Morning News

Banged-Up Knee Hurting Mets' Kaz March 17 New York Post (registration required): "Matsui sprained the MCL in his right knee during an awkward slide in the first inning of the Mets' 6-5 victory over Atlanta, and he's scheduled for an MRI today." Matsui hurt once again March 17 Newsday: "Matsui, the Mets' likely Opening Day second baseman, suffered a sprained MCL (medial collateral ligament) in his right knee sliding into second base in the first inning of last night's game against the Braves at Tradition Field." Matsui's knee injured in slide March 17 Newark Star-Ledger (registration required): "Kazuo Matsui left last night's game against the Braves after two innings with an injury described as a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee." Heilman's 1.00 ERA not enough? March 17 Bergen Record (registration required): "So now Heilman, promised a shot at the starting rotation, has delivered a 1.00 ERA in three starts. And what he has gotten is just a promise of two more weeks of competition." Mets greet World travelers March 17 New York Daily News: "The Mets welcomed back the Venezuelan contingent yesterday. The Puerto Ricans arrive today." Mets getting back together March 17 Journal News: "With their 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience over, it is time to get back to work for the Mets who participated in the World Baseball Classic." Old friend Franco March 17 Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration required): "Julio Franco, determined to play until he is 50, wanted to stay with the team that rescued him from the obscurity of the Mexican League. But when the New York Mets offered the 47-year-old first baseman a two-year contract worth more than $2 million, it was an offer the Braves couldn't match in more than just monetary terms." Shop talk March 17 Rocky Mountain News (scroll down): "The Yankees, Mets and Dodgers have expressed interest in Oakland left-hander Barry Zito, but if they want the Athletics to listen seriously, the teams are going to have to overpay. " Metwork Has Bumpy Start March 17 New York Post (registration required): "SNY had some colossal opening night jitters, including the loss of audio for nearly 15 minutes in its first 90 minutes, misspelled ID graphics and many instances when the picture and sound simply vanished." Tough start for SNY March 17 New York Daily News: "Sportsnet New York got off to a rough start yesterday, losing its sound and picture frequently during programming leading up to its Braves-Mets Grapefruit League telecast." Some Absences at 'Mets TV' Party March 17 New York Times columnist Richard Sandomir (registration required): "SportsNet New York's debut yesterday was so much different from the YES Network's in 2002. To celebrate, the Mets' network gave itself a party on the plaza outside its studio on Avenue of the Americas." SNY makes error-Filled debut March 17 Newsday columnist Neil Best: "The best thing that can be said about the debut of SportsNet New York was this: At least it was not April 3. " Sex arrest for intern March 17 New York Daily News: "The Port St. Lucie Sheriff's Department has arrested an intern with the Mets training staff for allegedly soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl via computer. " Mets Day In Camp March 17 Newark Star-Ledger (registration required): "The place was buzzing with the cast and crew of Sports Net New York, as last night's game marked the launch of the Mets' TV network."