MET NOTES

ANAHEIM – In case you haven’t already noticed, Roger Cedeno’s green light has turned red. The speedy Met outfielder, who holds the club record with 66 stolen bases in 1999, is not allowed to steal whenever he wants anymore.

Manager Art Howe talked to Cedeno after he was picked off first base in San Francisco May 18 and informed him he’d be given a sign when to run.

“I’m picking my spots,” Howe said before yesterday’s series finale. “He got picked off a few times in key situations. I felt I needed to control it a little bit more.

“If the pitchers give it to us, we’re going to take it. I’m not just going to run into an out. I want the percentages in my favor.”

Cedeno’s stealing percentage is terrible for someone with 25 or more stolen bases each of the last four seasons. He has five steals but has been caught six times.

“They’re always keeping me close,” Cedeno said of opposing pitchers. “[With] stealing bases, what I learned is it’s important to go with the manager. I agree with what he said.

“[Bobby] Valentine is different. [There’s] nothing I can do. He’s the boss.”

Cedeno was caught stealing three times in five games from May 18-23 and he’s only attempted three swipes in 18 games since. He’s been caught twice.

“Whenever I get it, I go,” Cedeno said.

Privately, those close to Cedeno believe he’s miffed and embarrassed by the decision, which is not unlike asking a power hitter to drop down sacrifice bunts. But the 28-year-old admits he might not be as fast as he once was.

Further complicating the matter, Cedeno may be pushed out of everyday action again beginning tonight, because Timo Perez has performed while Cliff Floyd DH’d in American League parks. Perez was 9-for-21 in five straight starts before coming off the bench yesterday.

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First-base coach Gary Pettis said he was fine after getting beaned by an errant Ty Wigginton throw during warm-ups in the first inning on Saturday night.

“I never had a headache,” said Pettis, who drove himself from the ballpark Saturday night.

Wigginton apologized to Pettis, which the coach said wasn’t necessary.

“It’s not his fault,” Pettis said.

Pettis stayed in the dugout yesterday as a precaution. Denny Walling coached first.

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Jeromy Burnitz’s two-homer day was the 17th multi-homer game of his career, and first this season.

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Howe revisited the possibility Cliff Floyd might play some first base. The manager said Michael Bacsik would start Thursday in Florida.

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Tom Glavine (5-6, 4.82) opposes LHP Dontrelle Willis (5-1, 3.16) tonight. Jae Seo (4-2, 2.88) matches up against RHP Carl Pavano (5-7, 4.53) tomorrow night. Al Leiter (7-3, 4.82) faces RHP Brad Penny (5-4, 3.44) on Wednesday, and Bacsik (1-1, 10.38) squares off against LHP Tommy Phelps (2-2, 3.72) on Thursday. All games start at 7:05 p.m.