When Johan Santana was approached about how he felt and whether he was ready for today’s start after being shelled in his last outing against the Yankees, the lefty wanted no part of it.
“I already answered that question a long time ago,” Santana said before the Mets beat Tampa Bay 5-3 last night.
But after the worst start of his career, when he gave up nine runs in three innings in a 15-0 rout at the new Yankee Stadium on Sunday, and the revelation that he’s been battling blister problems, the question won’t really be answered until he faces the Rays today at Citi Field.
After a torrid start to the season, Santana has become much more hittable. His ERA has ballooned to 3.29. He has also surrendered nine homers in his last six games, with a 6.50 ERA.
“I don’t look at is as more than one start,” GM Omar Minaya said. “I expect Johan to be Johan [today]. These things happen. . . . He knows who he is and what he can do and that he will eventually get it done.”
Santana also was clearly upset after former Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson chimed in that he had heard the ace had an injured knee — something Santana vehemently denied, although he did say that he had a blister on his left middle finger and on his toe, as well as a sore back.
“As competitive as he is, you know those guys are going to figure it out regardless of what ails them,” Jerry Manuel said.
“I know how upset he was with the last performance,” David Wright said. “From what I’ve seen, sometimes his best games come after poor starts and the poor starts are few and far between.”
Brian Schneider caught Santana against the Yankees and is confident things will be different today.
“He’s excited just to go back out there, to throw a better game,” Schneider said. “He’s too competitive to let something like that effect him.”