Mike Vorkunov of the Star-Ledger spoke to Terry Collins before the game at Citi Field and reports that Andres Torres has made progress in his rehab down in Port St. Lucie. The centerfielder went on the 15-day disabled list two weeks ago with a strained left calf.

Collins said three days ago that Torres needs to prove he can sprint at top speed. He has picked up his activity level but still has not run at full speed, nor run the bases, but he has done outfield drills.

“One of the things that’s basically been the cause is basically this explosion that he has that has caused the injury,” Collins said. “So they’re trying to put him through those start-stop drills before they really start to extend his running program.”

“When he does come back, the centerfield job will be his”, writes Vorkunov.

Collins did add that longterm he’s unsure yet who will be his center fielder, but wants to see Nieuwenhuis perform better against LH pitching.

Also, David Wright told reporters that the Mets have not approached him about an extension and that at no time has the subject been discussed.

Darryl Strawberry called Wright to congratulate him for tying his Mets RBI record during batting practice. I wonder if we reminded him? 🙂 They both have 733.

Angel Pagan’s in town, no tribute planned (just kidding), but he says he was shocked the Mets traded him.

Enjoy the game…

Original Post:1:30 PM

There is a common thread – a familiar ring – to today’s Mets Game Notes. Let’s see if you can spot it…

WRIGHT IN THE RECORD BOOKS: David Wright collected three RBI on Wednesday at Atlanta to give him 733 for his career, equalling the franchise mark set by Darryl Strawberry. Colorado’s Todd Helton is the only other active player who leads his team’s all time RBI list. Entering tonight, Helton has 1,316 RBI.

Thought from Joe D. – While that’s true, and while I commend Wright on this pretty cool achievement, lets not forget this is possible mostly because we never keep anyone on this team long enough to compile eye-popping statistics. For example imagine if we had simply hung onto Rusty Staub when we first acquired him, he would have over 1,000 RBI’s as a Met and what about Jeff Kent… There’s dozens of examples, those are just two.

NINE IS FINE: David Wright has reached base safely at least twice (via hit, walk or hit by pitch) in all nine games he’s played this season, the longest stretch to start a season in team history…The last time it happened in the majors was in 2002 when Seattle’s Mike Cameron accomplished the feat…Three other Mets had a six-game streak: Jeff Francoeur in 2010, Jose Reyes in 2007 and Mike Cameron in 2005…Research courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau.

STREAKING FROM THE START: David Wright has a nine-game hitting streak to start the year. Wright set the franchise record with a 14-game hitting streak to start the season in 2007. He also had a 10-game hitting streak to start 2009.

GAMES: David Wright’s next appearance will tie Mookie Wilson for sixth place on the club’s all-time games played list with 1,116.

WRIGHT’S RETURN: David Wright returned to the lineup Saturday from a fractured pinky and has gone 10-22 (.455) with four RBI in his last five games. The Mets are 6-3 when Wright starts this year. Overall, Wright is hitting .500 (17-34) with two home runs and eight RBI…Wright leads the majors with his .517 batting average. Matt Kemp is second (.451). The Mets third baseman also leads the majors with a .550 on-base percentage.

There was also some other stuff too…

KIRK NIEUWENHUIS: Finished with three hits, three runs scored, two doubles, one walk, one stolen base and one RBI on Wednesday at Atlanta to become the first rookie, and fourth player overall, in team history with that stat line or better in a single game. The youngest centerfielder in the majors has hit in six straight games, batting .450 (9-20) during that span.

IKE DAVIS: Has cracked three home runs in his last four games. After not driving in a run in his first eight games, Davis has six RBI in his last four games.

JASON BAY: Has hit in five straight games and has at least one hit in eight of his 11 starts. Bay has raised his average over 50 points to .211 from .158 over his last five contests.

JOSH THOLE: Has reached base safely in all 11 games he’s played. Thole has collected at least one hit in eight of those 11 games. Thole is hitting .355 (11-31), 10th-best in the NL and has a .474 on-base percentage, the fourth-best percentage in the majors.