Carlos Beltran

It seems as though Carlos Beltran could have played his last baseball game, at least in the near future.

Beltran played in 81 games in 2009 because of knee bruises and the time off and rehab from surgery has not healed the bruises.

For this reason, he is not ready to resume baseball activities at this time, no timetable has been set on when its possible to return to the Mets.

Carlos Beltran met with the doctors in Vail, Colorado this week in what was supposed to be a final test before he started rehab, but even though he is “making progress,” Beltran has not been cleared to resume baseball activity.

The Mets wouldn’t call it a setback, but in reality it is hard to imagine that this isn’t exactly that. Two weeks ago they said it would be any day until he was going to start running again, but here we are and Beltran still off his feet.

Yesterday at Busch Stadium will be a day that will go down in baseball history. It was truly remarkable that a game in this era of baseball goes a full 18 innings without a run crossing home. 

However, the story of last night's game was not dictated by the hitting, pitching, running, or fielding; it was the managing. And you better believe that there were a lot of questionable moves.

Whenever a game goes that long, there will be a lot of strategical moves that need to be made. Everything from substitutions to sacrifice bunts, to who is going to pitch.

The 2010 Major League Baseball season is almost two weeks old, and already, there are naysayers that speculate New York Mets' skipper Jerry Manuel could be on the verge of unemployment.

Granted, the Mets come into play Friday last in the National League East, but is that really a reason to start panicking, this early in the season?

The Mets have played six games and have been far from inspiring. Home runs aside, the offense has lacked when it has mattered most, and that needs to change, desperately.

For the time being, the offensive struggles are taking a back seat (as they should) to the starting rotation and the instability of each pitcher, including Johan Santana.

Last weekend we heard that Beltran was not in pain but is not ready to run yet, with no timetable of the delay so when he will be ready is an unknown at this time.

Mets fans are passionate, loyal, and at times pessimistic.  They also hold very high expectations.  One can understand the pessimism, as we have been witness to quite the roller coaster in the past few years. 

I consider myself one of the more optimistic fans of the Amazins'.  As evidence, I provide you with exhibit one (read Opening Day Optimism ).

The New York Mets season began Monday afternoon at Citi Field against the Florida Marlins. Everyone from their fans to others around baseball have had concerns about the Mets' 2010 season due to early injuries, as well as a suspect starting rotation. For at least one day, however, those concerns were put on hold and the Mets came away with an opening day victory.

As I did following the Yankees opener in Boston, after each game I plan to post a quick recap.

The New York Mets will start the 2010 baseball season with two of their most influential hitters on the DL.

Carlos Beltran will not resume any baseball activities until April 10 at the earliest, and even then it could be anything between four and eight weeks until he's back in the everyday lineup.

Jose Reyes, meanwhile, will be on the sidelines until at least April 11, after the Mets put him on the DL retroactive to March 26.

For any baseball fan, there is no better time of year. The sun has finally broke through, spring training is in its final days, and it's time to play ball. 

This Sunday will mark the beginning of the 2010 season as the Yankees and Red Sox start off their season at Fenway Park. This matchup should be a great prelude to what will be another great season of baseball.

The New York Mets are really hoping to surprise some people this season after the dismal, injury-riddled 2009, but a portion of that expectation is resting on the rehab from surgery on the right knee of Carlos Beltran.

According to the New York Daily News, Beltran is likely going to be back in the lineup before early May.