Mets Lose Game, Outfield

That was gruesome.

It is now being reported, though it hardly qualifies as news, that Mike Cameron will require facial surgery to repair multiple fractures of his cheekbones and nose. Carlos Beltran isn't expected to need surgery, but x-rays did show a "slight facial fracture."

The Times's Lee Jenkins closes his piece with a rather ghoulish bit of post facto foreshadowing:

"Going into the season, the Mets acknowledged that having two center fielders in the everyday lineup posed some risk. During an interview about potential collisions in spring training, Beltran said: 'The center fielder has priority. If the center fielder calls, you've got to get out of the way.'

Cameron countered: 'I'm not going to change my game. I have to play the same style I always have.'"

There was the usual handwringing about how this sort of collision should be avoidable. You get the feeling Lee thinks so, anyway, but I think Cliff Floyd got it right (courtesy ESPN):

"I knew those guys were so competitive... You try to block that out when they run together, two center fielders. They're taught to chase the ball. They're taught to give it everything."