Thursday, March 12, 2009

Santana to Make Spring Debut



Tonight the Mets will play the Marlins in PSL at 7:10, and making his spring debut for the Mets will be Johan Santana. Santana, who after offseason knee surgery, has been plagued by arm soreness all spring will start the game for the team.

Santana attributed the arm soreness to trying to over prepare for the World Baseball Classic which began last week. He’s repeatedly said that he will be ready for opening day, and the arm trouble has had nothing to do with his knee surgery.

Santana’s start is welcoming as the Mets rotation has been in disarray all spring. John Maine, the likely number 2 starter, has been described as rusty and has been struggling all spring. The team’s third starter Oliver Perez is playing for Team Mexico in the WBC and has been absent in camp. The fourth starter Mike Pelfrey has a shin bruise and may be forced to mix his next start.

The fifth position in the Mets’ rotation continues to be a question mark as Tim Redding will pitch tonight in what cold be a crucial spring appearance if he wants to assert himself as the favorite for the last spot in the rotation. Redding is the only of the team’s current options for the fifth spot that is guaranteed a roster spot, so assuming he is healthy hell make the team either as a starter or the long reliever.

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