Collins Really Irked By Tejada’s Absence

Ruben Tejada seems to have overtaken Copter-gate as the lead story from Mets camp today. Here’s what’s coming in from the beat: Collins had proposed to Tejada to work out in Port St. Lucie in November with organization strength coach Jason (“Nitro”) Craig. Then, the manager suggested, Tejada could go home to Panama for the holidays and return to the Mets’ Florida complex in mid-January to get a very early start with new double-play partner Daniel Murphy. Not only did Tejada not follow through with the voluntary suggestions, he also largely was unreachable by team personnel during the offseason. ~ ESPN New York But in the interim, his manager cannot contain his disappointment at Tejada’s visa-related delay in leaving his native Panama. For the second consecutive camp, Terry Collins expressed his displeasure that one of his infielders did not report to camp before the designated date this weekend. Collins explained his feelings were due to “my own selfishness,” but made his opinion o...