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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mets attempt to move forward after owner’s comments

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, left, talks with manager Terry Collins before the game against the Cubs. (Associated Press)

Mets manager Terry Collins delivered a simple message to his team before its first game since owner Fred Wilpon’s frosty comments about three of the club’s biggest stars were published.

Focus on what you can control.

“Fred Wilpon loves this team with all his heart and I know that,” Collins said following the brief meeting, “so we’re just going to rally together and win as many games and play as well as we can play.”

Collins and the Mets returned to the field Tuesday night for the first time since The New Yorker posted a profile of Wilpon on its website that contained some sharp criticism of David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran – the latest in a long line of mishaps for the stumbling franchise.

Sounding a lot like the team’s frustrated fan base, Wilpon made a couple of stinging comments about the three key players.

Family of fan suing

The family of a San Francisco Giants fan who was brutally beaten at Dodger Stadium in March sued the team and its troubled owner Frank McCourt, claiming security cutbacks were partially to blame for the attack.

The suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Bryan Stow contends the Dodgers were negligent by not providing more security and not having adequate lighting in the parking lot where the attack occurred.

Brian Stow, 42, remains in critical but stable condition under heavy sedation to prevent seizures caused by the traumatic brain injury he suffered in the March 31 attack.

Stow received a surprise visit at the hospital from San Francisco reliever Jeremy Affeldt, who played at Northwest Christian.

Clearing the bases

Brandon Webb took a step forward in his long journey back from shoulder surgery by going seven innings in an Arizona Rookie League game at Peoria, Ariz., his longest outing since 2008. The former N.L. Cy Young winner, under contract with the Texas Rangers, threw 79 pitches. … Red Sox starter John Lackey completed a bullpen session without trouble and remains on schedule to rejoin Boston’s rotation in less than two weeks. … Jorge De La Rosa’s season appears to be over after the Colorado left-hander tore a ligament in his pitching elbow against Arizona in Denver. … Police say a 27-year-old man was critically injured when he fell from a stairwell leading to the center-field seats at Coors Field in Denver during the opener of a doubleheader.