With Concerns About Santana’s Arm, Niese Could Be Mets’ Opening Day Starter

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• Alex February 22, 2013 at 2:32 pm

  And it begins…
  • 3D February 22, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    What begins? A guy we all knew had arm issues is having some arm issues? I can’t imagine how anyone would think this is coming out of the blue at this point.

    This is what happens when you allow a guy coming off arm surgery who has been on monitored pitch counts all year to suddenly go 135 pitches.
    • Bayonne Mets Fan February 22, 2013 at 4:42 pm

      It is coming out of the blue oh person of yet another screen name. Santana himself not long ago said he was ready to go, no special treatment, blah, blah. Now this. And not only that, there’s been people here ALREADY who have been saying this staff is solid. Solid already. And not a single ST game pitch thrown.

      Santana had the WHOLE off season to recover, declared himself ready to go with no special treatment, etc., and now this. While not a great shock this was still not supposed to be.
      • Joe D February 22, 2013 at 6:19 pm

        You seem to have a problem with the fact that the site is drawing new readers everyday.

        Why do you assume that every new reader is Jessep incognito? You or Alex, I dont remember which, decided that a 14 year old kid – a new reader – was some mystery sabergoon.

        You spend way too much time just trying to guess who people are.

        Why not just stick to the topic and talk baseball?

        It seems like every new person that shows up here needs to frisked by you or something.

        What’s next?

        “Show me your papers? Where are your papers? We have ways of dealing with traitors and spies. My comrades have methods that will get you to talk. Spare yourself an agonizing and painful ordeal and show me your papers, now. Heh heh heh… Or else.”
        • Bayonne Mets Fan February 22, 2013 at 7:12 pm

          Oh I guess I missed the part where I said who i thought the person was. Did I say it was jessep?

          And given the history here why would you think it unusual for me to think it was a person under another name? I don’t think it was unusual for me at all to think that.

          Next time dont put words in my mouth.
  • Hawk February 22, 2013 at 7:35 pm

    ^^THIS^^
• Jesus Guzman February 22, 2013 at 2:53 pm

  Hopefully he can be ready for the opening series. A healthy Johan can bring us some quality starts and a good prospect or good outfielder at the trade deadline.
• van February 22, 2013 at 3:06 pm

  i was really hoping to not have to be subjected to “is he or isn’t he” drama with Johan this year. Guess not!

  Hopefully it is just a matter of building him up carefully, and if it means getting a couple week late start but he is good for the rest of the year, so be it.
• Ron February 22, 2013 at 3:08 pm

  Wheeler watch is officially on
  • van February 22, 2013 at 3:12 pm

    it was already on, and Johan being a little behind schedule won’t change that. You will just see them skip his turn a few times, using the long/spot man (Hefner?) and taking advantage of the infamous 4 many April rotation.

    heck, between off days and snow potential (they do go to Colorado and Minny in mid-April!) they may not need more than 3 SP until May.
• Old School Mets Fan February 22, 2013 at 3:17 pm

  Hopefully this is one of those quick setbacks we forget about, but if he’s not healthy and Gee and Marcum have any problems, this could get real bad, real quick.
• CB February 22, 2013 at 4:57 pm

  I know it probably will not happen, nor should it, but Matt Harvey taking that opening day start would be very poetic.
• Lifelongmetsfan February 22, 2013 at 5:07 pm

  This is what frustrates me. Santana has been working out all winter and you know he is going to pitch for his home country in the World Baseball Classic next month….Is he resting now for the World Baseball Classic?
  After all Santana only has so many innings in him a year at this point in his career. God I hate thinking so negatively but.. shrugs, I am a Met fan.
  Who wants to bet that Santana throws his best baseball of the season for Venezuela in March?
  • Mr North Jersey February 22, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/02/santana-wont-pitch-in-wbc-will-make-first-spring-start-march-2.html
    • Lifelongmetsfan February 22, 2013 at 5:09 pm

      NICE! Thanks Mr. North!
      • Mr North Jersey February 22, 2013 at 5:11 pm

        Your welcome.
• hotstreak February 22, 2013 at 5:49 pm

  Where is Mike Pelfrey our dis carded Ace? sarcasm
  • Kay February 22, 2013 at 5:52 pm

    I just found out something interesting (well sorta), a co-worker of mine went to HS with him. I asked her if he licked his hands and talked to himself back then too……….;)
    • hotstreak February 22, 2013 at 6:55 pm

      Kay

      I am waiting for the co-workers reply. I bet she said he indeed did when he was serving up meatballs at his backyard barbeque. He kept on wiping his face full of barbeque sauce and licking his fingers.
• Joe D February 22, 2013 at 6:07 pm

  What is interesting about Santana was that on four different occasions I contacted the Mets regarding Santana’s health and I’ll tell you why.

  You will see I mentioned it in this post:

  http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/02/hits-misses-trading-santana-more-on-bourn-a-little-on-collins.html

  And then a few days later on Feb. 8 in this one:

  http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/02/spring-shorts-harvey-looking-for-20-wins-felix-is-king-johan-tipping-pitches.html

  The reason I was concerned was because Santana did not show up to a couple of Mets events that he was expected to attend.

  I remember asking them if there was a health concern and they didn’t comment about it only to say they would get back to me. I thought it was odd. After the weekend I asked them if they could give me a status report on Santana’s health and again I was told they would get back to me.

  At this point I knew something was up because my contacts on the Mets always get back to me.

  When all the other pitchers started reporting early, I found it odd that Santana wasn’t among them considering that he was shut down and not once was there an official injury update on him for three months.

  When Johan didn’t show up for his BBWAA Award Dinner where we had someone (Jim Mancari) covering the event, then I knew something was wrong and I was definitely on to something.

  When Santana did show up on the mandatory reporting date, and then when he finally threw a bullpen off the mound, it was in the backfields. Again why not at the six pack with Harvey, Wheeler, Niese, etc.?

  Now I know why the Mets never got back to me. Now I know why he missed those events. Now I know why he didn’t show up for his award from the New York chapter of the BBWAA dinner where he was honored.

  I hate it when I get a bad hunch and it proves right….
  • srt February 22, 2013 at 6:27 pm

    O.K., I’m a bit confused…

    You say you know now why they didn’t get back to you…..are you implying that Johan had/has an injury he was dealing with and they’re trying to keep it a secret?

    Not that it would surprise me about trying to hide something with Johan but just want to make sure I understand what you’re saying here.
    • van February 22, 2013 at 7:38 pm

      the other possiblilty is that Johan was avoiding them, so they really had no idea what was going on.
      • Joe D February 22, 2013 at 8:34 pm

        It’s either one or the other. They had no problem giving health status updates on Gee and Duda who I also inquired about, so draw your own conclusions. All I’m saying is that for almost a month I had a suspicious feeling that something was amiss with Santana and it was taboo to mention his name.
        • Joey D. February 22, 2013 at 9:32 pm

          Hi Joe D.,

          I can understand your suspicions not only based on the actions of the past few weeks but also because we’ve seen it before where the Mets stall off reports of bad injury news for as long as possible.

          And that is a question I have which maybe you could shed some light on. As fans, we know mainly how the Mets do things. Is it common for other teams to be so secretive when it comes to the health of big name players or it it more unique with the Mets (i.e., Reyes’ injury before the all-star break first not being serious then three days later he goes on the DL, Beltran with his knee surgery, etc.). And either way, what do the Mets believe they have to gain holding this news back from the public? Is it what some of us suspect might simply be for season ticket sales or is there more to it?

          Any thoughts from inside your perspective?
          • Just-Da-Damaja February 23, 2013 at 8:54 am

            “Reyes’ injury before the all-star break first not being serious then three days later he goes on the DL, Beltran with his knee surgery, etc.”

            that right there IMO is what tanked the 2009 / 2010 seasons…

            had the mets handled those injuries the way the phillies handled theirs….we might’ve been decent in 2010
• Metfan Lou February 22, 2013 at 6:23 pm

  A long time ago I commented that Santana is now just like Pedro Martinez at the end of his career. If he regains arm strength will be a 5-6 inning pitcher. That’s it. I know we pay him a boatload of money but he belongs in the pen as a long reliever. Put a fork in him-he’s done!
• D.C. February 22, 2013 at 6:33 pm

  oh shit.
• Boomer February 22, 2013 at 6:34 pm

  Well unless Santana is flat out lying, always a possibility I guess, his comments would seem to indicate that he is just rusty after a long layoff. I’m not hitting the panic button for a few more days.
  • srt February 22, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    I just saw both Johan’s interview and TCs comments on him to open up the last Hot Stove report at Duffy’s tonight.

    Johan is adamant it’s just rust b/c he didn’t pitch at all during the off season and it’s going to take a bit to build up the arm strength to where it needs to be. Said it’s not a setback.

    TC more or less said the same thing. Said he was concerned after they watched his BP session b/c the velocity wasn’t there and the release point wasn’t right. He more or less said they’re going to take a step back now to build up to where he would need to be to start pitching in a ST game.

    So…take that for what it’s worth. I’m kind of thinking like you. Until I hear otherwise I’ll take it at face value for the moment. However, won’t surprise me to hear the word ‘setback’ or some more bad news two weeks from now.
    • Boomer February 22, 2013 at 7:02 pm

      Meanwhile, Pelfrey is ahead of schedule on his rehab from Tommy John and is scheduled to make his first ST start on Tuesday. It ain’t easy being a Mets fan.

      http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/danny-knobler/21747871/far-ahead-of-schedule-pelfrey-has-twins-starting-to-believe
      • srt February 22, 2013 at 7:16 pm

        Of course….wish him well with the Twins.

        I know Pelf was quoted early as saying he would like to return to the Mets but only in a SP capacity. Think he got 4.5 MIL from the Twins. Wonder if the Mets even checked in on him.
      • hotstreak February 22, 2013 at 7:18 pm

        Pelfrey or Santana. Who would you rather be in a foxhole with. It the one with a pair of ….
        • Boomer February 22, 2013 at 7:24 pm

          If I’m stuck in a foxhole I’m going with Angelina Jolie.

          Pelfrey seems like a nice enough guy but it got to the point that it was painful to watch him pitch. I’ll take a guy like Harvey with a bulldog attitude any day.
          • hotstreak February 22, 2013 at 7:34 pm

            LoL

            Actually all our starters are all studs now. Except for Santana they are young studs. I think they all could satisfy Angelina. You know our rotation is hot stuff !
          • Just-Da-Damaja February 23, 2013 at 8:56 am

            Harvey has that same bulldog mentality johan and pedro have. I love that.

            i just hope the wilpons dont try to neuter him
• Russell Zanca February 22, 2013 at 7:38 pm

  I am so weary of the Santana saga. A few weeks ago I felt convinced that he would be the OD SP. And now we’re treated to well maybe not, and all we know is he’s lacking velocity.

  This guy will end up as another form of Jason Bay, though he has done MUCH MORE as a Met. Honestly, we all love Santana, but either he’s going to give us a full season, or… fizzle.

  Yes, it’s turning into a Petey Martinez ordeal.

  Just hate to think this man’s career is on life support and we’ll be presiding over a long, slow leak.
  • DrDooby February 23, 2013 at 2:08 am

    It does indeed sound a lot like Pedro Martinez in his last couple of seasons.
    Of course, nobody can take away the 1st No-Hitter in Mets history from him or the great Game 161 of the 2008 season, keeping Mets´ playoff hopes alive pitching through an injury on short rest….

    Still rooting for Johan to have a solid final season. But probably wouldn´t bet on him being much of a factor. And certainly wouldn´t expect any sort of meaningful trade haul for him this July.
• K Maxx February 23, 2013 at 9:30 am

  What is it with Wheeler and this bulldog mentality? He has a bulldog mentality because Metsblog writes it in a title? Harvey came to the majors and actually showed a real bulldog mentality. Wheeler hasn’t done any of that and for all we know he could be a wimp like Pelfrey was, another prospect with a “bulldog mentality,”

  You don’t get the tag “bulldog” by pitching in Binghamton or tossing bullpens in spring training. That don’t mean shit. You think Brad Holt didn’t impress in his first spring training and said the same things as Wheeler has about wanting to win and making it to the majors? How quickly you all forget.
  • srt February 23, 2013 at 9:33 am

    I’ve read nothing about Wheeler and a ‘bulldog’ type mentatility.
    You say you saw this over on Metsblog? Probably just one of their usual mistakes.

    All I’ve read about Wheeler is he’s quiet, unassuming, humble and confident.
• Joe February 23, 2013 at 1:55 pm

  Sign Lohse and be done with it………….!!