PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. _ While Tim Tebow was going through his publicity generating first baseball day with the Mets on Monday, a few fields over a left-hander who could actually help them this season was doing his own lonely workout.
Steven Matz, who could rejoin the Mets and start as soon as Friday, went through fielding and running drills in front of one fan. At the same time, Tebow practiced in front of about 400 fans and 70 or so media members.
The Matz fan asked the lefty if he was planning to go up to New York and pitch for the Mets this week. Matz, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 14 because of a shoulder injury, said that he was.
Matz was more cautious when Newsday asked the same question.
"We're just taking it step-by-step," he said. "I don't know. I'm throwing, I'm throwing off the mound. I feel good. I feel really good. It's just a matter of building up pitches and being able to compete in the big leagues. That's kind of what we're evaluating now. That's it. But I'm feeling healthy and feeling good."
Matz said his next step will be throwing a bullpen session in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. If that goes well, he could face the Phillies at Citi Field on Friday.
On Sunday, Mets manager Terry Collins said: "We certainly hope that this week he's up here with an opportunity to pitch."
