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FIRST PITCH: Gavin Cecchini won’t be the new kid on the block much longer.

Paul DePodesta and crew begin drafting the 2013 class tonight. The Mets’ first pick is 11th overall, which you probably recall because that was the first pick not protected last offseason -- meaning the Mets would have forfeited it to sign Michael Bourn.

ESPN’s Keith Law projects the Mets will select California high school first baseman Dominic Smith.

Here’s a look at the Mets’ top picks of the past decade:

2012, Cecchini, 12th overall

2011, Brandon Nimmo, 13th

2010, Matt Harvey, seventh

2009, Steven Matz, 72nd

2008, Ike Davis, 18th

2007, Eddie Kunz, 42nd

2006, Kevin Mulvey, 62nd

2005, Mike Pelfrey, ninth

2004, Philip Humber, third

2003, Lastings Milledge, 12th

Under the previous regime, the Mets made a habit of forfeiting first-round picks in order to sign Type A free agents. That was the case in 2009 (for Francisco Rodriguez), 2007 (for Moises Alou) and 2006 (for Billy Wagner). The Mets later essentially sold two first-round picks to the Red Sox when they traded Wagner to Boston as a rental.

Also tonight, Shaun Marcum (0-6, 5.71 ERA) searches for his first Mets win when he opposes left-hander Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.64) at Nationals Park.

Thursday’s news reports:

• Jeff Wilpon visited Double-A Binghamton. He told the Press & Sun-Bulletin:

“There’s a plan. You can’t change the plan every year. OK? Sandy [Alderson], it’s taken him two or three years to get the plan into effect, and we have to wait and see it out.

“You can’t just say it’s not going as fast as we want -- we’re six months behind, two months behind, whatever it might be. You’ve got to let the plan go all the way down the line. If you’re going to buy into something, you got to buy into it. You can’t change midstream, because if you’re constantly changing, there’s no chance you’re going to succeed. …

“I think we’re definitely happy with the plan and the direction we’re going. Is it happening as fast as anybody wants? No.

“You know, we’re fans. I’m a fan. I’m here to see good baseball. I want to see good baseball in New York. I want to see it up and down the organization. Sometimes it happens quicker, sometimes it doesn’t.”

• Marlon Byrd homered twice, David Wright also went deep and Anthony Recker drove in three as the Mets enjoyed a rare laugher and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 10-1 win at D.C. Dillon Gee went seven innings, allowing one run, despite dealing with baserunners all night. It was Byrd’s sixth career multi-homer game, and first since June 9, 2010.

Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Newsday, Star-Ledger, Record and MLB.com.

• Jon Heyman at CBSSports.com and Ken Davidoff in the Post review how the Mets landed Matt Harvey in the 2010 draft.

• Jonathon Niese threw a 39-pitch bullpen session Wednesday at Nationals Park and pronounced himself fit to face the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Citi Field after missing one turn in the rotation. Read more in the Post, Daily News, Newsday, Journal and Record.

• SNY analyst Ron Darling has signed a long-term extension with TBS to continue his weekend and postseason work analyzing national games. “He has established himself as one of the preeminent baseball analysts in the game today and we’re excited he’ll continue to be an integral part of our MLB regular season and postseason coverage on TBS for many years to come,” said David Levy, president of TBS sales, distribution and sports.

• Andrew Keh in the Times profiles the overused left-handed specialist Scott Rice. “It’s funny,” Rice told Keh. “My arm feels awesome. But people keep coming up to me like: ‘How’s your arm? Are you OK?’ And I’m like: ‘Man, it feels good, but now I don’t know. Is it supposed to be hurting?’”

• Fueled in part by Cesar Puello’s 10th homer, Binghamton tried to rally from an eight-run deficit, but lost to Trenton, 10-6, Wednesday. Read the full minor league recap here.

• Puello faces a potential MLB suspension for his link to the South Florida clinic Biogensis, “Outside the Lines” has reported. Said Binghamton manager Pedro Lopez to the Press & Sun-Bulletin: “The funny thing about it is when everything happened in spring training, I found out a week later. When I got the message last night, I was naïve. I didn’t know what they were talking about. I was lost. … I don’t know much about it, only the stuff that I’ve read and that I’ve heard on TV. Basically, we have to wait and see what happens. Hopefully nothing happens to him. He’s having a terrific year to this point.”

• Collins does not expect Jeurys Familia to return this season. Familia was expected to undergo a cleanout of his right elbow Wednesday in New York.

• Jorge Castillo in the Star-Ledger and Mike Kerwick in the Record profile shortstop Omar Quintanilla.

• John Buck faces wearing down in the second half, notes Jared Diamond in the Journal. Only Yadier Molina has started a higher percentage of his team’s games behind the plate.

• From the bloggers … Rising Apple believes it is time to promote lefty reliever Jack Leathersich from Double-A Binghamton. … Faith and Fear in Flushing chats with Howie Rose. … John Delcos at Mets Report believes the way to create room for Zack Wheeler is by trading Shaun Marcum.

BIRTHDAYS: Bud Harrelson is 69.

TWEET OF THE DAY:

Is the Harlem Shake about to break out? #thesquad #AAA twitter.com/Wheelerpro45/s…

— Zack wheeler (@Wheelerpro45) June 5, 2013

YOU’RE UP: Are you OK with the Mets’ plan and showing patience?

Did Jeff Wilpon light a fire under the Mets by expressing doubt the Mets would be in the World Series?

Terry Collins tactfully took on that question before Thursday's series finale.

Wilpon had said at Tuesday afternoon's gift presentation to Mariano Rivera: "I wish we could see you in the World Series, but I'm not sure that's going to happen this year."

Said Collins about motivation: "You'd have to take a poll in there how many guys read that stuff. If that motivated them, we'll be blasting them again tonight."

Mets executive vice president for business Dave Howard is leaving the ballclub. He will become president of MSG Sports, the company announced. He will begin work April 9.

The Mets indicated that team executives Paul Asencio, Leigh Castergine and David Newman will now join Mike Landeen in reporting to Jeff Wilpon to absorb Howard's role for the near future. Wilpon also will pick up some of Howard's duties.

Here is the full release from MSG Sports:

Hank Ratner, president and chief executive officer of The Madison Square Garden Company, today announced that distinguished sports executive, Dave Howard, has joined the company as president, MSG Sports, effective April 9. In this role, Mr. Howard will be responsible for running the business operations of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Liberty and Hartford Whale, as well as the management of the company’s Sports Properties unit.

Rick Maiman/Bloomberg News/Getty Images
Mets executive VP Dave Howard is departing for MSG Sports.

“Dave has been one of New York’s premier sports executives for over two decades, and we are pleased he will be joining our Company to lead our sports business,” said Mr. Ratner. “MSG Sports represents some of the most popular and enduring brands in the world, and we’re confident Dave’s vision and management skills will ensure we continue to earn the passionate loyalty of generations of fans, while developing strategic growth opportunities that help drive our business.”

As president of MSG Sports, Mr. Howard will have a wide range of responsibilities tied to the successful operations of the sports division, including optimizing the core businesses, while creating and driving new revenue streams, and enhancing the value of the MSG Sports brand. In addition to managing the strategic plan, budgets and forecasting for the businesses, he will oversee the marketing and game presentations of the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty, as well as the sale of their season and individual game tickets, suites and Madison Club memberships. He will help direct integrated sales, including establishing strategic sponsorships through the development of new inventory packages that drive increased marketing partnerships. Mr. Howard will manage the Sports Properties division, including the presentation of sporting events such college and high school basketball, boxing and tennis, along with the development of new growth opportunities.

“I am honored to be joining The Madison Square Garden Company, and particularly thrilled to have the privilege of leading MSG Sports,” said Mr. Howard. “There are very few organizations anywhere with the strength of MSG’s sports brands, and I look forward to utilizing my experience to ensure we build on MSG’s position as one of the world’s leading sports organizations. I would also like to thank the Mets’ ownership and organization for what has been an amazing professional experience in Flushing.”

Mr. Howard joins MSG Sports following more than two decades at the New York Mets organization and Major League Baseball. Most recently, he served as executive vice president of business operations for the Mets, where he oversaw all business departments, including ticket sales & services, corporate sales & partnerships, marketing &communications, broadcasting, media relations, venue services, ballpark operations, guest experience and security. In addition, he was responsible for the team’s Florida training facility and the St. Lucie Mets and Brooklyn Cyclones minor league business operations. During his 20 years with the Mets organization, Mr. Howard held a number of significant roles, including as the team’s general counsel, corporate secretary, vice president of business affairs and senior vice president of business and legal affairs. He played a key role in moving the Mets from Shea Stadium to Citi Field, where he was also instrumental in attracting other premier events, including top concerts and college lacrosse, as well as the first-ever major soccer matches. Prior to joining the Mets, Mr. Howard was an associate counsel in the office of the commissioner’s office at Major League Baseball, and an associate at the firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell. He began his career as a law clerk for the Honorable George C. Pratt at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Mr. Howard graduated cum laude from Fordham University of Law and received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Dartmouth College, where he graduated magna cum laude. He has served on a number of community and charitable boards, including: The Bridge Church of the Nazarene, Rockville Centre Little League; Baseball Chapel, Inc; Molly College Board of Trustees; CCFA-Long Island Chapter Advisory Board; Tufts University Athletics Board of Advisors. Mr. Howard, his wife, Nancy, and their children make their home on Long Island.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.

FIRST PITCH: The Mets get their first glimpse of the Atlanta Braves this afternoon as Tim Hudson and crew visit Tradition Field.

Jeremy Hefner, who might be the rotation alternative if Johan Santana cannot get ready for the start of the season, pitches for the Mets, along with Rafael Montero and Bobby Parnell.

Monday’s news reports:

• Santana was displeased with all the attention he received Sunday, a day after Sandy Alderson said he the southpaw did not come into camp in pitching shape and suggested it might be 10 days before Santana stepped onto a mound. Perhaps driven by the negative attention, pitching coach Dan Warthen suggested, Santana threw off a mound Sunday for the first time since Feb. 19. Catcher Anthony Recker set up in front of the plate to cut the distance during the light session.

"What’s spring training for?" an agitated Santana asked reporters. "What’s practice? To get you better. That’s what I’m doing right now. That’s what I’m here for, and that’s what I’m going to do. That’s what I’m working on."

Columnist Joel Sherman in the Post isn’t impressed with how the Mets handled the Santana issue. Writes Sherman:

All in all, this was another Amway moment for the Mets. There was nothing technically wrong with how either party behaved -- like there is nothing technically wrong with partnering with a company that has been accused of being a pyramid scheme. It just looks terrible when this organization is trying to regain credibility that it is trustworthy and knows what it is doing.

Here were the Mets claiming to have both monitored Santana this offseason -- which Alderson said they did -- and being shocked he did so little work he was not ready to pitch at the outset.

Read more in the Record, Newsday, Post, Daily News, Star-Ledger and MLB.com.

• Kirk Nieuwenhuis suffered a left-knee injury stealing second Sunday. Read more in the Daily News and MLB.com.

• Dillon Gee tossed three scoreless innings in his first appearance against major leaguers since undergoing surgery at last year’s All-Star break and John Buck produced a three-run homer against his former club, but the Mets lost to the Marlins, 6-4, Sunday in Jupiter, Fla. Read more in the Star-Ledger, Post, Newsday and MLB.com.

• Warthen told Mike Kerwick in the Record he hopes to have Zack Wheeler (oblique) back on a mound midweek and in a game in about seven days.

• David Lennon in Newsday notes Mike Piazza did himself little favor with his autobiography if he hoped to be honored by the Mets. Writes Lennon:

The committee for the franchise's own Hall of Fame has yet to meet on any of this year's candidates, including Piazza, but the Mets weren't thrilled by some of the catcher's comments about the club in "Long Shot." COO Jeff Wilpon, who has the last word on both the Hall of Fame's recommendations and the retired numbers, was criticized in the book as Piazza claimed Wilpon urged him to play with an injury in a spring-training game because it was a sellout. Piazza also ripped longtime media relations director Jay Horwitz, who happens to be a member of the Mets' HOF committee, for not doing a better job of shielding the team's players.

"I felt he was more loyal to the writers and the broadcasters than he was to the players," Piazza wrote.

Are a few stinging sentences enough for one of the Mets' most popular stars of the past two decades to be alienated? That depends. Piazza also declined an invitation to attend SNY's unveiling of the team's 50 greatest players last year (he was No. 6) and team officials buzzed about that dis for months. There is little -- if any -- communication these days between Piazza and the Mets, who are confused as to why he's pulled away to this degree.

• Mets bullpen coach Ricky Bones has left camp to serve as the pitching coach for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

• Ken Belson in the Times takes a look at the team’s Mr. Met hats. Belson writes that teams are permitted to wear these new spring-training caps during regular-season games as well, although the Mets would not say if they planned to do so.

• Third base used to be a revolving door for the Mets. But since mid-2004, and presumably now for another eight seasons, it will belong to David Wright. So Jared Diamond in the Journal asked players who also man that position in camp what it feels like to be boxed out. The Mets are playing Wilmer Flores at second base, not third base, in Grapefruit League games -- although the in-season plan apparently remains for Flores to be used at both spots. Writes Diamond:

Since 2005, only one player has appeared in more games at any position for one team than Wright's 1,184 at third with the Mets: Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano (1,197). And while Cano's impending free agency makes his future with the Yankees murky, Wright will likely be a Met for life. … That leaves any third baseman in the Mets system with two options: pray for a trade that may never come -- or find a new position.

"I can't be David Wright. I'm not trying to be David Wright," said Zach Lutz, who has played 269 minor-league games at third base over the past six seasons.

• Jeff Wilpon told Jon Heyman at CBSSports.com he is rooting for Jason Bay to succeed in Seattle. The Mets still owe Bay $21 million this year, but they deferred $15 million of that sum.

"I wish Jason nothing but the best," Wilpon said. "He was a great teammate. He did everything he could. He put in a lot of work, and he was always at his locker. He's a stand-up guy. It just didn't work out. It was best for him and for us to part ways. If he was a jerk, maybe I'd feel differently. But he's a great person. I'll root for Jason Bay 100 times out of 100 times."

• From the bloggers … The Eddie Kranepool Society suggests the Mets need Santana ready in July, at the trade deadline, not on Opening Day. … Mike V's Countdown to Opening Day at Mets Police stops off at 1998. It marked the first regular-season game played in New York City in March.

BIRTHDAYS: Jack Fisher, who lost 24 games for the ’65 Mets despite a 3.94 ERA, was born in 1939.

TWEET OF THE DAY:

best game ever tonight at 205 came after the real games were over! @givemethelefty was the ringer stepping in 4 David's team #notcountingit

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) March 4, 2013

YOU’RE UP: Who would you like to see step into the rotation if Johan Santana were not ready and Zack Wheeler was placed at Triple-A Las Vegas -- Jeremy Hefner, Jenrry Mejia, Collin McHugh or Aaron Laffey?

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.

FIRST PITCH: The gang’s all here. At least, now they’re all supposed to be here.

Position players officially report today to Port St. Lucie, where soggy weather the past two days has severely limited activity.

In reality, most of the position players have been here for a week. The lone players who had yet to check in as of Friday, according to Terry Collins: Jordany Valdespin, Double-A infielder Wilfredo Tovar and Jenrry Mejia.

Mejia still has the visa issue lingering, and Collins estimated it could take at least another week to resolve.

Valdespin just completed the Caribbean Series on Feb. 7, representing the Dominican Republic. He hit .257 with one homer and three RBIs in 35 at-bats over seven games while pretty much exclusively playing right field during the tournament in Hermosillo, Mexico.

The final game of the Caribbean Series went 18 innings and Valdespin appeared injured, but he as well as the Dominican team’s trainer told ESPNDeportes.com’s Enrique Rojas that Valdespin merely was suffering from cramps.

Valdespin appears most likely ticketed for Triple-A Las Vegas to open the season, despite setting the Mets’ single-season pinch-hit home run record last year, with five. The bench is projected to include infielders Brandon Hicks and Justin Turner, catcher Anthony Recker, and either Marlon Byrd and Collin Cowgill or Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Mike Baxter, depending on the opposing pitcher.

As for the itinerary, position players officially undergo physicals on Sunday.

The first full-squad workout is Monday, when batting practice begins in advance of next Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Washington Nationals at Tradition Field at 12:10 p.m.

After two days of steady rain, the forecast is for 73 degrees and clouds today, but not for precipitation.

Saturday’s news reports:

• David Wright appreciated the kind words from Fred Wilpon, but suggested Mr. Wilpon labeling him the Mets’ Jeter may have been too kind.

Wright noted to Ken Davidoff in the Post that he lockered next to Jeter at the 2009 World Baseball Classic. “I got a chance to pick his brain a little bit. He was awesome,” Wright told Davidoff. “… It solidifies the reason that I kind of look up to him the way that I do, is the way that he treated me during the WBC.” Read more in Newsday.

• Byrd arrived at camp Friday, and Collins said Byrd could win the right-field job outright, not platoon with Baxter. Read more in the Post, Star-Ledger, Daily News, Times, Newsday, MLB.com and Record.

• Jorge Castillo in the Star-Ledger profiles Jonathon Niese, who will be asked to step up and fill the bulk of the innings lost with R.A. Dickey now departed. Writes Castillo:

John Buck, now the Mets’ catcher, has faced Niese eight times. All he could muster was a double. Buck said Niese reminds him of a certain other left-handed starting pitcher whose repertoire centers on the cutter -- Andy Pettitte, whom he caught as a 23-year-old at Astros spring training in 2004.

"I was pretty young back in the day with Houston and Pettitte was there, and the way he would pitch is very similar to that," Buck said. "But I think Niese has a little bit more speed difference than what Pettitte had from what I can remember."

• The Mets, who have veto power, have expressed their preference that Johan Santana not participate in the WBC, the southpaw told ESPNNewYork.com. So Santana doubts he will participate. An official announcement should come after the weekend. Read more in the Star-Ledger.

• Mike Puma in the Post profiles Dillon Gee, who had a 2.99 ERA over his final 10 starts of 2012 before undergoing surgery at the All-Star break to repair a mostly blocked artery in his pitching shoulder.

• Jeff Wilpon said “zimmo” is a “sniglet.” Huh? Read here.

• Anthony DiComo at MLB.com speaks with left fielder Lucas Duda about last year’s banishment to Buffalo. Writes DiComo:

In the days following his demotion to the minors last July, Lucas Duda sat in his Buffalo apartment and watched television, silent for long stretches. On the rare occasions when he spoke, Duda would mutter something random or self-effacing, sometimes wondering out loud what he was doing there, in that Buffalo apartment, without a major league job.

He admits that he sulked a bit, too stubborn to use his initial days at Triple-A to his advantage. He admits that he felt sorry for himself.

"Being sent down is probably one of the lowest points that you can have," Duda said. "I think that you learn from that and you grow from that, hopefully, and learn what you did [wrong] and what you can do to stay. And hopefully, I did that."

• Howard Megdal at Capital New York weighs in on Fred Wilpon’s personal finances.

• From the bloggers ... The Eddie Kranepool Society weighs in on Collins’ lame-duck status. … Shannon from Mets Police challenges anyone to find the Mets 15 more wins to get to 89 and capture the NL’s second wild card. … Rising Apple takes a position-by-position look, using UZR and other defensive metrics, at the Mets' 2013 defense.

BIRTHDAYS: Infielder Bill Pecota, who played for the Mets in 1992 after arriving from the Kansas City Royals with Bret Saberhagen, turns 53.

TWEET OF THE DAY:

@adamrubinespn Good lord a Sniglet. I get I am young but can barely remember that show. Jeez Jeffy lets get a lil more relevant

— Gary Palumbo (@SaltyGary) February 15, 2013

YOU’RE UP: Should Jordany Valdespin be on the Mets’ Opening Day roster?

Please use the comments section to weigh in

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Fred Wilpon said "real estate has gone zimmo" on Wednesday while describing the family's investments, prompting The New York Times to unsuccessfully contact language experts to try to find the meaning of the unfamiliar word.

Jeff Wilpon, on behalf of his father, explained the definition Friday to ESPNNewYork.com, saying it was a "sniglet."

So what's a sniglet?

Wikipedia offers this definition:

Sniglet is a neologism, popularized by comedian/actor Rich Hall during his tenure on the 1980s HBO comedy series Not Necessarily the News. Each episode of the monthly series featured a regular segment on sniglets, which Hall described as "any word that doesn't appear in the dictionary, but should." Hall's own sniglets, along with submissions by fans, were compiled into several books, starting with Sniglets and More Sniglets.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For the second time in recent weeks, Jeff Wilpon insisted it is a very plausible scenario to bring R.A. Dickey back next season without an extension being reached.

“We’re in the process now,” Wilpon said. “It’s a negotiation. They want more than we’re willing to give right now. We want to do it for less than they want to accept right now. Somewhere in between there’s probably a deal to be done. If not, he’ll be a great bargain at $5 million playing out next season for us.”

Asked again if it was viable for Dickey to enter 2013 as a Met without an extension, Wilpon said: “Absolutely.”

Read the full news story here.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Asked during the press conference formally announcing David Wright's new contract when the Mets could again be competitive, chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said: “I think we’ll be competitive this year."

A possible playoff team?

“I see us as being competitive,” Wilpon reiterated. “You asked, ‘How long until we’re competitive?’”

Competitive enough to get to the postseason?

“There’s a lot of ways to get to the postseason now, with the extra playoffs and everything,” Wilpon said. “I think we will be competitive this year.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- David Wright has passed Monday's physical, according to a major league source.

Jeff Wilpon is due to pick up Wright in Norfolk, Va., on Tuesday evening in a private plane. The Mets plan a press conference on Wednesday at the winter meetings.

MIAMI -- Jeurys Familia allowed only one hit in four scoreless innings in his first major league start, but the rookie walked six batters. The Mets ended up losing Monday's series opener, 3-2, to the Miami Marlins. Ramon Ramirez surrendered a tiebreaking RBI double to Rob Brantly in the eighth.

Tonight, R.A. Dickey bids for his 21st win and makes his final case for the Cy Young Award. Dickey opposes rookie right-hander Jacob Turner at 7:10 p.m. Only three other pitchers in franchise history have reached the 21-win plateau. Tom Seaver had 25 wins in 1969, 22 in 1975 and 21 in 1972. Dwight Gooden had 24 in 1985. Jerry Koosman had 21 in 1976.

Tuesday's news reports:

• The entire Mets coaching staff -- pitching coach Dan Warthen, hitting coach Dave Hudgens, bench coach Bob Geren, third base coach Tim Teufel, first base coach Tom Goodwin and bullpen coach Ricky Bones -- will return next season. Wally Backman, who managed the Triple-A club this season before joining the Mets in September, has yet to be presented with a 2013 role. A team source told ESPNNewYork.com that Las Vegas, the Mets' new Pacific Coast League home, may not be attractive to Backman. Read more in the Star-Ledger, Times, Record, Post, Daily News, Newsday and Journal.

• Connecticut native Adam Greenberg, who was struck in the head with a pitch in his lone major league plate appearance -- on July 9, 2005 -- and subsequently developed vertigo will pinch hit for the Marlins today. He likely will face Dickey in the middle innings. The Mets will treat him like any other major league hitter.

Fred Van Dusen, the only other player in major league history to be hit with a pitch in his lone major league plate appearance and never play the field, will be on hand and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Writes Clark Spencer in the Miami Herald about Van Dusen attending:

Van Dusen couldn’t be happier. “It’s a good human-interest story,’’ said Van Dusen, who has never met Greenberg or spoken with him. “It’s a positive thing, and a lot of people who don’t understand baseball, they’ll applaud it greatly."

Van Dusen was 18 when he was called up by the Philadelphia Phillies late in the 1955 season. Now 75, retired and living in Tennessee, Van Dusen said he spent about a month on the Phillies bench before he was finally given a chance to play. It was on Sept. 11 of that season, in the ninth inning of a game against the Milwaukee Braves, that Van Dusen was sent in to pinch-hit. On the fourth pitch of the at bat, and with Milwaukee’s Henry Aaron and Eddie Mathews looking on from the field for the Braves, Van Dusen was hit by a Humberto Robinson pitch. Van Dusen took his base and was left standing at first when the inning ended. Though considered to be a top prospect, Van Dusen would not play again in another major-league game.

Read more on Greenberg in the Post.

• It appears highly unlikely Mike Pelfrey will return in 2013, but Terry Collins and Warthen wouldn't mind having him back -- as a back end of the bullpen option, perhaps. Pelfrey, who underwent Tommy John surgery on May 1, has to be cut loose in December. Otherwise, the Mets would have to pay him at least 80 percent of this year's $5.6875 million salary. Once a free agent, Pelfrey would be free to sign anywhere. And agent Scott Boras likely would try to place Pelfrey with a team to start on a one-year contract with a reasonable base salary (maybe $2 million) and performance-based incentives.

• Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon joined the team in Miami along with other Mets executives, including Sandy Alderson and assistant GM John Ricco. The group will begin to solidify an offseason plan.

• Warthen said the key to Dickey (20-6, 2.69 ERA) taking another leap forward this season was learning how to control the knuckleball up in the zone and using up-and-down movement in addition to side-to-side.

“The old adage is: See it low, let it go. See it high, let it fly,” Warthen said. “We’ve kind of capitalized on that thought process in keeping that knuckleball at a higher part of the zone a lot more often and getting a lot of strikeouts from it.”

“It wasn’t really an idea as much as we kind of stumbled upon it in Pittsburgh (May 22),” Dickey said about commanding the pitch up in the zone. “I figured out a mechanism to be able to keep it elevated and still take spin off of it. At least I thought I had, and was anxious to work on it in my bullpens subsequent to that outing.

“Sure enough, it seemed like we had identified something that I could do to change the elevation consistently when I wanted to. The thing about a knuckleball is a lot of times you’ll try things and it’ll do the opposite. It’s just the nature of that pitch from time to time. So when you find a way to do something and you can consistently do it with that, then you’ve found something good. From that moment on I really worked hard on it.”

Read more on Dickey's Cy Young bid in the Record.

• The proposed Major League Soccer stadium at Flushing Meadows Corona Park adjacent to Citi Field, which would house an expansion team, has community opposition. Writes Clare Trapasso in the Daily News:

Major League Soccer officials previously said they were looking to build a 25,000-seat stadium on eight acres at the Fountains of Industry site in the park. That estimate later ballooned to up to 13 acres. But officials insisted that they are committed to finding replacement park land. “We are in the process of starting conversations with community leaders to identify parcels,” MLS spokeswoman Risa Heller said in a statement. “MLS is also committed to replacing and upgrading existing community soccer fields as well.”

TRIVIA: Of the 11 ballparks that opened since 2001, Marlins Park this season has produced the worst attendance. Which new ballpark did it displace with that distinction?

Monday's answer: Jose Reyes entered the final series leading the Marlins in steals with 38, but not by much. Emilio Bonifacio swiped 30 before his season ended Aug. 21 with a right knee injury.

ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones had a quiet weekend before capacity crowds at Turner Field, but the Atlanta Braves nonetheless beat Jenrry Mejia and the Mets, 6-2, Sunday to win the rubber game. Playoff-bound Atlanta, which staved off division-title elimination for another day, won its major league-record 23rd straight game started by Kris Medlen.

The Mets, who had their rookies dress up as referees with skimpy black skirts for the trip to Miami, now open their final series of the season tonight in Miami. Jeurys Familia makes his first major league start tonight in Miami. Familia (0-0, 8.64 ERA) opposes Josh Johnson (8-14, 3.81) at 7:10 p.m. at Marlins Park.

Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon is due to meet the Mets in Miami, according to Star-Ledger beat writer Andy McCullough.

Monday's news reports:

• In an exclusive interview with ESPNNewYork.com, David Wright expressed uncertainty about his future with the ballclub. He indicated he wants his next contract to take him to retirement. He also noted he would not be inclined to discuss an extension during next season -- so it's an agreement this offseason or he's headed to free agency. Read the news story and additional comments.

Tim Marchman in the Journal makes the case for trading Wright this offseason. Writes Marchman:

A going-nowhere team like the Mets has every reason to move a valuable player like Wright for young talent. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, it no longer will be possible for one team to seriously outbid others for amateur draft picks or international prospects. Recent successes like Matt Harvey aside, the Mets don't have a great record of scouting or developing players, so if they want good, cheap young ones around whom to build a winner, some of them are probably going to have to come from outside the organization.

There are really only two reasons not to trade Wright. One is that it would damage the team's hopes of contending during what's left of his prime, but they don't have any. The other is that it would outrage fans and leave Citi Field quieter than a toaster, but as the Journal has reported, it already is. The only way to win back the public will be to win, and even if the Wilpon family announces tomorrow that the team has been sold to a mad Russian oil tycoon, that's going to take a couple of years, by which time Wright likely won't be what he was.

• Josh Thole was struck in the head with a fourth-inning foul ball off Medlen's bat. Despite initial concerns, Thole appears relatively unscathed. He may have escaped with no more than a cut on the back of his right ear. Read more in the Record.

• Sandy Alderson joined the Mets on Sunday for the final four games of the season. He planned to meet with Terry Collins today or tomorrow in part to discuss the fate of the coaching staff. A team source told Post beat writer Mike Puma it would be surprising for pitching coach Dan Warthen to be dismissed.

• Mejia allowed a three-run homer to David Ross and was charged with four runs in five innings. Still, the performance was reviewed positively by Collins. Mejia began the year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He is due to pitch in winter ball as a starter in his native Dominican Republic for Licey, but will be capped at 20 to 25 innings, Collins indicated. Read more in Newsday, the Star-Ledger, Post, Record and Daily News.

• Chipper finished the weekend 1-for-10 with two walks. His final plate appearance against the Mets -- and, for that matter, his final regular-season plate appearance at Turner Field, since the Braves close the season on the road -- ended with Justin Hampson walking him.

"The word that I’ve been using all week is overwhelming," Jones told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about his treatment from Braves fans. "I don’t know if I’m worthy of all this. I have my faults and whatnot, but when you’ve got that much love in the building, you feel like you’re 10 feet tall. And when 50,000 people are chanting your name at the same time, that’s pretty cool. It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I got chill bumps more than a few times today. And, as much as I tried to shrug it off and downplay it, there were a couple times where it was a little too much to handle.” Read more in the Times.

• Familia and Elvin Ramirez are expected to pitch in relief in winter ball for Gigantes in the Dominican Republic.

TRIVIA: Who leads the Marlins in steals this season?

Sunday's answer: Wright drove in the lone run on Opening Day, in a 1-0 win against the Braves on April 5. The RBI single came against Tommy Hanson in the sixth inning and plated Andres Torres.

Collin McHugh surrendered three homers and the Mets officially were eliminated from division-title contention with a 5-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Monday. The Mets are now 4-19 at Citi Field since the All-Star break. They matched a franchise record by failing to exceed three runs for the 11th straight home game. In fact, the Mets have not had a multi-run inning at home in 106 innings -- the second-longest streak in major league history. The Washington Senators hold the record with 119 consecutive home innings without a multi-run frame, in 1909.

Gio Gonzalez picked up his MLB-leading 19th win. R.A. Dickey will look to match that total when he opposes right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (10-8, 2.99 ERA) at 7:10 p.m. today.

The family of the late firefighter Ronnie Gies will throw out the ceremonial first pitch during pregame ceremonies in remembrance of 9/11. Gies, of Squad 228 in Maspeth, Queens, died during the terrorist attacks. The Mets will wear hats of first-responder agencies pregame.

Tuesday's news reports:

• Jenrry Mejia will enter the rotation Saturday at Milwaukee, with Jeremy Hefner moving to the bullpen. Read more in the Daily News.

• Nats manager Davey Johnson delighted in officially eliminating the Mets from division-title contention. "That made me a little happy," Johnson told Washington reporters postgame. The Mets' tragic number for wild-card elimination is 12. Kelly Shoppach dropped a foul pop-up to prolong the at-bat before Kurt Suzuki launched the first of the three homers against McHugh. Read game recaps in the Post, Star-Ledger, Newsday, Times, Daily News and The Washington Post.

• The Brooklyn Cyclones mustered only one hit and were eliminated from the New York-Penn League playoffs Sunday. Both Mets affiliates to qualify for the postseason -- St. Lucie and Brooklyn -- were eliminated in a winner-take-all Game 3 in the opening round. Read the final minor league recap here.

• Ruben Tejada, who previously had confirmed he would train during the offseason in New York and Port St. Lucie, told Kevin Burkhardt (Twitter link) that he will work out with Jose Reyes at the Garden City, L.I., facility where Reyes has trained for several years. Among the other athletes who train together there: Pedro Beato, the Rockies' Adam Ottavino and Mets minor leaguers Cam Maron (Hicksville High product), John Mincone (Half Hollow Hills East) and Steven Matz (Ward Melville).

• David Wright and Jeff Wilpon visited the Squad 18 firehouse in lower Manhattan on Monday morning. Read more in the Record.

Brian Costa in the Journal asked Wilpon about the importance of Wright as an ambassador in factoring in whether to re-sign him. Writes Costa:

As with [Derek] Jeter and the Yankees, what Wright means to the identity of the franchise is a central factor. "Of course it is," Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said, standing off to the side as Wright spoke to reporters at the firehouse. "As a homegrown star, you always have that. I think that's good. I think he's teaching some of the younger guys how to deal with New York and how to act in New York. It all goes into the mix." Wright is hardly the only Mets player to lend time to charitable and community causes. And his jersey isn't the only that sells. But be honest: How many Mets players would you even recognize if they walked into your office today?

The Mets of the past several years have been alternately unlikable and forgettable. But Wright retains a cachet that the organization as a whole has lost. As such, he is more than their clubhouse leader. He's also their chief spokesman. None of this is lost on Wilpon, who would much prefer someone else speak for the team. "It's great, because he gets to do it and I don't have to," Wilpon said. "I just go to support him. It's wonderful. When you have someone who's homegrown like that who can represent the organization, it's terrific."

Wright told Marc Carig in Newsday there have been no developments with a contract extension. "I don't think it's the right time, but I guess I'll answer your question," Wright said. "There's nothing new. I guess status quo." Said Wilpon: "I think we've said all along that we plan on keeping David and we want David to be part of the organization long term. Let's not get into the contract. He didn't want to negotiate during the season. We're not going to negotiate during the season. We'll find the right time to sit down and talk."

• John Olerud is in a flap over whether a neighbor should be required to take down a tree obstructing the ex-Met's view of the Seattle skyline. Writes Keith Ervin in the Seattle Times:

Olerud doesn't think much of the Chinese pine, shorter and fuller than the towering Douglas firs nearby. [Rev. Bruce] Baker has agreed to remove a Colorado spruce behind the pine. "You guys saw the trees," Olerud said at the board hearing. "They're not attractive trees. I would say they're the kind of tree that only an arborist would love. ... I'm just making the point that if you're willing to cut down your own trees to maintain your view and yet you aren't willing to offer that to your neighbor, how is that being a good neighbor? The Bible says, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.' That's Jesus' commandment."

To which Baker replied, "I truly believe you're trying to be a good neighbor. That's what's so puzzling about this, that you think it's being a good neighbor to cut down a tree that's important to me that's over 50 years old, and just leave a hole there." Olerud said he would be willing to buy a replacement tree that wouldn't block his view.

• Wally Backman threw early batting practice on his first full day with the Mets. Backman, who managed Triple-A Buffalo, will serve as an extra coach for the remainder of the season.

• Terry Collins' promised pregame tinkering with the Mets' routine proved pretty minor -- and ineffective. Mets starting players merely hit closer to game time. Read more in the Times.

• Don't look now, but the Philadelphia Phillies, at 70-71, are as close to wild-card contention as they are to the Mets. The Phillies trail the St. Louis Cardinals by five games for the NL's second wild-card slot and lead the Mets (65-76) by five games as well for third place in the division.

• Dickey's current winning percentage (.818, 18-4) is on pace to be better than any pitcher in major league history on a team with a losing record. Sandy Koufax is the record holder, posting a .792 winning percentage (19-5) in 1964 with the Dodgers, who went 80-82. Writes Michael Salfino in the Journal:

Since 2000, only 10 other pitchers on winning teams have a winning percentage better than Dickey's. To be fair, Dickey has gotten help from his teammates. They score 5.18 runs per game for him, nearly a run more than their 4.19 overall. And even the Mets' combustible bullpen has generally performed after Dickey has left a game with a lead, blowing just one win for him.

Dickey told Mike Puma in the Post that the now-19-game-winner Gonzalez would be his choice for Cy Young if he were forced to exclude himself from consideration, followed by Johnny Cueto.

“I think his hits-to-innings-pitched and strikeouts really reflect a consistently dominant year,” Dickey told Puma about Gonzalez. “I would say switching leagues was an advantage for him, because the National League hasn’t seen him. So he’s a surprise to a lot of teams in the National League, because he’s been in the American League. Not that he wouldn’t do this in his second or third year, but it certainly helps to be able to kind of surprise guys at least one time through. I saw him in Oakland and he was great over there, so it’s no surprise to me.”

Including Cueto, Dickey said: “Both these guys are playing for first-place teams, so that helps to be able to get wins, and they both have the wins, too.”

• Matt Harvey can empathize with Stephen Strasburg getting shut down for the season because of an innings limit. Harvey, himself, has only two more scheduled starts -- tomorrow, then next Tuesday against the Phillies. Writes Andy McCullough in the Star-Ledger:

Harvey has met Strasburg a few times. Both are represented by Scott Boras. They were at Boras’ California training facility together at times this winter. Strasburg exercised apart from the others, as he was still rebuilding arm strength. Years before, Harvey took a tour of the Boras Corporation’s offices. One of Boras’ assistants made a presentation about the perils of pitcher abuse. Harvey recalled hearing about “the amount of surgeries that happened because of overuse.” He learned about pitchers like Steve Avery, a former Atlanta star and a Boras client. Avery experienced a sudden decline in the mid-90s after shouldering a sizable workload in his early 20s. His left arm broke down from the strain. The exact science of pitcher usage remains debatable. But the presentation made a strong case for conservation. “That kind of opened my eyes up to it,” Harvey said.

TRIVIA: Which two colleges played in the first game at Citi Field?

Monday's answer: Jody Gerut of the San Diego Padres homered against Mike Pelfrey to lead off the first regular-season game at Citi Field, on April 13, 2009. The Padres again open the season at Citi Field in 2013, according to a major league source.