Lastings Milledge's right hand contusion didn't improve yesterday.

"Same," Milledge said.

The Mets outfielder is still trying to make the team to start the season, but he said that he hasn't heard anything from the Mets about his status.

"Nobody told me anything, which really doesn't surprise me anyway," Milledge said. "The thing is getting well. I'm not going to risk me missing three or four weeks just to get on the team."

The Mets have to decide whether to keep Milledge, and the decision must be based not only on whether he's played well enough in camp and whether there's a big enough role for him if he joins the club, but also on Milledge's future.

"I think with a young player you've got to think long-term also," GM Omar Minaya said. "Where is he in his development? How is it going to affect his development? All those things. He's performed pretty well. His performance has been very good. The question is if he's on the team, what kind of role is he going to play, how is he going to be used?"