MET NOTES

Cliff Floyd, who is out for the remainder of the season after having surgery on his right Achilles tendon, said last night he planned on being back by the beginning of spring training next year.

“That was one of my main concerns,” said Floyd, on hand at Shea for the team picture.

Floyd hasn’t played since Aug. 19; he had surgery 10 days later. Despite his nearly three-week absence, Floyd still leads the team in both home runs (18) and RBIs (68).

“I really wanted to know when I was going to be back and they told me I would be ready by February,” Floyd said.

The surgeon who operated on Floyd, Dr. Lew Schon, told the outfielder he would feel no ill effects from the injury next season.

“He said that I’d be my old self when I’m out there,” Floyd said. “He told me I would be as good as I ever was.”

* 2B Danny Garcia, the first member of the Brooklyn Cyclones to reach the Mets, will throw out the first pitch tonight before the Cyclones play Williamsport in Game 2 of the New York-Penn League championship series.

* The Mets will honor the anniversary of the September 11 tragedies before this afternoon’s game. The club will host a pregame picnic for families of five Sept. 11 groups and organizations.

The national anthem will be a taped a cappella originally performed on Aug. 4, 1996 by Yolanda Dowling, who worked on the 92nd floor of Tower Two and died after directing dozens of coworkers to safety.