News: Santana’s BP at 9:30 am
Update, 10:31 am:
According to the Back Page Blog, Santana has been through this before, then went on to go 20–6 with a 2.61 ERA.
…thanks to mike b for the link…
Update, 10:07 am:
“Johan Santana tossed a 46-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and then predicted he would take the ball on Opening Day in Cincinnati on April 6,” writes Adam Rubin in a post to his blog for the Daily News.
Rubin also provides a variety of quotes from Santana, as well as pitching coach Dan Warthen.
“We are in this thing together, and I appreciate everything he’s doing,” Santana is quoted as saying. “He’s trying to protect me and the team, of course. But as of right now, my mindset is for Opening Day.”
David Lennon of Newsday adds that Santana used his change-up, fastball and slider, “which was a step up from Sunday’s outing, and his velocity looked good.”
Originan Post:
Johan Santana will throw a side session in the bullpen today, around 9:30 am, with the goal of exceeding more than 30 pitches.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Santana will be pushed back, and make his first regular-season start on April 11.
…good… why raise expectations, unnecessarily, only to disappoint… fact is, it makes no difference when he makes his first start, so long as he makes the rest of his starts… i mean, in September, when he’s pitching against the Phillies and contending for a Cy Young, is any one going to care or even remember when his first start of the season was… no… all that matters is that he’s healthy and available all year long…
…frankly, the other story here is that nobody trusts the Mets when it comes to their public medical information… i think last season’s slow, downward-spiral-of-news – regarding Billy Wagner and Ryan Church – has left most fans and all media very, very skeptical of what is said by the Mets with regards to injuries… so, it’s understandable that every one is obessing about santana… we’re not obsessing specifically about Opening Day… we’re obsessing over the injury, for fear that we will eventually be told the elbow injury is more serious than it is…
…in other words, today’s side session is huge… because, the best way to deal with this is to take it one step at a time…
