COE works like a pitching machine, firing tennis balls at the plate at speeds up to 155 mph. There are colored numbers on the balls, with the idea being that the player is supposed to be able to pick up the speed of the ball and follow its flight into the catcher's mitt. Several of the Mets, including Beltran, got into the cage and gave it a whirl.

Beltran credits the device with helping improve his patience at the plate, reducing his strikeout total from a career-high 135 in 2002 to 101 last season. He also walked 92 times last year, a 20-walk increase from the previous season. He and former Kansas City teammate Juan Gonzalez, who began using the machine while in Cleveland, paid about $85,000 for the system to be installed at the Royals' Spring Training facility when the team declined to pick up the bill. The Mets picked up the tab this year.

"I did it last year and it really helped me stay on the ball longer," Beltran said. "Before I used it, I used to strike out a lot. I cut down last year, though, and improved in the walks. It makes you concentrate on the ball more and not worry about your stance.

"When it's coming at you 80 or 90 mph, you recognize it, but not at 150. But after seeing it at 150, when it slows down again, it seems like the ball is coming in at 40 mph. It helped me lay off a lot of bad pitches in the dirt."

Beltran uses the machine every morning before practice with technician Mike Victorn and then again every afternoon from both sides of the plate. Victorn will be joining the Mets this season at Shea Stadium, where one of the units was recently installed in the batting cages under the stands.

The machine was a big favorite of Edgar Martinez before he retired, and currently Ichiro Suzuki is lobbying the Mariners to retain COE's services, according to Victorn. The Indians have also used the machine, as have the Cubs, though Chicago doesn't have enough room at Wrigley Field to set one up permanently.

"Carlos Beltran swears by it," Cliff Floyd said. "He says it's an awesome machine."

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Hey, remember that play...: During rundown drills in the morning, Mike Cameron was heading into third base when he took a swipe at David Wright's glove, attempting to knock the ball free. Pedro Martinez immediately seized upon the moment, shouting out, "Don't do that, you might look like A-Rod", referring to Alex Rodriguez's now infamous slap play from last year's American League Championship Series.

Going portside: Had Dae-Sung Koo not experienced an unfortunate accident as a child, he might have been one of Korea's premier right-handed relievers, instead of one of its best southpaws to ever take the hill. Koo was predominantly right-handed until he took a tumble, breaking his arm when he was 5 or 6 years old. He doesn't remember exactly when the fall took place, but he knows it changed things.

Koo's right arm was in a cast for four months, forcing him to learn how to use his left arm. As a result, using his left arm just became a habit. He can still throw a baseball with his right arm, just as far as he can with his left, he says. In fact, when he was in school he would still throw with his right arm to just to keep things balanced but he doesn't anymore simply because he doesn't want to take away from the strength in his left arm.

"If I try all year and work at it, I can probably pitch right-handed," he said.

This and that: In addition to Steve Trachsel, pitchers for Monday's intrasquad game are expected to be Mike DeJean, Koo, Bartolome Fortunato, Joe Nelson, Matt Lindstrom, Bob Keppel, Juan Padilla, Blake McGinley, Yusmeiro Petit and Todd Van Poppel. Victor Zambrano will pitch during Tuesday's intrasquad game, as will Roberto Hernandez, Scott Strickland, Matt Ginter, Jae Seo, Philip Humber, Grant Roberts and Jose Campos. Tom Glavine will get the nod in the exhibition opener Wednesday against Washington, while Kris Benson will go Thursday for the home opener against St. Louis. Pedro Martinez will start Friday in Jupiter against the Cardinals. ... Heavier rain is expected on Sunday and could wash out most, if not all, of the planned outdoor workouts.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.