(Matsui) has to get back into game shape. The kid's doing really well defensively and we're winning a few games, so there's no rush, that's for sure.

That's very important. I like my pitchers to stay focused and execute pitches and not get wrapped up in the score, but that's not very easy to do. Jae got a little tired at the end. We had some long innings, but he did keep us in the game as far as getting throught the first five pretty easily.

Winning the first game of the series doesn't mean anything if we don't win the next two, or one of the next two.

Today, obviously it's pretty much bad game management. Anytime you give up 0-2 home runs, that's not what you want to do. We had that quick 1-2-3 pitcher and then all hell broke loose in that one inning where he should have gotten out of that real easy. He just made bad pitches at the wrong time.

We walked the tightrope a little bit, but it was a good game for the fans to watch.

Every situation is totally different for me. Every team that faces Barry Bonds has the same dilemma. You just pick your spots in the course of the game and you try to make the right decision and hope that it's executed. It's no different than any other team. Obviously, he's still a presence and obviously he's still one of the best hitters in the game and you have to be very conscious of him.

Even if he would have lost or had a so-so game yesterday, he's still going to bring something to the table every time,

There's nothing to address. We're going to play the game the way we've been playing.

Pretty exciting night for us. Nice win for us in the first game of a homestand. Now we've got two more big ones.

I told him that I'd prefer him not to do that. He felt he could maybe get a bunt base hit and, like I said earlier, if he makes it, then we're OK. But even if he makes it, it still might not be the right play.. ... He feels that's part of his game in his mind. But, personally, no, I'd rather him swing the bat.

I told him that I'd prefer him not to do that, ... He felt he could maybe get a bunt base hit and, like I said earlier, if he makes it, then we're O.K. But even if he makes it, it still might not be the right play. But he feels that's part of his game in his mind. But personally, no, I'd rather him swing the bat.

It's obviously a very important stretch for us, and we'll just play it as we go. That's the way we've kept it all year, one game and one series at a time.

It's always nice to get the guys out there moving around. You sit back and watch guys throw on the side, but the only way you can get a good feel is to get into game action.

It was a good game for us to get back on the winning ways. Hopefully we're going to turn the corner here, and get into a nice little run.

If somebody told me wed lose every game to the Braves this year and be in the World Series, Id take that.

If we've got to win a game or we need him, I'll put him in.

Comeback wins are always nice. Anytime you can take a game away it's always big.

The kids are obviously part of our future, and the fact is they're going to experience, hopefully, a very exciting pennant race. Everybody likes their hits. It's being involved in something that could be special and getting experience when the game counts. Mets fans and the organization should be proud of David Wright and Jose Reyes, and Victor Diaz had a huge night also. And Jake is getting his feet wet.

He needs a lot of work on the double play,

Pedro does a lot of his work indoors anyway. We wanted him to not pound as much early on in camp, but he's going to work into his routine and do what he needs to do.

We want to just take him slow, that's all. Pedro does a lot of his work indoors anyway.

We flip-flopped things this morning to get the pitching and hitting in before that. We're going to work on our fundamentals all spring, so we felt like that wasn't an urgency right now.

Victor has a lot of movement on his pitches, so sometimes he's going to be out of the zone. But this year is a different year. And I'm hoping that he can stay around the zone, so he can use his stuff and let his stuff naturally work for him, because he's got good movement.

You go through the first loop and you make a few adjustments so it's accommodating in some ways to players and getting their work in. Last year I wanted to set the tone with a hard workout and get guys' attention, and get guys working and to understand that's what we're here for.

Even if he comes back, he's going to have to work his way back in there. ... There's no rush. That's for sure.

All along I felt he would be fine. I didn't want to push the panic button because I speak to him every day and know how he feels. I had no doubt. It was just good to see him out there and getting his work in. He got through with flying colors, which is good.

The more work he gets, the better he'll be. His stuff is still good. He's able to make pitches. As long as we're doing well, I don't really see the need to waste a lot of energy talking about him. He's part of the team and the team is doing well.

It?s kind of a double-edged sword. You definitely want to be aggressive. but if you take pitches then he gets strike one on you; then he can go to work on you.

I told them we are here to work hard and get ready for a special season. Hopefully, we've moved up the ladder a little bit.

It's Spring Training, so you get your work in. But we're still continuing to work toward a certain style of solid play, how we go about our business. I want to see some of that, too. Spring Training isn't just about stats.

Nothing really official. But, we have plans in case it doesn't work out that way.

I asked him how he felt. He said he felt great. I told him this was his last hitter, get this guy for me. And it didn't work out.

I don't pay any attention to that -- it's spring training. He's just getting his work in.

We did everything we could to get ourselves back in it. We were a base hit from tying it or a ball in the gap from taking the lead. You have to have a lot of good things happen to do that.

Obviously, he helped make us a good baseball team two years ago.

Only the one run wasn't going to be good enough, and we gave them two others.

I would be remiss if I said there were not philosophical differences as far as the club and how we put it together, what would work and not work. The disruption and focus loss with players is not good for anyone. That's where I felt strongly that it was important to wipe the slate clean.

If this kid maintains the same type of mentality and approach that he possesses right now, it's a matter of time before you start strongly talking about the fact that he is a candidate to come here and start a Major League game. I look at this guy as being a very good starting pitcher some day.

I don't care what the numbers suggest. I thought the life to his fastball was as good as we've seen all spring. I think there could have been a couple different choices he made in a few two-strike counts, but I'll tell you: He was throwing nothing but quality pitches in the strike zone. ... He was actually too fine.

I could sit here and talk about those things until I'm blue in the face, but those are things if you're going to become a good club you have to pick up on and capitalize. Thus far, we've not been able to do that.

Go ahead and take that gun. What was important was the life of the pitch when it's entering the hitting area. That was as good as I've seen him.

He got 13 ground ball outs, and that's good for a nine-inning game. That's an indication of how well he pitched. That's a very positive sign ... It's March 18th, and you want to see your pitchers starting to sharpen.

We threw a ton of strikes and we made some very good 0-2 pitches.

He's a good little offensive player. He looks like he belongs in the majors. This kid knows how to play. And he's a winner.

He's been terrific. He looks to me like a very good baseball player and a very good number two hitter.

He's going to have a lot more good days than bad days, because he gets it.

We made the most of three first-inning runs. The reason: Derek Lowe. For the fourth game in a row, he's been phenomenal. Not good, not great, but phenomenal. I can not say enough good things about Derek Lowe.

He was real good early, and then his command wavered some there in the fourth and fifth inning. The next hurdle that he needs to overcome is to maintain the consistency of his delivery throughout the course of his start. He's making strides.

He was fine. He was up in the zone early and pitched from behind more than I'd like, but he had good stuff.

It could end up being a good thing and relieve some tightness,