Howard Simmons/New York Daily News
Anthony Recker and the Mets catchers will not be able to block the plate this season.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Even though MLB has not yet issued the new rule on homeplate collisions, Mets catchers discussed how they might be affected by them with bench coach Bob Geren on Wednesday.
“We had pretty much gotten away from letting them have a lot of contact at the plate anyways,” said Geren, a former catcher for the Yankees and Padres. “This is not going to be a huge change for them.”
Geren said he would talk to the catchers about positioning and making sure they tag across the plate.
Baseball is still working on the wording of the rule, which is expected to go into effect this season, but Geren said the catchers are already working within the “spirit” of the rule.
“We know generally what they are looking for,” Geren said. “It is not going to be a big adjustment.”
UTILTY ARM
Terry Collins said Wednesday that lefty John Lannan, in camp on a minor league deal and trying to win the fifth starter spot, could also get a chance in the bullpen.
“He hasn’t relieved before, but we know what he does against lefthanded hitters,” Collins said. “He has great numbers against lefthanded hitters. We’ve got to certainly keep his name in the mix.”
Lefties have a career .267 average against Lannan. Among the other lefties in camp vying for a spot in the bullpen are Josh Edgin, Scott Rice, Stephen Matz and Adam Kolarek.
Collins said he would like two lefthanders in the pen this season. Rice was Collins’ most reliable lefty in 2013.
NO MORE FAT JOKES
Bartolo Colon has born the brunt of his fair share of fat jokes, but Collins said the pitcher’s fitness is nothing to laugh about. The squat-looking hurler has participated in all the conditioning drills since he arrived in camp, said Collins, who says he’s OK with the shape Colon is in.
“He does a lot of bike work inside,” Collins said. “I had Jack McDowell; he didn’t run a lot, but he rode the bike a lot.
“He prepared himself,” Collins said of Colon, who is generously listed at 5-foot-11 and 265 pounds. “I talked to our strength guy and he’s in the weight room every day doing something.”
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