Johan Santana’s “spring training” could be near.
The Mets ace completed a bullpen session on Wednesday — his first throwing from a mound in almost a month, after he was shut down because of shoulder soreness. Santana’s next step is to throw again from a mound in the coming days, according to general manager Sandy Alderson, and if all goes well the left-hander may be cleared to begin a spring training routine.
Once Santana is cleared for spring training, he likely would need 5-6 weeks before rejoining the team, putting his return on schedule for mid-August. The Mets originally had hoped their ace would return by the All-Star break following surgery last September to repair a torn capsule in his left shoulder.
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Manny Acosta, who suffered a right wrist contusion while diving to make a play in Thursday’s loss to the Tigers, indicated he is fine physically, but manager Terry Collins said the right-hander will be evaluated and could be a candidate for the disabled list. Collins does not want a short bullpen, especially facing the Yankees. Acosta did not pitch in the Mets’ 5-1 loss to the Yankees at Citi Field, but Collins was forced to use four relievers.
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Willie Harris, who was placed on the bereavement list Thursday after his wife, Trey, lost her pregnancy at five months, is expected to be activated tomorrow.
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Alderson said it remains “realistic” to expect David Wright back in the days following the All-Star break. Wright has started hitting from a tee, and yesterday swung at front tosses for the first time. The third baseman, recovering from a stress fracture in his back, could begin a minor league rehab assignment within a week.
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The Mets still are awaiting a second opinion on Ike Davis‘ bone bruise in his right ankle. Alderson said films and a case file have been sent to a specialist to evaluate. Davis remains home in Arizona, where he has been limited in his workouts. He could be facing season-ending microfracture surgery.
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Though the Mets thrived using the designated hitter at Texas and Detroit over the last week, Collins welcomed a return to National League rules. The switch meant the Yankees will not have sizzling DH Jorge Posada in the starting lineup this weekend.
Collins said he chose last night’s lineup, which included Daniel Murphy (0-for-3) and Ronny Paulino (1-for-4) instead of Lucas Duda and Josh Thole, based on Citi Field.
“We’ve got to start playing better in this park,” said Collins, whose Mets fell to 18-21 at home. “The lineup you see out there today is the lineup that has played best in this park.”
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Last night’s sellout – a record crowd of 42,020 at Citi Field – was the Mets’ second of the season. The Mets also had a sellout for the home opener against Washington.
The previous Citi Field record was 41,422 on May 23 of last season against the Yankees.
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Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran both hit right-handed against Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning to try and neutralize Rivera’s cutter.
Rivera retired both batters. Reyes said he’s hit exclusively righty against Rivera for the last several years, after breaking his bat batting lefty the first two times he faced the iconic closer. Beltran said he occasionally bats righty against Rivera.