BELTRAN NO BETTER

ATLANTA - Omar Minaya was the bearer of mostly bad news on the Mets' injury front yesterday. Not only did the general manager reveal that outfielder Fernando Martinez will miss at least six weeks after undergoing surgery on his right knee, but the outlook isn't promising for Carlos Beltran, either. Martinez, who has been on the disabled list since July 4 with what the Mets originally described as inflammation in the knee, turned out to have a torn meniscus. The 20-year-old prospect had the operation two days ago at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan and isn't expected back until at least September. While Minaya didn't say much about Martinez, manager Jerry Manuel admitted before last night's game against the Braves that the Mets feared Martinez's injury was much worse. "When they first talked about it [before the surgery], it was a season-ender," Manuel said of Martinez, yet another example of a player the Mets said would be OK with rest and then ended up being out an extended time. "From what I understand now, there is a good possibility he will play in September. To go from season-ending to September is very encouraging." Beltran, meanwhile, underwent an MRI exam during the All-Star break that showed the large bone bruises in his right knee have not gone away - or even gotten smaller - with rest. Beltran is wearing a brace on the knee, and Minaya said the center fielder's return is not imminent. Beltran has been on the DL since June 22. Minaya tried to be upbeat about Beltran, saying the All-Star center fielder wants to return and is playing catch, running in a swimming pool but hasn't been able to even hit off a tee. Minaya, however, did not rule out the possibility of microfracture surgery for Beltran, who consulted with the pioneer of that procedure, Dr. Richard Steadman, in Vail, Colo., late last month. "We haven't talked [surgery] yet," Minaya said. "It's something that will have to be evaluated down the line." On a seemingly positive note, Minaya said Jose Reyes and John Maine (pinched shoulder nerve) could be back with the Mets by the end of the month or early August. Reyes is in Port St. Lucie and has shown significant improvement in his slightly torn right hamstring, according to Minaya, although Reyes has not yet started running on the basepaths. "We're a lot closer [with Reyes] today than we were a week ago," Minaya said. As for Maine, Minaya said the right-hander is no longer feeling pain in his throwing shoulder while he works out in Port St. Lucie and could be 7-10 days away from making his first appearance in a minor league rehab game. Maine, who has been on the DL since June 7, threw live batting practice yesterday in Florida without incident, and Reyes was among the hitters. Minaya, though, admitted the sudden improvement in Reyes over the past week could be a result of the cortisone shot he recently received. Reyes' condition could be a different story once that shot wears off in the next week, although Minaya said, "I hope not." Lastly, first baseman Carlos Delgado remains on schedule with his rehab from hip surgery in May and could be back by mid-August.