From what I have read, Santana himself would really like to get a game or two in at the ML level before the end of the season. Psychologically, it can be a really big thing for a player returning from injury to demonstrate that he can get it done at the ML level *before* the season ends . . . so he doesn’t have that uncertainty hanging over him for five months.

The Mets went through the same thing with Beltran last September. Beltran was insistent on coming back for this reason, though everyone was saying, “There’s no point, the Mets are out of it,” etc. Playing some at the end of 2010 was *huge* for Beltran in terms of his coming into 2011. He said so.

Also, I don’t really understand the idea that somehow there’s more risk to Santana in pitching at the end of 2011 than in waiting until the beginning of the 2012 season. Once you’ve done the prescribed rehab, and assuming you haven’t rushed the rehab, you’re not going to become stronger or more injury-proof by waiting another five months. At some point, the only way you can take the next step is by facing major-league hitters in a regular-season game. If he’s reached that point on September 25, I don’t see why it’s stupid to try it.

Maybe they’ll end up waiting until next season, and that would be fine, but I think it’s a little arrogant to assume that Sandy Alderson doesn’t really understand that it’s important to have a healthy Santana. Alderson has been at this a long time, and I think we can trust that, if he thinks the risks outweight the possible benefit of having Santana pitch before the end of the season, he won’t allow it.

There is no reason to rush Santana back into a game this season.

If he was strong enough then let him continue rehabbing and give him the rest of the offseason to continue to build strength so he can start ST as stong as he possibly can.

And I would not send him to Winter ball either…He doesn’t need the confidence and the extra wear and tear would only weaken him for the regular season.

Let him just continue his Off season regimen and rehab the injury and let him test it in ST.

If we truly are not playing for anything next season then having him go to Winter League sure isn’t going to change that.

Hojo, you’ve nailed it. Silliness knows no bounds when the Mets address injuries.

I think Johan the Warrior is a great team asset. To endanger him is ridiculous. Shame on the Mets front office. In this respect it reminds me of the old, more stupid days. Is anyone listening there?