JUPITER, Fla. — If the Mets had to do it over again, they likely wouldn’t have had their pitchers on the mound as early as they did in this year’s longer-than-usual spring training.
“We probably should have pushed some guys back,” a source said. “It might have saved us some trouble.”
If they had, perhaps Johan Santana’s delay in pitching in a game wouldn’t have devolved into a test of wills.
Santana’s camp remains confident he will be ready for Opening Day, even if the Mets aren’t so sure.
A team official reiterated Tuesday: “If he’s ready, that’s great, but if he isn’t, we’re not going to push him to get back out there.”
The lefty is scheduled to throw a light bullpen session Wednesday after feeling fine following his unexpected session off the mound Sunday.
Santana isn’t alone in believing he will be OK in time for the season, despite a slow start to 2013.
“We’ve got a long spring, so seven or eight starts is a lot,” said Shaun Marcum, who returned to action yesterday after being shut down after his previous start on Feb. 23 as he tries to avoid the shoulder issues he had last spring. “I’m not a guy who thinks you should have spring training [for] six or eight weeks, anyway, so the shorter the better for me.”
Marcum pitched two scoreless innings against the Marlins in a B game.
“Physically, I’m good,” said Marcum, who battled arm problems a year ago with Milwaukee. “My shoulder feels strong. Everything feels strong, so now it’s just a matter of getting out in the bullpen and repeating my mechanics, making sure I’m hitting my arm slot and repeating my delivery. … I’ll be ready. No questions there.”
Manager Terry Collins said he just hopes his starters continue to make progress.
“We’re headed into March and it’s time to get our pitching staff lined up,” he said.
* Jenrry Mejia was sent back to New York for tests Tuesday when doctors found a medical issue relating to his physical.
Mejia, 23, was scheduled to pitch in a B game against the Marlins.
“It’s going to be dealt with here in the next day or so,” Collins said. “He was scratched early this morning. I don’t even know what it is.’’
Mejia arrived late to spring training because he was randomly selected while coming back into the country from the Dominican Republic for age and identity verification.
He has dealt with injuries throughout his brief career, including Tommy John surgery in 2011.
“He feels fine,” his agent, Chris Leible, said. “He’s mostly just disappointed that he got sidetracked again since he’s already been sidetracked once this spring.”
Mejia struggled in his first spring appearance last week, when he gave up five runs in one inning.