MIAMI -- Right-hander Kris Benson took a satisfying step on Thursday toward returning to the Mets' starting rotation.

After warming up for 10 minutes, a process that included some long tossing, Benson threw 37 pitches -- 25 from the stretch, 12 with a windup -- without pain off the bullpen mound at Dolphins Stadium. Benson has missed all of the regular season thus far with a strained right pectoral muscle.

"All the coaches said I looked fine, and I felt fine," Benson said. "And they thought my arm angle was fine."

The next move for Benson after a day off Friday is to throw between 45 and 50 pitches in a simulated game. He said Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson wants him to pitch to batters.

If all goes well, as Benson now feels it will, he should be ready to pitch a three-inning game early next week. He'll progress to four innings and then five before being pronounced fit for Major League competition.

Ishii to see doctor: Kaz Ishii, who is scheduled to pitch on Saturday, had to cancel his off-day pitching session on Thursday because of tightness on his left side underneath his pitching arm. Ishii will visit a doctor Friday before determining his status for Saturday's game.

"Right now, I don't feel this will be anything serious," Ishii said.

Skipper enjoying responsibility: Two weeks into his new job as Mets manager, Willie Randolph said he continues to savor the idea of being able to call his own shots.

"It's different," he said. "We all play that kind of game in our mind [as coaches], when we think about what we'd do in certain situations. I like the responsibility of being able to match instincts and just go with your gut feeling and feel confident about it. And also to feel responsible."

Randolph has found thus far that pitching consumes a lot of his thoughts. For instance, when the score got out of hand in Wednesday's 9-2 loss to the Florida Marlins, Randolph had to decide whether he wanted to use reliever Manny Aybar for extended innings -- and lose him for several days -- or trot three or four relievers out there for an inning each.

Early on, he has shown his general disdain for statistics. Some managers live by them, allowing the numbers to dictate their lineup and even pitching changes. Randolph said he occasionally will use stats to influence his decisions, but he understands that statistical probabilities are quite fallible.

"I'm not a crazy stats guy," he said. "You do what you feel is right. [The chips will] fall where they may."

Piazza a late scratch: Randolph had catcher Mike Piazza in Thursday night's lineup, but that was before he talked to the backstop. Piazza told him he needed a rest.

"He's played three, four days in a row, and he's feeling a little banged up," Randolph said. "He's OK, just feeling a little sore."

Thus Ramon Castro became the starter. Randolph said he expects Piazza to return to the lineup on Friday.

Diaz hot at the plate: Rookie right fielder Victor Diaz has his batting average up to .342, with 12 hits in 37 at-bats. More impressive, he has three home runs to go with his seven RBIs.

He almost had a fourth home run Wednesday, with his shot hitting near the 434-foot mark in center field. Though he legged out a triple, Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett, who was victimized, took issue afterward, that as long as the hurler has more victories than Diaz does home runs, the hitter should avoid going into a premature home run trot, as Diaz did.

Diaz acknowledged thinking he had hit a home run, but noted that he usually comes out of the box at less than full speed, before turning it on.

"I guess because I'm a rookie, he [Beckett] thinks he can say anything he wants to about me," Diaz said, not amused by the quote.

Nor was Randolph, who could not fault Diaz for admiring his shot off Beckett. "I think anybody who hits the ball that hard would have kind of admired it a little bit," the manager said.

Diaz, who played at Triple-A Norfolk last season, has been capitalizing on the absence of Mike Cameron, who has tendinitis in his left wrist.

"I like the fact he's swinging the bat well," Randolph said. "You just get a feel for what he could be like. He's still a baby, and he has a long way to go as far as being consistent, but I like the way he's playing."

Diaz has been working on the game with his father, Victor Diaz Sr., a former Minor League middle infielder, since the outfielder was a preschooler. And to this day, young Victor still calls his father after games to talk hitting.

"He's my hitting coach," Diaz said. "We talk all the time."

Diaz's production has come despite the fact he usually has hit eighth in the Mets' lineup.

"You've got to be a little more patient in that spot," he said. "With the pitcher behind you, they might not give you much to hit."

On deck: Tom Glavine (0-2, 5.17 ERA ) flew back to New York on Thursday night to be in position to open the Mets' three-game series against Washington on Friday night. He'll face Esteban Loaiza (0-0, 4.58 ERA). It's the first time the Mets will face the Nationals.