Described by Bob Klapisch as “remorseful” and “misty-eyed”, rehabbing Mets reliever Duaner Sanchez (above) returned to camp yesterday, making the requisite apologies for the cardinal sin of oversleeping. The delicate sensibilites of the New York Daily News’ Bill Madden have been offended, however, the columnist insisting he has “serious questions about Sanchez and whether he is worth keeping around once the separated shoulder he suffered in that taxi-cab accident last July is finally rehabilitated.”

There is a reason that Sanchez, despite being only 27, already has been with four organizations. According to Dodger sources, he was twice disciplined by L.A. in 2005 before being traded to the Mets. Both times it was for late arrivals to the ballpark, and on one of those occasions, he reportedly appeared to be intoxicated. Before that, he exhibited the same behavior in Pittsburgh with the Pirates, who put him on waivers despite his respectable season in Triple-A in 2003.

“The Mets knew what his story was,” a Dodger source said. “But they were intrigued with his talent and I guess they figured they could straighten him out. Obviously, that hasn’t happened, and whether they want to believe it or not, he’s going to continue to be a distraction there.”

Even the taxi-cab incident, though not Sanchez’s fault, occurred at 1:30 in the morning, with his excuse for being out that late that he was looking for Dominican food in Miami. That might explain why he has been perpetually out of shape, but did anyone really believe he was merely going out for a bite to eat at that time of night?

The fact is, yesterday was not the first time Minaya has had to call Sanchez on the carpet for his behavior. You may remember an incident last summer in which it was reported that Minaya had reprimanded reliever Jorge Julio and Mets coach Manny Acta for being involved in some loud activity in a Manhattan bar in which photos had begun to surface. It turns out Sanchez also was involved in that incident, which gave Mets brass sufficient cause to doubt his “late night snack” explanation in the Miami taxicab debacle, which ended his season and forced Minaya to make the emergency trade of Xavier Nady to Pittsburgh for 42-year-old Roberto Hernandez to replace Sanchez in the bullpen.

Chris Russo’s on the phone. He’d like to nominate Madden for a (Roxanne) Pulizer Prize.

Hey, there was a plunk-fest involving Josh Beckett, Gary Sheffield and Todd Jones yesterday, and incredibly, there’s little quotation-gold to be mined.

Amongst the tidbits provided by the New York Post’s Joel Sherman this morning :

a) Jose Reyes was part of the package the Mets originally offered to Cleveland in the ill-fated Robbie Alomar deal.

b) Roger Cedeno turned up for Orioles camp weighing 274 pounds.