Mike Kerwick

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Alderson said the following about bringing up any of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, or Juerys Familia prematurely:

Photo taken by Mets official Twitter

I don’t think it’s a problem waiting as we sit here today. The problem arises when one of your starting five goes down and you’re tempted to bring somebody up at an earlier time. … Let’s face it, some of the guys in that rotation would like to have better years than they had last year. But, at the same time, the real problem is depth in the event somebody goes down. So the temptation with those three guys [excluding the rehabbing Mejia] doesn’t really exist at the moment. … I’d be very surprised if we broke from some sort of timetable. Now that’s not to say that somebody doesn’t get off to a great start at Triple-A and is doing this and that and we have an injury. But right now, when I look at our rotation, and the depth for our rotation, none of those guys are in there. So of the five guys we have, and then the three to five guys we have backing them up, they’re not in that three to five category.”