SAY IT AIN’T JO: Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said while the Mets haven’t ruled out an Opening Day start for Johan Santana, it’s becoming “less and less likely” since the left-hander “wasn’t ready” to throw at the start of spring training. (Anthony J. Causi)
PORT ST. LUCIE — At this point, the Mets know a lot more about when Johan Santana isn’t going to pitch than when he is.
After an offseason in which he admittedly threw less than normal, Santana and the Mets have found his spring training regimen delayed indefinitely.
“I think there was an expectation that when he came in, he’d be ready to pitch,” general manager Sandy Alderson said. “But I think that was his expectation, too, regardless of the winter he had.”
That hasn’t been the case and that could make what figures to be a difficult season even more challenging.
“I don’t think there was disappointment on our part or an acceptance on his part that’s the way it would be,” Alderson said. “But it was clear over the first few days he wasn’t ready. … Were we surprised, disappointed, unhappy? Those are reactions I’m not ready to get into. Sure, there’s a little disappointment, but that’s true with anybody in any situation. Is there any culpability associated with that? No, not necessarily. It just happened.”
And it leaves the Mets and Santana still figuring out a schedule that keeps him healthy but also gets him prepared for the regular season.
“From my standpoint, his arm’s fine, as far as we know,” Alderson said, adding Santana has already been checked out by Dr. David Altchek and no further exams are scheduled. “Was he ready to pitch when he came into camp? No. Even he may have been a little surprised by that.”
Santana has been long-tossing, but Tuesday’s scheduled batting practice session has been put on hold.
“The next step is getting him on the mound and that hasn’t happened yet and probably won’t for another good 10 days or so,” Alderson said. “We haven’t ruled out Opening Day, although given when we think he might get on the mound, it becomes less and less likely — but we haven’t given up on that notion yet.”
Before he left Tradition Field yesterday, Santana said: “I’m feeling OK. It’s still a process.”
The unanswered question is just how much the Mets knew about Santana’s offseason throwing program.
“Based on everything I know, he was feeling fine in the offseason,” Alderson said. “What he did in the offseason … was a little bit of an unusual winter for him, but he’s coming off 100-some innings. The question is, ‘What is the right approach?’ From my standpoint, it should have been closer to normal than the previous winter, but that’s his judgment.”
But the team was aware Santana would be scaling back his routine after working to come back from injuries in each of the four previous offseasons.
“He wanted to take the winter off so maybe we wouldn’t see the fatigue we saw last year in midseason,” manager Terry Collins said. “We didn’t like where he was when he was on the mound, so we slowed him down. … There’s always going to be a variance of opinion. Last year [in the offseason], he threw and threw and threw and faded out [in the second half]. I’m not surprised he took it easy.”
The end result of the process won’t be known until the regular season begins and Santana is there — or not.
“Each individual is different,” Alderson said. “I’m not pointing fingers at the organization or Johan. We’re dealing with reality, which is he’s not ready to pitch. He will be at some point. We hope that’s sooner rather than later. If there are lessons to be learned, we’ll certainly consider them.’’