Santana feels good after bullpen session
Johan Santana pitches in the bullpen as manager Terry Collins looks on before a game against the Florida Marlins. (July 24, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
MIAMI -- Johan Santana made it only as far as the bullpen mound at Sun Life Stadium, and the one "batter" he faced Sunday was pitching coach Dan Warthen. But the two-time Cy Young Award winner seemed to glide though his latest test, and that should be enough to convince the Mets to pencil in Santana for his first rehab start Wednesday for Class A St. Lucie.
Once Santana steps on the mound that night, the 30-day rehab clock will begin. That will put him on track to start for the Mets no later than Aug. 24, barring any setbacks.
As for Sunday's 45-pitch session, Santana was asked if it was similar to one from his healthier days, and he gave an enthusiastic response.
"I think it's even better than what I have had before," he said. "I don't try to compare anything from the past years. I'm just trying to see how it feels, especially after I throw a bullpen like this. And it feels really good."
Despite the optimism, the one caveat was how Santana would feel Monday morning, and that's why the Mets held off on announcing his next step. Santana threw a three-inning, 43-pitch simulated game Friday in Port St. Lucie, and Sunday's bullpen session was supposed to ease him into a regular between-starts routine. His last major-league start was Sept. 2; he had season-ending surgery to repair a torn capsule in his shoulder 12 days later.
"I'm getting close," Santana said. "We still have some way to go, but I'm feeling better and that's what we're looking for, day in and day out. Every day I feel better. Every time I throw in the bullpen or off the mound, I feel good. The last couple of times has been really good."
Santana attracted a predictable crowd for the bullpen session that included Warthen, Terry Collins, Florida-based rehab coordinator Randy Niemann and trainer Ray Ramirez. He rotated through all of his pitches -- Santana even yelled "woo!'' after one particularly good curveball -- and was pretty excited throughout.
"I think we actually started spring training a week and a half ago," said Niemann, who has worked closely with Santana since February. "We moved the bullpens closer together, we started batting practice; that's what you would do in spring training.
"He's gotten himself to the point where if he recovers and he's feeling good, we can start getting him into games."
