Mets" Tejada Reports on Time LUCIE, Fla. - The starting shortstop for one New York baseball club was the first to check in at his team's camp. The starting shortstop for the other club was one of the last at his. In the mind of Mets Manager Terry Collins, this was an important difference. Who was the first guy in their camp? Collins said, referring to the Yankees. The biggest baseball star in the city of New York. He does it all the time. It sends a message. This guy does it. How come others can't? Collins was talking about Derek Jeter, 37, who was working out at the Yankees" facility in Tampa in January. Collins's own shortstop, Ruben Tejada, 22, made his first appearance at the Mets" camp here Sunday morning. Tejada was on time, but not in the mind of his manager. Collins made it clear last week that he was disappointed Tejada had not reported early to get a head start on his conditioning and his chemistry with Daniel Murphy, the Mets" projected second baseman. Collins and Tejada discussed all of this last fall, Collins said, and he was under the impression that Tejada would oblige. First thing Sunday, the two sat down to clear the air. Collins described it as a one-way conversation. He expressed his displeasure; Tejada said he understood. The matter was declared closed. "We talked about the team, about work, about everything, for starting spring training," Tejada said. I'm ready to play. The matter might have revealed less about Tejada, who inherited the shortstop job after the departure of Jose Reyes, than it does about Collins, who has never been shy about expressing his feelings. No one mentioned to Collins that Jeter has a home in Tampa, but it probably would not have mattered. Collins acknowledged last week that his desire to have Tejada arrive early from his home in Panama was selfish. Tejada said that he had problems obtaining his visa at the United States Embassy in Panama City, a three-hour drive from his home in Veraguas, while Collins guessed that he might have gotten a "late start" in his effort to acquire it. "I told him the importance of what it meant to be here and be a part of this team and what an impact it would have made on his teammates," said Collins, who has insisted for days that he was disappointed, not angry. He's such a good kid, and he was very upset to think he messed up. Collins said he was in Port St. Lucie starting Dec. 31. He brought up outfielder Lucas Duda, who arrived here Feb. 5. In many ways, Duda and Tejada are in a similar situation heading into spring training, which starts officially for the Mets" position players Monday. Both Duda and Tejada performed admirably when thrust into the lineup midway through last season. And both are understood to have some ways to go in their development. Tejada said that he did not feel pressure to fill in for Reyes, who signed with the Marlins as a free agent. "I'm Ruben Tejada," he said. But he said he hoped to step up the level of his play. He batted .284 in 96 games last year after hitting .213 in 78 games in 2010. He said he worked with a personal trainer to bulk up. "I feel a little bit more stronger," Tejada said. Every year you work to get better, so this year, I feel really good. Johan Santana completed his first up-and-down bullpen session of the year. He threw 50 pitches, stopping twice, for a few minutes each time, to simulate in-game rest. Terry Collins was pleased. "Another bright day," he said, even though the sky was completely overcast.