In a rare bit of good health news at Citi Field, outfielder Carlos Beltran continued to make progress in his rehabilitation from knee surgery. Beltran, who had surgery on his arthritic right knee on Jan. 13, hit in his second straight extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Saturday.

As the designated hitter, Beltran went 1-for-5 with an RBI single and drew two walks in seven plate appearances. Beltran, 33, has been fitted with a brace as part of his rehabilitation. Beltran was allowed to jog the bases Saturday, but is still not cleared to run all or play the field.

Omar Minaya has cautioned that it will be four to six weeks from the time Beltran is cleared for all baseball activities until he will be able to return.

Beltran, a career .283 hitter, played in just 19 games last season after he was shut down with the knee problem on June 21. He is in the sixth year of a seven-year $119 million deal with the Mets.

SPLIT PERSONALITY
So why this whole Jekyll and Hyde business surrounding the Mets' fine play at home compared to their less-than-stellar play on the road?
Jerry Manuel has a theory.

"I think our ballpark is an advantage for us in a number of ways," Manuel said. "One of the ways that it's advantageous is that we accept that it's a big park. I think when the opposition comes in and hits one and it doesn't go out, I think that's deflating for them. It gives us somewhat of an advantage."

But why the road woes?

"I think when we go on the road, subconsciously, our hitters probably think, ‘I can make up some ground here. I can get me a couple here in Cincinnati, it's a little park. I can get me a couple here in Philadelphia, it's a small park. Consequently, that takes you out of your mechanics and fundamentals of hitting. "

BIG PARK, BIG ARMS
While Citi Field may not endear itself to many hitters, the benefits it provides a pitcher - 415 to dead center, high walls in left to keep the ball in the park - might be a lot more conducive to landing a big ticket pitcher in the free agent market over the winter, or so Manuel thinks.

"For the most part we've played good defense in this ballpark," Manuel said. "So if you're a pitcher and you got a good defense behind you and you got yourself what you consider a spacious park, that's an excellent opportunity to have some success as a pitcher in New York, no question."

Did you hear that, Cliff Lee?

MORE IS MORE
Manuel said he wasn't concerned about over-working Francisco Rodriguez. With K-Rod, it seems, the more work, the better.

"He likes to pitch and he's going to be a guy, at times, that uses a lot of pitches," Manuel said. "But what we learned from him last year was that he was most ineffective when he did not pitch a lot. You're talking about a guy a year removed from 62 saves, so that's a lot of pitches. So I think the more there are save situations, the better he becomes, the better he'll be. I don't think the number of pitches has an effect on him."

FROM TRAINER'S ROOM
Manuel said Henry Blanco's neck is feeling a lot better though he was not expected to see any action Saturday vs. the Marlins.

BRONX BOUND
The Mets are still two weeks away from hitting the Bronx for the second leg of the Subway Series. But Angel Pagan said he was going to be at Yankee Stadium last night to take in the Yuri Foreman-Miguel Cotto "Stadium Slugfest."

STAT OF THE DAY
20 - With Friday night's victory over Marlins, the Mets won their 20th home game of the season to run their Citi Field record to 20-9.

Only one other time in team history did the Mets win 20 in fewer games when they logged 20 victories in just 27 games in 1986. The Mets also notched 20 wins in 29 games in 1988.