Morning Papers

March 24, 2006 Remedies Abundant, but Wagner Bides Time New York Times (registration required): "Billy Wagner will try anything to heal the ailing middle finger on his pitching hand. Well, almost anything." Second Thoughts New York Post (registration required): "Kazuo Matsui again failed to ascend to those mild requests. Anderson Hernandez has. So the Mets now are all but set to go with a 23-year-old with one major-league hit as their second baseman when the season begins. " Matsui feels he's ahead of schedule Newark Star-Ledger (registration required): "Matsui, who has missed 123 of a possible 324 games since joining the Mets prior to the 2004 season, said he still believes he'll be back sooner than the three weeks that the Mets predicted for him. " No place to go Bergen Record (registration required): "From his locker in the Mets' clubhouse Kazuo Matsui can see Anderson Hernandez readying for a game, packing for a road trip." Reyes is comfy with Kaz's sub New York Daily News: "Reyes once again will be at short in '06, but he may have a new target, at least for the short term, since Matsui's knee is injured: Anderson Hernandez, a 23-year-old Dominican who played just six games at second at the end of last season." Milledge Happy With Camp New York Post (registration required): "Among the 21 position players left in Mets camp, every one has spent at least some time in the majors or is a legitimate candidate for the 25-man roster. Except Lastings Milledge." Lastings impression New York Daily News: "Wednesday night, Lastings Milledge whacked the game-winning hit against the Dodgers, and yesterday he was penciled in to make the road trip south for a night game against the Marlins." Lasting a bit longer Newsday: "By now, the Milledge family RV, which follows Lastings everywhere, is usually headed for points unknown. But Milledge remains with the Mets, with the RV anchored in the Tradition Field parking lot, and that raises the probability both could arrive in Flushing at some point this season." Milledge going to Triple A but remains charged up Newark Star-Ledger (registration required): "When the Mets pull out of Port St. Lucie a week from tomorrow, provided none of their outfielders gets injured, Milledge is headed for Triple-A Norfolk. No questions asked." Milledge's joy ride is continuing Bergen Record (registration required): "The Mets are aware of his potential, as is the rest of the league, with almost every phone call from other general managers starting with Milledge as the most desirable piece." Numbers game for new Met Journal News: "For those thinking of drafting the Mets' Xavier Nady, the thinking is what his numbers would have been if he had gotten 600 at-bats. Nady wonders, too." Mets' Peterson uses science to improve pitching Palm Beach Post: " Earlier in his career, before he became a convert, even Peterson bristled at the notion of using science to understand pitching. Yet the Mets signed him to a three-year deal before the 2004 season precisely for days like this." 60 seconds with Brian Bannister Palm Beach Post: "Staff writer Joe Capozzi spoke with New York Mets pitcher Brian Bannister, who also is involved in photography." Play Ball! Cablevision Adds Mets New York Times (registration required): "Cablevision agreed yesterday to carry SportsNet New York, ending worries by Mets fans in the metropolitan region that the team's new channel would not be available in time for opening day on April 3." Cablevision, SNY Agree New York Post (registration required): "Cablevision yesterday reached an agreement to clear SportsNet New York, the Mets' new cable network, starting last night, mostly on Cablevision system's Ch. 60." Cablevision sets Met net New York Daily News: "Mets fans among Cablevision's three million subscribers could breathe a sigh of relief yesterday when the area's largest cable system reached a multiyear agreement with SportsNet New York, the team's new TV home." Mets to be aired on Cablevision Newark Star-Ledger (registration required): "A week after the launch of the new Mets'-owned network, Sportsnet New York, Cablevision Systems and SNY executives announced the two sides had come to an agreement to put the channel on Cablevision's expanded basic cable system." Joy in Mets' world Bergen Record (registration required): "The regular season doesn't start for another 10 days, but Mets fans in Cablevision territory already have chalked up a key victory." Mets fans can tune in again Journal News columnist Jane McManus: "Yesterday SNY and Cablevision announced they had signed a long-term agreement, and the network appeared on Channel 60 in time for the Mets' preseason game against the Marlins, which, ironically, was rained out." Mets covering Hispanic bases Newsday columnist Neil Best : "The advertisements certainly stood out; in fact, they initially looked like mistakes. They were printed in English-language newspapers over the past two weeks, but they weren't in English."