Johan Santana will throw batting today, and if all goes well, five days after that he could throw in a minor league game.
Manager Jerry Manuel said it means Santana could be on track to pitch the “all important’’ Opening Day.
Meanwhile, Luis Castillo is experience tightness in his left hamstring and is day-to-day.
Ryan Church is expected to play this afternoon after missing two games with a bruised right knee.
Ryan Church was scratched from today’s game with a sore right knee, reports Steve Popper from the Bergen Record.
SANTANA: Are they sure?
He’s easily the most important Met. How far they go this season is dependant on Johan Santana’s elbow, his shoulder, and his knee – every part of him.
October will be yet another empty month if Santana is injured and misses a substantial part of the season.
The appearance is the Mets aren’t on the same page on a timetable when a day after pitching coach Dan Warthen’s itinerary had Santana missing Opening Day the two-time Cy Young winner said he thought differently.
Santana threw 46 pain-free bullpen pitches Wednesday and the tenor has changed. Santana, manager Jerry Manuel said, isn’t a like everybody else, telling reporters in Port St. Lucie: “You have templates that you like to follow, and everybody don’t fit those templates. That’s why he is who he is.’’
I don’t think anybody doubts Santana’s competitiveness. All you have to do is think back to his last start of the season on a bum knee that required surgery.
This guy throws with his guts as much as he does his arm, and part of me can’t help but wonder if the Mets are doing with Santana what they did with Pedro Martinez, which is let him call the shots.
If they thought he needed a MRI a week ago, then why not go through with it and be sure?
The Mets will begin a series of tours of Citi Field beginning tomorrow for those still wanting to purchase season tickets. Register at Mets.com or call 718-507-TIXX.
Tickets for the April 3-4 exhibition games against the Red Sox go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m.
When you do the math, if Johan Santana makes his first spring training start March 18, he’ll be in line to make his regular season debut April 11 at Miami.
That works out better, skipping frosty Cincinnati for Florida after five spring training appearances.
Nobody seems all that concerned. Newsday’s Dave Lennon suggested Jerry Manuel won’t watch Santana work in the bullpen today as to downplay the situation.
Interesting point, and one that makes some sense.
However, what it doesn’t do is make Santana’s elbow feel any better.
Said Manuel: “I haven’t even discussed Johan. I’m not real concerned with Johan at this point, as far as what he’s doing, as far as sides, those types of things. I’m just glad to see him every day.’’
