This is weird. So, he didn't get into shape during the offseason even though he knew he wanted to do the WBC... and then he showed up in even more worse shape?

But is Santana in the worst shape of his career?

(The) arm seems to be fine...Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said

Mets people have described Santana’s latest issue as “fatigue in his left shoulder,’’

I'm confused.

"What part of 'Met pitcher' did you not understand?" the Mets continued.

I'm confused.

I suppose you could argue that the shoulder is not part of the arm.

If Alderson said it, then I know it isn't true. Good thing Fred doesn't pay him by the lie. He'd need 20 or 30 Madoffs to afford him.

The team has found no soundness issues with his arm

At the offices of Mets team physicians Dewey, Bleedham and Howe

Johan: My arm hurts.

Moe: Dr. Larry, give a listen.

Larry, hand cupped to ear: Ahh, the crack of the bat, the slap of the leather, the joyful sounds of spring.

Moe, slapping him in the forehead: With this thing dummy!

Larry, stethoscope to Johan's heart: OK

Moe: Not there you maroon, his arm!

Curly: Here let me try!

Moe: What do you hear?

Curly: Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

Moe: Oh, wiseguy eh? Since you hear so good, you won't be needing these [double poke to eye]

Curly, deftly blocking the double poke with his hand along his nose: No, seriously Moe, his shoulder was going nyuk nyuk nyuk. What do you think that means?

Moe: He's too fat.

So... was it a lack of throwing, or a lack of overall conditioning include arm exercises (perhaps including throwing) that lead to Johan being out of shape?

"He tried to rest physically and mentally (this winter) and use spring training to get in shape,'' Santana's agent Peter Greenberg said by phone. "The goal was to be ready Opening Day or as close as possible. Mentally, as much as physically, he was burned out. He decided he needed a full break.''

Seems odd, if his job is to be ready for Opening Day (and I don't know that that is literally true. We might like it to be true, but...).

At the offices of Mets team physicians Dewey, Bleedham and Howe


Nah, Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe are their attorneys.

Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine and Dr. Howard handle the medical side.

I generally support the idea that pitchers shouldn't so much as lift a baseball during the offseason. A little jogging wouldn't kill them though.

So Santana shows up to camp out of shape, and the Mets decide that to get him back in shape they will shut him down. Got it!

That reminds me: I have to get in shape for a marathon next month. So I'm gonna sit on the couch and drink a six pack everyday. Wouldn't want to risk pulling a muscle or sumpin.

He was in his best groove as a Met circa June 1 last year when the clown car decided to mess up the entire rotation by sitting him out of his next start. Soon both he and Gee were out for the year. So any decision they make about Johan will be expected to be wrong IMO.

@12: I hate to give the Mets FO credit for anything, but if I had to lay serious coin, I'd bet it was the ankle injury against the Cubs that did Santana in. What was it about the handling of the rotation in particular that you think caused the problems for him and DG?

Fat f***

What was it about the handling of the rotation in particular that you think caused the problems for him and DG?

Applying Occam's razor I will go with: because it was a decision made by the Mets.

What Santana did sounds awfully similar to what the plan for Santana was last August.

Regardless, exactly why the Mets decided to take a story without a villain (34-year-old pitcher attempts to return from multiple injuries) and go after the work ethic of a guy who'd come back too quickly, with significant consequences, several times, including 2012, is beyond me.

Applying Occam's razor

#### that guy & the razor he rode in on.

The very next start Santana had after the no-hitter was against the Yankees. It was before the ankle injury and he got shelled. My feeling is that the Mets overreacting to the extra pitches in the no-hitter put the fear of injury into Johan's head and it seemed like he started pitching scared, nibbling, trying to fool hitters instead of how confident he seemed before that. And poof he was done.