Jun
13
2011

Santana Has Soreness In Left Shoulder

An article by Joe D

I don’t like the sound of this one bit, but Johan Santana’s comeback attempt took a step back today when GM Sandy Alderson announced that the lefthander experienced “soreness in his left shoulder while attempting to increase the intensity of his mound sessions.”

Santana was expected to begin his final phase of his recovery this week and face live hitters, but when he tried to increase his pitching intensity on June 3rd, he felt soreness and was shut down. I wonder why it’s taken over a week to reveal that information?

Anyway, since then Santana has only done some long toss sessions, but he is expected to go back to throwing off a mound again sometime this week.

Alderson said he didn’t consider this a setback, but the way I look at it, it’s a setback in every sense of the word. Santana’s sore shoulder will not only keep him from throwing to live batters this week as was planned, but he has actually stepped two phases back and is now only long tossing like he was in February. Sorry, you can sugarcoat it all you want, but this is definitely a setback, folks.

Hopefully he can get back to where he was expected to be (phase four) in short order, but the way our rotation is pitching right now, no need to rush the process.

About the Author: Joe DeCaro

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.

10 Comments + Add Comment

Mr North Jersey June 13, 2011 at 6:55 pm

Sorry to hear about the soreness but can’t say I was surprised either. Hopefully this is but a bump in the road on his way back to the mound and nothing else. One thing I will note is that regardless of what our rotation is doing there is no scenario where rushing Santana back would be a good option.

Take your time Santana and just make sure that when you get back it’s for good.
NYMetsfan June 13, 2011 at 6:59 pm

Step away from the ledge and the panic button……..some soreness may be perfectly normal for this rehab.
- Joe D June 13, 2011 at 7:34 pm
  
  Damn you. I took your advice and stepped away from the ledge, but I lost my grip, fell backwards, cracked my head open and now I’m a bloody mess. Thanks a lot. But seriously, I wasn’t hitting the panic button in fact I urged that we don’t rush the process. My problem was only in that the Mets waited nine days to report the soreness, and even though he is back to phase one instead of phase three, they say it’s not a setback. What do you call it?
  - NYMetsfan June 13, 2011 at 7:40 pm
    
    I didn’t hear that he is back to Phase One yet – didn’t they say this was to be expected?
    
    Here let me offer the olive band aid branch……..
    - srt June 13, 2011 at 10:28 pm
      
      According to an interview with Sandy shown tonight on the post game, he said that Johan is in the third stage but at the very beginning/early stages of it.
Joe Spector June 13, 2011 at 9:51 pm

If we see Santana at all it will be in late August and if the Mets are out of it by then, consider seeing Santana opening day 2012.
alex68 June 14, 2011 at 8:37 am

if i’m the mets, i shot down santana for the year, let him rehab slowly, this team has a chance but it’s not that big of a chance, unless JOSE REYES carries the team till the end this team is not making the playoffs, he can, but i don’t think he can do it alone, and most likely, thta’s what it will take
Pete June 14, 2011 at 9:07 am

One thing to remember is that no pitcher has ever come back from this surgery to pitch in the big leagues. None. Look at Ching Mien Wang. I am not nearly as optimistic as the other fans I read on here. I do not believe he will ever pitch in the bigs again.
Russell Zanca June 14, 2011 at 10:45 am

Where the hell is Ike Davis? What is his timetable for returning?
- alex68 June 14, 2011 at 10:48 am
  
  i didn’t think this was an injury to will last more than a week, let alone months, it kinda shows he’s a little fragile imo..

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