Tag: Johan Santana

Mets Santana Takes Spring Mound Tonight

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All eyes will be on Johan Santana tonight, taking the mound for the first time in a game situation this spring. Apparently, the elbow tightness that troubled him earlier this month is no longer an issue. At least that’s what we’re hearing.

Santana has thrown a bullpen session and two batting practice sessions without ill effects. So the Mets are giving their most prized pitcher the “A-OK” to take the mound in a game.

The Mets play against the Marlins tonight in a rare 7:10pm start for a spring game. The game will be broadcast on SNY and MLB Network.

I only expect Santana to pitch two innings tonight. They’re not going to push him beyond his limts. All of the other pitchers started out throwing two innings in a game so I’d be shocked if the Mets pushed Santana beyond that.

Keep your fingers crossed that he makes it through a couple of innings with a pain-free elbow.

Santana Resumes Mets Spring Thursday

Johan SantanaMets ace Johan Santana will get back on the mound in a start against the Florida Marlins on Thursday in Port St. Lucie. The game is an unusual 7:10pm start on SNY and MLB Network.

Santana has pitched several successful bullpen sessions and batting practices since experiencing tightness in his left elbow.

If Santana pitches well this could quell some of the concern surrounding the fifthe spot in the rotation. Right now, with Mike Pelfrey slightly injured, Santana not ready to pitch in games yet, and the fifth starter candidates flopping badly Mets fans are extremely concerned about the rotation. And rightuflly so.

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If Santana and Pelfrey can solidify their spots this week it’ll go a long way toward making us feel like the Mets rotation is going to be okay this season. Mike Pelfrey is scheduled to start on Saturday against the Washington Nationals in PSL.

If all goes well with Santana and Pelfrey we can start to remember that the fifth starter is the the FIFTH starter. There are several guys that the Mets can rotate in and out to find soemthing that works. I realize that nothing is working at this point. But let’s worry about the first and second spots in the rotation this week as the priority.

Mets Move Up Santana’s Rehab Schedule

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I hate to get caught up in this daily routine of updating Johan Santana’s progress recoving from some elbow pain. But it is encouraging that the Mets have moved up his rehab schedule.

Originally, Santana was going to pitch three bullpen sessions before throwing to hitters. He pitched one bullpen session on Thursday and felt well enough to pitch batting practice today before the game against the Washington Nationals.

Maybe Santana will be able to go on opening day in Cincinnati on April 6. From the comments that I’ve read from Santana, it seems like its very important to him to make that start. I have to say that Santana really shows a lot of pride in his game for a guy that’s guaranteed to make $137.5 million whether he’s on the field or not. The Mets made a great decision picking him as the guy to give a monster contract to. I remember hearing that an NFL scout said that the hardest part about selecting the first pick in the draft isn’t about talent. A lot of college football players have talent. The problem is choosing the guys that will still have a desire to win when their bank account gets into eight digits. Santana is demonstrating to us that he’s that type of guy.

Mets Botch Santana Elbow Injury

Johan SantanaJohan Santana is still intent on pitching opening day in Cincinnati on April 6. Jerry Manuel wants Santana ready for opening day. Omar Minaya says that Santana’s elbow is fine. But pitching coach Dan Warthen says that Santana won’t be ready for opening day. Which way is up here?

I’ve written about this before so I won’t belabor the point, its beyond me how the Mets can let Santana continue to pitch without having some medical testing done on his elbow. There are MRI machines in Florida. So this story about sending him to New York for an examination is ridiculous.

I conducted a reader poll this week and 67% of respondants say they feel the Mets haven’t handled this situation properly. It’s time for the Mets to get it together when it comes to player health.

Johan Santana is a warrior and wants to pitch. I realize that after watching him pitch in 2008. So relying on his self-diagnosis to determine a course of action for his elbow stiffness isn’t realistic.

We don’t really know what the story is now. We’ve heard contradictory reports from the coaching staff, player, and organization. Be cautious and don’t take a chance on Santana being off the field for an extended period of time. That’s all we ask as fans.

Verducci: 2009 Mets Have Several Key Questions

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SI’s Tom Verducci addressed the Mets in his “Spring Training Post Cards” series today. I really like Verducci and he nailed the Mets first couple of weeks of spring training perfectly. Here’s a quick summary of the issues he addressed:

  1. Jerry Manuel has brought a looser feel to the team this season than Willie Randolph had in the past.
  2. Jose Reyes batting third is an interesting experiment and meant to push Luis Castillo, not Reyes. He suggests that Castillo may be best served batting ninth in the order.
  3. The Mets outfielders don’t have a lot of high-ceiling guys. And they don’t know what to expect out of Ryan Church after he couldn’t get it together after his second concussion.
  4. Livan Hernandez could really help the Mets if he can get about 15 starts in this season.
  5. The daily roller coaster of Johan Santana’s health is hanging over the team like a cloud right now.

I’m surprised that he didn’t mention Carlos Beltran in his discussion of the Mets outfielders. Beltran gives the Mets a lot of flexibility to play guys that don’t have outfield experience. He covers a ton of ground in the outfield and leads the other players positioning.

I’m also surprised that he didn’t mention what a bust that Freddy Garcia is turning out to be. Livan Hernandez is fine, but the Mets need to find someone that solidify the number five spot in the rotation.

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Audio: Heyman, Strawberry On Mets

Darryl StrawberrySI’s Jon Heyman joins Richard Neer on WFAN, subbing for Mike Francesa, to talk about MLB in general and the Johan Santana injury situation.

Heyman audio

Darryl Strawberry joins WFAN’s Boomer & Carton to talk about joining the Mets this week for spring training. He also talks about his book “Straw: Finding My Way”.

Strawberry audio

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

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