Carlos Beltran

Describes motivation process for creativity with emphasis on intrinsic motivation by Corey K Katir

1. In todayas Post, I wrote this column about being at the domestic season opener last night between Carlos Beltranas Cardinals and Jose Reyesa Marlins, and sensing the stability of St. Louis and the sensationalism of Miami are so different right now from where the Mets are.

In the aftermath of the Cardinalsa 4-1 win, when my friend, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, asked Reyes if he missed the Mets, the shortstop said, aNo chance.a

He said it with a smile and good nature. But also honesty. He is in a place now where he is being paid lavishly — $106 million over the next six years a and the optimism and expectations abound after a few dreary years closing his Mets career.

So is there anything for Mets fans to look forward to in a season that begins today? Yes. There are always surprises and maybe the Mets will surprise. But more realistically what can occur this year is that more building blocks go into place as the Mets try to construct something long-term.

Here is what I feel good about as the season opens for the Mets: I do think Ike Davis is going to be a very good two-way player who challenges for Gold Gloves on defense and hits 30 homers. I think within the NL East it will be interesting to see who turns into the better long-term player among Davis, Atlantaas Freddie Freeman or Miamias Logan Morrison, who probably is best suited to play first rather than left.

In the Morrison ilk is Lucas Duda, who I think is miscast in right field, but not as a major league hitter. I think he has a chance to join Davis in giving the Mets two lefty-swinging 30-homer men. Understand what it would mean if Davis and Duda could actually do that. No team has had multiple lefty hitters reach 30 homers in a season since 2009, when the Phillies had three men do it: Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Chase Utley.

In Daniel Murphy they have another strong lefty hitter who could be a .300/60 extra-base hitter if he could stay healthy and not be such a liability at second base.

I feel Ruben Tejada will make all the plays at short and get on base at a pretty good clip; and might even muscle up for 30 doubles. Jonathon Niese and Dillon Gee could be mid-rotation solutions. And by August, the Mets could be working some or all of Jeurys Familia, Matt Harvey and Jenrry Mejia onto their pitching staff (for those wondering, Zack Wheeler is beginning at Double-A and, thus, less likely to make it all the way to Flushing this year).

That is nine homegrown products who all, interestingly, were brought to the Mets during Omar Minayaas administration.

If all of this were to actually happen then even if the Mets meet the low expectations and finish last in the NL East, this would not be a lost season. It would be a season of growth toward what their suffering fans could hope is a better tomorrow.

2. I watched Miamias Giancarlo Stanton take batting practice twice in the last few days at Marlins Park and what stands out for me is not just how far he hits the ball, but how high.

For example, if you watch Alex Rodriguez take batting practice, he hits what you would more describe as missiles than moon shots. With Stanton, there is a majesty to these drives watching them arc seemingly as high as they go far. In this way, they remind me of watching Mark McGwire take batting practice during his historic homer run in 1998. Of course, that run is tainted now. But whatever I think of how McGwire amassed his power, I cannot erase from my mind being part of large, awed groups who would watch McGwireas BP sessions.

What stood out in last nightas actual game, however, was that Stanton hit two balls to center that off the bat looked as if they would be homers and died on or near the warning track. It reminded me of watching David Wright in the first year of Citi Field and seeing drives that, to him, felt like homers in his hands and to his muscle memory when struck, fall short. The Mets believe he altered his swing to try to compensate to generate the power to get the ball over the fence and ended up hurting his approach, leading to more strikeouts and less effectiveness.

Reyes, in fact, likened how Marlins Park was asimilar to Citi Field, big.a He also added, aThis is nicer. It is beautiful.a

However, when I asked him about Stantonas non-homers last night, Reyes said, aHe is going to hit his homers. There is nothing to worry about.a

That is likely true. Stanton is so big and strong that probably no stadium can contain him and we have not seen fully how weather conditions will impact Marlin Park and what the vagaries will be of when the retractable roof is opened or closed.

However, owners of teams have to be careful that they are not building their stadiums just to fit their fantasies of, say, Ebbets Field or a piece of modern art and actually a you know a enhance their teams and players. You do not want to build a stadium that you plan on being around for generations for specific players on a current team. But you do want to remember that it is being built for players to perform within, including the current ones. And not just for the ownersa egos.

3. In order to accommodate Reyes at shortstop, the Marlins had to move Hanley Ramirez to third. All indications were Ramirez did not initially like that plan, but slowly moved to acceptance and then to embracing the challenge.

But as the season opener displayed, there will be growing pains. Carlos Beltran hit a squibber in the short-third hole in the second inning. Ramirez took a few steps and then halted, looking toward Reyes as if this were the shortstopas ball. But Reyes also had pulled up. There was no chance Reyes was going to play the ball that deeply on a relatively slow-moving grounder and make a play against even this slower version of Beltran. Thus, it was incumbent on Ramirez that he make every effort to reach the ball.

Rafael Furcal led off the fifth inning by pushing a bunt toward third and beating Ramirezas throw. In that situation, with a leadoff man up who can run and bunt, Ramirez has to be cheating in a little more and, generally, be way more alert for the bunt.

And Ramirez is not alone in trying to adapt. Detroitas Miguel Cabrera, after a four-year hiatus, is moving back to third from first and the Angelsa Mark Trumbo is attempting the same cross-diamond transition. They are accommodating the only free-agent position players paid more in the offseason than Reyes a Prince Fielder with the Tigers and Albert Pujols with the Angels.

The Cabrera case is particularly tricky. One element that has made him so valuable is his ability to get on the field. He has played at least 157 games in each of the last eight seasons. But in spring training, he fractured a bone near his eye off of a bad hop. He has made it back for Opening Day. But what other physical landmines are out there for him, including just the sheer exhaustion of playing a more demanding position? Anything that detracts from his bat would negate some of the bonus of having Fielder. Also, Ramirez is a better athlete than Cabrera, so you wonder if Ramirez will frustrate himself and his pitching staff by what he cannot do at the position. In fact, you wonder if either man grows so frustrated and/or embarrassed that he no longer wants to accept playing the hot corner.

It does give a greater appreciation of A-Rod, who instantly embraced the shift to third base in 2004, knowing he could not be traded where he wanted, to the Yankees, without accepting that Derek Jeter was not coming off of shortstop. Rodriguez endures a lot of criticism. But his work ethic is generally admired by even his detractors. And Rodriguez worked hard to become a good third baseman and still works hard at the craft.

1. In todayas Post, I wrote this column about Johan Santanaas first spring start, which brought both elation and hesitation because of what is still ahead.

Look, if this were the first start of just a veteran pitcher it would have passed without much comment. There really was nothing extraordinary about it. But, of course, Santana did not pitch in the majors last year. He is coming back from a shoulder surgery that is career threatening. He turns 33 next week. He is the most expensive player in Metsa history at a time when the organization has sliced and diced payroll.

So every pitch was scrutinized and dissected for meaning. And, really, as much as we want to pull information from this outing, it feels like trying to predict a presidential election by results out of one county in Rhode Island.

And I think one of the mistakes we will make is caring too much about Santanaas fastball velocity. Of course, if it drops into the mid or low 80s that would be problematic because it would probably be telling us something about the overall health of Santanaas shoulder.

But on Tuesday, Santana was between 86 mph-90 mph and pitched at 87-88. Afterward, pitching coach Dan Warthen suggested the scoreboard radar was slow and that Santana was actually routinely in the low-90s and has another gear to go. Several scouts dismissed that and said there was no way Santana was throwing that hard.

And, again, I think it is a non-issue. If Santana can get to 90-92 mph will that help.? Naturally? It will make his changeup all the more effective. But Santana has the savvy and competitiveness to win in the high-80s.

According to the data on Fangraphs.com, Santanaas velocity was on a steady decline since averaging 93.1 mph in 2006 when he was a Twin. In subsequent years it fell to 91.7, 91.2, 90.5 and 89.4 in 2010, the last time he pitched in the majors. Santanaas ERA for that four-year period was 2.98, which just happens to be what it was in 2010 for the Mets, when he had the lowest average speed of all.

Santana might not be able to succeed at any speed. But if he is healthy, he certainly can succeed in the high 80s.

2. Neither Cory Mazzoni nor Jack Leathersich is in the Metsa major league camp. But they are two players the organization is excited about and worth watching during the season. Both were part of the first draft class under Sandy Alderson last year; Mazzoni was a second-round pick (the Metsa third overall) and Leathersich was a fifth-round selection. And both had strong debuts after signing. In fact, Leathersich a lefty reliever, struck out 26 of 47 men he faced.

Mazzoni also worked as a reliever in his pro debut. But he will return to starting this year. Because he was selected as a fourth-year senior out of North Carolina State, the Mets actually feel they could rush him a bit if they wanted to get him in the bullpen and capitalize on a fastball/slider combo. But they want to see if he is a starter.

A few other Met prospect observations: They think outfielder Matt den Dekker is going to challenge for a Gold Glove some day.

They really do love their top pitching prospects. But there seems universal belief within the hierarchy that Jenrry Mejia is going to end up a late-game reliever and that the same might ultimately be true about Jeurys Familia, though they are not close to abandoning the idea of getting him ready to be a starter.

They have told Familia and Matt Harvey that they are going to the minors to begin the season. But it is just human nature, especially for young players, to try to make the team and/or leave a strong impression to get back as quick as possible. And Mets executives believe that is the case with Familia and Harvey and why they overthrew the ball so much and lost location in their first outings of spring.

The Mets would consider it a good season if Familia, Harvey and Zack Wheeler have healthy seasons in which they continue to make strides. They would like for Familia and Harvey to reach the majors at some point. And, these are the Mets, so you know they are worried enough about attendance a especially if they are not in contention in the second half a that they would want to use the debuts of Familia and/or Harvey at home as a way to boost interest.

As for Wheeler, he was the player the Mets pinpointed early in the process last year to try to acquire for Carlos Beltran. But when the Giants would not budge early, the Mets actually thought they would end up making a deal with Texas for three good prospects, but no one they estimated nearly as special as Wheeler. But I heard that the finishing piece the Mets wanted was a second baseman named Rougned Odor, who played as a 17-year-old last year. The Rangers, though, wouldnat give him up. Meanwhile, the Giants came back to offer Wheeler and the Mets made the deal with San Francisco.

Here is what I find an interesting nugget: Baseball Prospectus put out its prospect list for the Rangers yesterday and had Odor ranked 16th-best prospect in that stacked system.

3. Michael Pineda was throwing his fastball in the 88-92-mph range in his first spring start. As a fact that is probably not a big deal. Pitchers generally work into their velocity as the spring goes along.

What would raise some red flags for me was an item that Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com had in which a scout said it looked like Pineda was giving maximum effort just to get those readings, when max effort for him usually is in the upper 90s.

This is eerily similar to what scouts were saying last spring about Phil Hughes a it was not just that he was throwing fastballs in the 80s rather than the 90s. But that he seemed to be trying to manufacture speed and couldnat get there. He was not in shape and it does not take a lot to see that Pineda is hardly in tip-top condition.

Now Joe Girardi pooh-poohed any idea of concern about Pinedaas fastball. Of course, he did the same last spring about Hughes and also would not even acknowledge that Hughes was in dubious shape last spring.

Only yesterday did the usually close-lipped Girardi reveal how displeased he was with Hughesa conditioning last spring. So forgive me if I donat want to wait until next spring to wait how the Yankee manager actually might feel about Pineda.

We have two realities right now that are indisputable: 1) Pineda is not in good shape. 2) He finished last regular season throwing 89-91 mph and began this spring in that range. Maybe it means nothing, like so much of what we see and hear in spring. But letas not pretend it is a non-story.

1. In todayas Post I wrote this column about Sandy Alderson and his evaporating honeymoon as Mets GM.

Alderson was hired for many reasons. There is certainly a segment, even within the game, who believe that Alderson was pretty much handed to the Mets by Bud Selig as a way the commissioner could make sure that a capable man was working within a listing organization.

Even if you donat believe that conspiracy theory, the idea that the Mets were hiring an adult to come into what had become a baseball Romper Room was key to this hiring. Alderson because of his marriage of Harvard and Vietnam projects both erudition and toughness. He walked into the job with a resume that created an instant stature.

In many ways, I think, Alderson was hired to be a counterbalance to an ownership that a) tended not to be able to adhere to a plan whenever it showed even the least bit of failure b) had a tin ear when it came to public relations and utterances.

It was the latter that struck me on Feb. 23. If you remember that night there was a much anticipated game between the Knicks and Heat in Miami. If you also remember, Jeff Wilpon had a helicopter land on Diamond 2 at Tradition Field. To give you an idea of where that is, I am sitting in the media workroom as I write this and I can see just about the whole field outside the door. It is about 50 feet away.

In other words, it was quite ostentatious and something that the media would not miss. That this decision was made literally at the same time Mets ownership was in court in New York over the Madoff mess merely made it play out even worse. How the Mets ownership could not understand how the symbolism would look back home a you are cutting payroll and even menial jobs within the organization but you will spend a few thousand dollars an hour to fly to a basketball game a is part of that tin-ear (maybe in this case tin-eye) history.

But if anything I have come to expect this kind of blooper from the highest echelon of the Mets hierarchy. What shocked me was that Alderson got on that helicopter.

Again, he was the man who was brought in to be their Winston Wolfe, the guy brought in to be their problem solver, to protect ownership from their worst self. To me Alderson had to step up there and tell Jeff Wilpon just how terrible this was going to look and give him a few options: 1) Donat do it. 2) If you do it land in a heliport somewhere else nearby so at least it was not right in the lap of the media. 3) If you are doing this, I am not getting on the helicopter for something as frivolous as a basketball game.

When I told Alderson this yesterday, he did not disagree. But when I asked for comment, he refused. I understand that, too. No sense in tweaking the boss over this.

Within the column, Alderson also continues to say that whatever the outside world thinks, he is holding these Mets to high expectations and wants to make the playoffs in 2012.

It creates this interesting dichotomy because Alderson was hired to undo the mistakes of Omar Minaya, yet he is almost completely at the mercy of Minaya players in 2012 and perhaps longer than that.

The only real Alderson imprint is on the bullpen with Frank Francisco, Ramon Ramirez, Jon Rauch, Tim Byrdak, D.J. Carrasco and, perhaps, Pedro Beato. But even this unit has the Minaya holdovers Manny Acosta and Bobby Parnell.

Johan Santana starts today for the first time this spring and he was Minayaas largest play ever. In fact, the whole thin rotation is a Minaya production. Dillon Gee, Jonathon Niese and Mike Pelfrey were drafted during the last administration and R.A. Dickey was signed.

Among position players, the only projected starter that is an Alderson addition is Andres Torres. Josh Thole, Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy, Ruben Tejada and Lucas Duda all come from a farm system that was viewed as poorly run during Minayaas time.

Even the immediate future owes much to Minaya. The best hope revolves around their four major pitching prospects. Three a Jeurys Familia, Matt Harvey and Jenrry Mejia a came to the Mets during the Minaya tenure. Alderson obtained Zack Wheeler last July from San Francisco, but did so for Carlos Beltran, the biggest position player signed during Minayaas administration.

In Sundayas paper, I wrote this column (http://nyp.st/ySZ5jy) about Alex Rodriguezas new workout regimen designed to, among other things, avoid injury.

Talk to forward-thinking baseball executives and they will tell you the next frontier for getting a huge edge over the competition is injury prevention. It makes sense. If you keep your players on the field and avoid having to use inferior reserves more often you should play better. One assistant GM said to me, aThe teams that unlock this door fastest and best are going to have a huge advantage.a

In 2010 (the latest data I could find), the Mets led the majors with $24.7 million dollars spent for players while they were on the DL, which was 18.4 percent of their total payroll. The Aas led the majors with 40.4 percent of their payroll lost to DL time.

From 2009-11, the Mets lost 3,398 days to the DL, which was third-highest in the majors behind only Washington (3,740) and Oakland (3,483). The Yankees were ninth at 2,805.You look for one reason why the Rays have defied their small payroll to be a consistent contender is that they have lost just 1,825 games in that period to DL, second lowest in the majors. Their precious starting rotation, in particular, has been healthy.

The Rays just might be the most creative, forward-thinking team in the sport. And so I wonder this: Has Tampa Bay already found some elements when it comes to keeping players healthy that puts them ahead of the crowd?

LOS ANGELES — Look around the Mets clubhouse these days and you see a lot of smiles. The Mets are respectable, and thatas a start.

Playing hard goes a long way, especially in the National League. And the Mets are having fun making the most of what talent they do have. For a change they are laughing at themselves and not at the way they play.

All you had to do was watch the final out of the July 4 come-from-behind 5-2 win over the dismal Dodgers to understand the Mets are making the most of what they have and donat have.

That is a credit to Terry Collins.

When that out was made, Jose Reyes, who missed his second straight game with a tweaked left hamstring, was the first Mets player out of the dugout to congratulate teammates coming off the field. Reyes, as he always does after a victory, loosened his jersey and starting high-fiving.

Collins is letting the Mets have fun. He is making the most of the talent they possess.

When I asked Collins what is happening with his Mets he smiled and said, aThese guys are so fun. I wasnat here in the past and I know this sounds like Iam talking bad about the guys from before, but these guys are just having fun. They are playing for one another and that makes a difference.aa

Pulling for one another, too, no matter what injury comes their way. No Johan Santana, no David Wright and now Reyes is on the shelf, no problem. Donat expect Reyes to play Tuesday against the Dodgers as Mike Pelfrey goes up against Ted Lilly. If Reyes doesnat play Wednesday or Thursday, he will be shut down through the All-Star Game.

aYou have to have fun,aa Collins added. aWeare in a tough climate.aa

The Mets are always in a tough climate, but they are getting leadership this season from Carlos Beltran.

aYou canat ask for a better makeup. I know heas a quiet guy and some people take that as moodiness,aa Collins explained. aEspecially when you are a star like that but that is his nature. He doesnat have a lot to say, but when he does speak up, people do listen.aa

The Mets are one game over .500 and 6 1/2 games back in the NL Wild Card race. They have a long way to go but they are making it a fun little ride. In past years they have always collapsed on the West Coast. Thatas why this trip is so important from an emotional standpoint as they head into the All-Star break.

The Mets need to take advantage of the Dodgers, who are dead last in the mild NL West with a 37-49 record and ownership problems that make the Metsa woes look like a walk in the park. For now the Mets have put the distractions aside and are having fun.

They are trying to turn a Season of Disaster into a nice little Baseball Summer.

PORT ST. LUCIE a Carlos Beltran had his best day of spring training Sunday, playing right-field for five innings in a minor league game against the Cardinals.

Beltran went 2-for-5, with a double and an RBI and scored a run. He was tested in a variety of ways and even moved to his right to catch a line drive, looking much more comfortable in right. It was a big improvement from Saturdayas game when he went 0-for-5. He popped up and struck out his first two times up Sunday but by the end of the day he seemed to find his swing and was thrilled with the results.

aIam happy,aa Beltran told the Post and another reporter. aI felt good out there.aa

He smiled and joked with teammates throughout the game.

aWe gain confidence by results; thatas how this game works,aa he said.

Beltran will not play Monday, but is expected to play the outfield for the first time Tuesday against the Nationals in Viera as Terry Collins tries to get his everyday lineup on the field. If all goes well and there are no setbacks for Beltran, he will be in the Opening Day lineup in right against Josh Johnson and the Marlins on Friday.

aI feel good about this team, itas a good lineup,aa Beltran said. aMy knee feels good. Tuesday I will do a little bit more and continue to gain ground. I want to be out there with my teammates.aa

Mets right fielder Carlos Beltran hit in the batting cage in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday, but only from the right side, to protect his left knee.

When Beltran hits left-handed he has to put more weight on the knee that has tendinitis, and the Mets don’t want him to do that yet. He also played catch in the outfield, but did not run. He said he does not know when he will test the knee by running.

With each passing day, it appears less likely Beltran will play Opening Day against the Marlins.

I mentioned to Beltran that his life has been a baseball Groundhog Day

aItas been that way for me for almost two years,” he said. “Iam trying to get better brother.aa

Beltran has played in one exhibition game and hasn’t played the field. He is shifting to right field this season and will need time to learn to make that adjustment from center. He said he is “shootingaa to play Opening Day, but added, “At the same time I want to make sure that itas good to go. We’re going to be careful with this.”

Beltran said when he returns, he wants to make sure his knees are strong enough to keep him in the lineup.

aIam improving, the pain is 50-percent less than what it was a week ago,aa he said.

Beltran said the pain will not completely disappear from his left knee quickly — the knee that was not operated on before the 2010 season.

aItas not something thatas going to be out because tendinitis doesnat get cured in a week,aa he said. aI need to continue to train the quads to make that leg feel better.aa

Beltran said the fact he was able to hit a lot in the offseason will make it easier for him to come back. If he gets in games the last week of spring training, he said he will be able to play Opening Day.

*

Johan Santana played catch for the second consecutive day and reported no problems after he made about 60 throws from a distance of about 70 feet.

“I can’t wait to start hitting,” Santana, who was in good spirits, said with a smile. aThat’s the real challenge.”

Carlos Beltran is leading the Cardinals in homers, RBIs, total bases, runs and walks.

Baseball whispers: He’s struggling at the plate despite batting ahead of Prince Fielder. Also, Charlotte, Las Vegas and Portland are all possible locations if the Athletics leave Oakland.

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