Getting Healthier, Getting Closer

Well I guess it’s time to return to the CitiBlog after an extended weekend down where the sand’s turning to gold, covering the rumble out on the promenade. So I didn’t have a lot of time for the Amazin’s. You know who missed me more than you? My cat. She let me hear it last night when I rolled back into town, meowing incessantly about my extended absence. If she had been human, she would have known this guilt trip would be ineffective. Much like the guilted significant other, all I could think was, “Complaining about it now won’t change anything.” Then again, she’s a cat… what else does she have to do. Complaining is a Top 5 selection on a cat’s “Things To Do” list.

But back to the Amazin’s. I should go away more often because since I’ve been gone a great deal of Mets have returned from the infirmary. Brian Schneider, Endy Chavez, Damion Easley, Ryan Church, Carlos Beltran and even Carlos Delgado all have returned to action, making the Mets a whole lot closer to whole than they were even five days ago. Does this mean everything’s OK with the Mets? No, they’re still a team with a lot of old pieces that can break down at any time. This just simply means things aren’t as dire as they seemed last week.

It also doesn’t mean the Mets should stop looking for someone to help out in the outfield and first base should Delgado not stay healthy or Church not hit lefties. There may not be anyone available at the moment that the Mets can afford, but people always become available as Opening Day nears and teams need to make roster moves. Omar Minaya should keep his ear to the ground on this one. I’m sure he will.

Meanwhile, the pitching front is looking good as Johan Santana pitched well today and John Maine was even better Sunday. He threw four hitless innings, but is far from satisfied, according to our beat guy John Delcos.

“My slider needs to be better. It needs a little more bite.”

Talk about being your own worst enemy. But that’s OK, let him strive to be better because an improved Maine (one that doesn’t fade down the stretch) extends the rotation from just a 1-2 punch to an all-around strong staff. That’s important.

But perhaps the biggest news that I missed while I was gone was contained in the last line of Delcos’ notebook — one which The Green Machine pointed out to me. Sunday was bullpen coach Guy Conti’s 66th birthday. I always like to think that guys with unique first names are part of some sort of secret society. So for Conti’s birthday — in my mind at least — Port St. Lucie must have been deluged by Guy Lafleur, Guy Ritchie, Guy Carbonneau, Guy Pearce, Street Fighter’s Guy and even everyone’s favorite game show host Guy Smiley. No matter how you pronounce it those Guys have to stick together, you know?