Mets Scratch Wright; Hairston Hurt Taking Swing
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets third baseman David Wright was scratched from an intrasquad game on Saturday because of soreness around his ribcage, while outfielder Scott Hairston injured his left side and could be out for a week or more.
Wright said he understood the decision to sit out, noting "if it was a real game, obviously I would be playing. But they wanted to try to take it slow, especially this early in the spring."
Wright felt stiffness on Monday and was limited in workouts early in the week.
Mets manager Terry Collins said was more important for Wright to be healthy for the Mets' exhibition opener Monday night against Washington.
Hairston, however, will be out longer. He re-injured his left oblique muscle swinging in the first inning of the intrasquad game.
"It's unfortunate, but we have a lot of time left before the regular season so I'll spend that time getting right. Hopefully I'll be ready the last few weeks of spring training," he said.
Hairston originally strained his left oblique against Philadelphia last Aug. 23 and finished the season on the disabled list.
This time, Hairston said he "took a swing and I felt it pinch a little bit."
"I stepped down and knew I had something going on there. I finished my at-bat. I didn't swing anymore, but I've experienced this before," he said.
Hairston, who was expected to be Andres Torres' backup in center field, said he will get a cortisone shot Monday to "help speed up the process."
Collins said he was worried about the injury.
"I certainly can't address how long it's going to be, but I am concerned about it," Collins said.
"The thing that scares me about Scott is that he did it bad last year. I mean, his was bad. Now here it is, he says it's not in the same spot, but I'm worried about it."
Hairston later said it did feel like it was the same spot he injured last season.
Collins said Adam Loewen will get more playing time in center field this spring with Hairston injured.
"It's hard to put last year behind me," Hairston said. "Like I said, I've been through it before. I'm not really disheartened too much. I'm not really one to crawl in a hole and feel sorry for myself. I'm going to do my best to heal and get ready as soon as possible."
