Santana's status a huge key for Mets
File photo of Mets pitcher Johan Santana. Credit: AP
When it comes to Johan Santana, the crossroads of patience and pessimism will intersect in Port St. Lucie in the next six weeks when the two-time Cy Young Award winner either proves himself capable of pitching Opening Day for the Mets -- or not.
Of course, the discussion does not begin and end with whether he can take the mound April 5 against the Braves at Citi Field. But now that Santana is 17 months removed from surgery to repair a tear in the anterior capsule of his left shoulder, the longer he takes to return to a major-league mound, the louder the skepticism. Santana, guaranteed $55 million through 2013, has not pitched for the Mets since Sept. 2, 2010.
Just last month, he offered no promises about Opening Day -- or anything else, for that matter. The only date he had circled was Feb. 22, when Mets pitchers are scheduled to begin throwing bullpen sessions. "I don't want to set any time frame," he said then, "because I don't really know until we get there."
Santana already has begun his throwing program, and he plans to commute between Port St. Lucie and his Fort Myers home until the official reporting date for pitchers and catchers next Monday. If his progress is slowed and the Mets are forced to rethink their rotation, R.A. Dickey will be the likely replacement for him as the No. 1 starter.
"I certainly hope that's not the case," Dickey said. "My first reaction: Obviously, I would be honored to do it. But it would be by default because Johan's our ace and hopefully, he can come back and do what he's always done. But if the gauntlet has passed, even for a moment, then I'll try to accept the challenge the best I know how."
Santana was derailed by a handful of setbacks last season, which ultimately led to the Mets' refusal to provide a timetable for his return. In his first spring training as general manager a year ago, Sandy Alderson went as far as to lay down ground rules about sheltering Santana from daily scrutiny in Port St. Lucie, a policy that should loosen up if he makes strides this time around.
Until Santana takes the mound again, however, the uncertainty of his status will weigh on the rest of the team. The Mets are thin in the pitching department, especially the rotation. "I try not to get caught up in that too much," said Dillon Gee, the projected fifth starter if Santana is ready to begin the season. "Johan is going to take care of Johan. He's one of the hardest workers I've seen . . . Knowing his work ethic, I have no doubt he's coming back at this point."
