2011 stats - 0 IP
Johan Santana is known across the Major Leagues as a bulldog. He wants the ball all the time. It doesn't matter the opponent, the hitter, the situation, anything. An accomplished warrior on the mound, Santana wants nothing more than to go mano-e-mano against this opposition.
And in 2012, the New York Mets want nothing more than Johan Santana to be healthy and provide upwards of 25 starts.
Santana had left shoulder surgery near the conclusion of the 2010 season and has not stepped on a major league mound since. The Mets struggled last season for a number of reasons, but one of the biggest was the fact that their defacto ace was not with them. Not close. No where to be found.
Instead, the left hander was in Port St. Lucie rehabbing all season long, hoping and praying to get a start or two in September. That never happened.
This spring, all eyes are focused on Santana, every time he picks up a baseball. The media swarms toward him, Terry Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen. How's he feeling? What's his progress? What's his Opening Day status? Those are just some of the questions that these men are bombarded with all the time.
All signs are pointing upward though. Santana has been able to start three Spring Training games, each time pushing himself a bit further with his pitch count and has not had any setbacks. The club is still taking the cautious route with their ace, stressing the importance of his health and his availability for the entire season, and not just Opening Day.
But let's not read this the wrong way. Collins expects Santana on the mound against the Braves on April 5th. He anticipates having him pitch every fourth or fifth day. And with that happening, the overall rotation will be deeper and stronger because of it. The other pitchers will know who their ace is. They'll know what they will be getting from him. The organization and fans want and need him healthy. And Santana wants it just as bad. This bulldog's hungry.
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