The pitching assignments again have been rearranged.

Oliver Perez will start on Saturday vs. the Tigers and be followed by Hisanori Takahashi, Nelson Figueroa and likely two of three from Sean Green, Bobby Parnell and Jenrry Mejia

Johan Santana will start on Sunday at Florida. The rest remains the same - R.A. Dickey, Pedro Feliciano and (Parnell-Mejia-Green - whoever doesn’t pitch Sat.)

John Maine will pitch on Sunday in a B game against a yet to be determined team.

Fernando Nieve will start on Monday vs. St. Louis, followed by Jon Niese, Francisco Rodriguez and Ryota Igarashi.

Oliver Perez will follow John Maine on Saturday, after Perez's outing Friday was rained out in Fort Myers. Hisanori Takahashi is expected to pitch third. Then, two of three pitchers from Bobby Parnell, Sean Green and Jenrry Mejia will be used in the game.

Saturday's unused pitcher will go Sunday instead in Jupiter, in a game started by Johan Santana. Also pitching Sunday: Pedro Feliciano and R.A. Dickey.

On Monday, Francisco Rodriguez makes his first Grapefruit League start. Fernando Nieve starts that game, and Jon Niese and Ryota Igarashi also pitch.

The Mets game against the Twins in Fort Myers has been rained out. The team actually traveled the two hours, 45 minutes across the state and learned it was scrapped shortly after arriving.

Here's a look at Ruben Tejada, which I'm reprinting from last summer, when I wrote a Surfing the Mets farm report about him.

With the Mets already depleted at shortstop, and with backup Ramon Martinez’s balky back threatening to sideline him as well during a series at Fenway Park late last month, GM Omar Minaya mentioned Ruben Tejada as a potential call-up.

Upon further review, team brass concluded it didn’t make sense to promote the 19-year-old Panamanian infielder, since Tejada doesn’t need to be protected in the Rule 5 draft until after the 2010 season, and it wouldn't be prudent to tie up a 40-man roster spot for a season and a half for a short call-up. Still, word did filter to Tejada at Double-A Binghamton about Minaya dropping his name.

“Yes, I heard it,” Tejada said through an interpreter last weekend in Trenton. “But that’s neither here nor there. I just have to focus on what I have to do.”

With Jose Reyes entrenched at shortstop, Tejada’s future may be at second base for the Mets.

When shortstop Jose Coronado was demoted from Triple-A Buffalo to Binghamton with a .141 average in mid-May, Tejada began getting exposure to second base. Coronado and Tejada began alternating games between the middle infield positions. Tejada quickly adapted to second base, which he had previously played only during the instructional league in Port St. Lucie.

“He’s been doing a great job playing second base, turning the double play,” Binghamton manager Mako Oliveras said. “The first thing I look for is the double-play situation, if he’s a little afraid of the runner. He’s got instincts.”

Tejada is in a 2-for-17 rut his past five games, but he’s still hitting .277 with two homers, 22 RBI and seven steals in 61 games.

“He’s a 19-year-old kid who weighs 160 pounds,” Oliveras said. “I’m not going to say he’s going to be a home run hitter, but he’s going to hit a lot of doubles. Sometimes, like a typical young hitter, he tries to create more power than what he’s got right now. But, bless him, he’s got very, very good talent. He’s the type of guy that he gets better with better competition. Hopefully he’ll stay healthy. So far he’s been playing every game.”

Being exposed to Double-A as a teenager follows the Mets’ recent pattern of challenging the organization’s young Latin American prospects. Tejada did wear down last year in the high-A Florida State League while also being challenged, although team officials said an extensive weight-training program contributed. He hit .229 with two homers and 37 RBI in 131 games last year at St. Lucie.

Tejada’s hectic schedule then included playing Hawaii Winter Baseball. Despite his young age, Tejada then represented Panama in the World Baseball Classic. The country lasted only two games and was bounced, with Tejada going 0-for-4. Tejada said first baseman Julio Zuleta, who appeared in a combined 79 games for the Cubs in 2000 and ’01, was a mentor during the WBC.

“I was very impressed with the surroundings and taken aback by being on the list to play on the national team,” Tejada said.

Tejada said his most memorable experience was just playing host Puerto Rico in Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan in Panama’s first game, on March 7. Tejada got to face Javier Vazquez.

“I didn’t get a hit, but I felt good that I was there competing,” he said.

Tejada actually wasn’t even the youngest player on Panama’s roster. Mariners pitching prospect Manuel Campos was born 134 days later.

“Being such a young player, he has a great feel for the game,” Oliveras said. “He’s a kid that you challenge and he rises to the occasion.”

In a surprise development to the Mets and Jose Reyes' agent, the shortstop will remain in New York for several weeks and open the season on the DL.

On a conference call with reporters, agent Peter Greenberg and GM Omar Minaya said that Reyes cannot have any physical exertion for the next two to eight weeks. Initial tests suggested Reyes could be back in Port St. Lucie by the weekend, but the final tests showed Reyes' thyroid levels spiked upward again when he did controlled physical activity Monday and Tuesday.

"He was very disappointed because the initial results said that he could possibly be back in a matter of days," Greenberg said. "... We're guilty of speaking a little bit too soon, unfortunately."

Reyes' thyroid levels will be tested weekly, and he'll be cleared to resume physical activity once those normalize. That could take as long as two months, however, Greenberg said. Reyes should be absent several weeks beyond when the thyroid normalizes because he will be idle and will need to get back into playing shape. Adding to the complexity is that Reyes is returning from a torn hamstring and surgery to repair a severed hamstring tendon.

“He’s just going to have to rest,” Minaya said. “There’s not a specific time frame when it will get back to normal, but our doctors will be testing that on a regular basis."

“Jose obviously is a little bit disappointed that it’s going to be a matter of weeks as opposed to days,” Greenberg said. “But it’s a completely curable, treatable situation. I think we all view it as good news. He's supposed to rest and watch his diet. He's not supposed to do anything that is going to raise the heart level so that the irritation can go down. ... That's why he's staying at home—to just rest and relax and spend time with his family and watch a lot of movies. ... He'll be tested on a weekly basis and hopefully the levels will start down. The doctors told us this was the best possible diagnosis and that there is no intervention or medication necessary."

Minaya said a virus or dietary cause may have triggered the initial thyroid trouble.

Minaya said 20-year-old Ruben Tejada could be the Mets' Opening Day shortstop, with Alex Cora also an option. Tejada is somewhat used to a big stage, having represented Panama in the World Baseball Classic. He makes solid contact, but he has a small, 6-foot, 160-pound frame and isn't projected to hit for much power. Tejada hit .289 with five homers and 46 RBI in 488 at-bats with Double-A Binghamton last season.

It's a huge blow to the Mets, who already are without Carlos Beltran, likely until mid-May. Jerry Manuel hoped to use Reyes in the No. 3 hole until Beltran returned.

"The good thing is Ruben Tejada is playing pretty well," Minaya said. "I know Jerry has been playing him. And that's one of the reasons we went out there and were able to get a guy like a Cora. Then again, let's wait and see how the end of spring training goes."

Reyes will not require medication, such as radioactive iodine, according to his agent.

"There is no medication for this," Minaya said. "What we heard from our doctors and the specialists in this area is that it's just rest right now."

Said Greenberg: "He can walk, he can go shopping, that kind of stuff—but he can't raise his heart rate. They don't want him exercising or anything. As long as he follows the diet, which is no seafood, which he'll do, they have no doubt that the levels will return to normal. I even asked whether there was a chance if this happens if he was at a higher risk for recurrence and they say that almost never is there a recurrence in this type. ... It's obviously mild because they said there's no prescribed medication or intervention. It's just a matter of rest and diet. I don't really know exactly what the numbers were, but it's mild."

Greenberg suggested the high level of physical activity required for a professional athlete means Reyes needs to particularly be cautious.

"I think that's probably very accurate and probably why it went from days to weeks once the doctors had all conferred," he said.

Minaya wouldn't confirm Reyes will start the season on the disabled list, but the timeline leads to know other conclusion.

"It doesn't look good right now," Minaya said. "With that timeline, every day that goes by, we have to prepare for that."

The Mets will announce early this afternoon the final results of Jose Reyes' thyroid issue. Reyes is not expected at the complex today, but all signs have suggested he should be back doing baseball activities soon and that there's no danger of Reyes' season being affected.

UPDATE: Here's the announcement ...

The additional blood tests confirmed that Jose Reyes's thyroid hormone blood levels are elevated and he is hyperthyroid. Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek last night spoke with Jose and his representatives. As prescribed by the doctors and specialists, Jose’s treatment plan is to rest, refrain from athletic activity and make changes in his diet. The doctors will monitor Jose's thyroid levels through regular blood tests. Once Jose’s thyroid levels return to normal, he will be cleared to resume baseball activities.

Here's the Red Sox lineup:

Marco Scutaro, ss
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Victor Martinez, c
David Ortiz, dh
J.D. Drew, rf
Mike Cameron, cf
Jeremy Hermida, lf
Jed Lowrie, 3b
Lars Anderson, 1b
John Lackey, rhp

* Daniel Murphy arrived at his locker this morning to find a series of post-it notes attached. Each contained the name of a pitcher against whom he has homered. "I put all 14 up there," a mischievous teammate said, referring to Murphy's 14 career major-league homers. "It only took two minutes."

* Word from the back fields is that former Nats lefthander Mike O'Connor has signed and flamethrower Jeurys Familia touched 100 mph on a radar gun.

It supposed to rain today. Regardless, here's the planned Mets lineup vs. the Red Sox for Thursday's matinee at Tradition Field as Jason Bay faces his most recent former employer, Mike Pelfrey returns to the mound five days after getting struck with a line drive in the right leg and John Lackey faces the Amazin's.

Pagan, cf
Castillo, 2b
Wright, 3b
Jacobs, 1b
Bay, lf
Catalanotto, dh
Francoeur, rf
Cora, ss
Coste, c

Pelfrey, rhp

Also listed to pitch: Pedro Feliciano, Tobi Stoner, Travis Blackley, Ryota Igarashi, Elmer Dessens and Bobby Livingston. Also for the Red Sox: Felix Doubront, Joe Nelson, Adam Mills and Junichi Tazawa

A Mets minor leaguer was among four players disciplined Wednesday for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Pitcher Melvin Colon (Dominican Summer League Mets) has been suspended after testing positive for metabolites of Nandrolone.

Even Daniel Murphy likes Ike. But the incumbent first baseman, who has logged all of 101 major-league games at the position and is still just 24 years old, isn’t getting pushed aside just yet for the fast-rising prospect.

Murphy remains the overwhelming favorite to start at first base on Opening Day, while Ike Davis should be assigned to the same position at Triple-A Buffalo, despite a .524 average with two homers and nine RBI in 21 Grapefruit League at-bats.

Murphy went 2-for-5 in Wednesday’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Braves at Disney. He had opened the exhibition season in a 1-for-12 rut. Davis pinch-hit and walked in extra innings.

“I’ve known him for a couple of years now. We roomed together my first year. In Brooklyn he stayed in the dorms with me for like a week and a half rehabbing,” Davis said. “We just like to joke around with each other and push each other. We’re friends. I would say we’re pretty good friends. It hasn’t been awkward at all. Right now we’re just trying to get ready for our seasons.”

Said Murphy: “He’s playing well right now, and he can hit. I hope he has a great year. I hope we both have great years because, at the end of the day, it’s about having value for your organization and helping them win a championship. If we both play well, then trying to find a spot for two guys who are playing well is not a bad problem to have.”

Murphy, a noted workaholic, has stayed true to his promise to cut down his workload this year in an attempt to avoid wearing down late in the season. For instance, when Jerry Manuel gave Murphy off Tuesday against the Astros, Murphy did not take a swing at the complex after 11:30 a.m. Last year, under similar circumstances, he’d still be swinging until the game ended at 4 p.m.

“I still take every at-bat seriously,” Murphy said. “I still take every inning in the field seriously. There’s a lot of work still to be done. I think the only difference with me is I’m getting myself more prepared to play a full season rather than going out there and just going all out every day. I’m maybe working a little bit smarter. I’m taking fewer swings.”

Despite the hype of Keith Hernandez working with Murphy in Port St. Lucie on the eve of spring training, the two haven’t done extensive work since. Hernandez recently did offer another tutorial while at camp to provide televised game commentary.

“He told to get to know my infielders as far as what their ball does out of their hands,” Murphy said. “So I’ve been taking a lot of throws from David (Wright) and Alex Cora and Luis Castillo, trying to really get a feel for what their ball does across the diamond. I’m also trying to pay attention to our pitchers—how they get off the mound.”

Murphy said Wright’s ball flies across the diamond relatively true. Jose Reyes’ action still needs to be learned.

“The ball comes out of his hand ‘hot,’” Murphy said. “I’ve only caught a handful of throws from him so far.”

As for the ramifications of Davis’ rise, Murphy was asked whether his mindset is that he’s a first baseman for his career now.

“My mindset is always whatever the manager asks me to do,” Murphy replied. “I’m preparing myself to play 160 at first base now. But, if called upon to play another position, I feel like I can handle it adequately and help the team win there. Versatility, I think, is going to help me. But right now I’m preparing myself to play first base every day.”

Regardless, Murphy-Davis isn’t the typical mentor-pupil relationship. Davis actually has more experience at first base than Murphy, albeit not at the major-league level.

“I’m not 6-4, 240,” Murphy noted. He does some special things on the ball field. So I’m watching him play because he does things that I can add to my game.”

- Chris Carter homered for the third straight Grapefruit League at-bat when he went deep in the first inning off Derek Lowe. The outfielder/first baseman went 2-for-3 with a walk. Manuel has tabbed Carter "the animal" for his early arrivals and intense workouts. Still, he's at a disadvantage in claiming the final bench spot, since the primary combatants are considered Mike Jacobs and Frank Catalanotto. Carter, who was acquired from the Red Sox in the trade for Billy Wagner, had a pair of ninth-inning homers Monday against the Marlins before getting Tuesday off. He’s 5-for-8 this spring, with four of the hits for extra bases.

Carter could not recall ever homering in three straight at-bats. "Not in professional," he said. "I'm happy with the bat speed."

- Fifth-starter frontrunner Jon Niese surrendered a two-run double to Melky Cabrera during Atlanta’s three-run first inning. Niese bounced back with a scoreless second inning, then was replaced by Fernando Nieve. Niese allowed three hits while walking two and hitting a batter. “My fastball command wasn’t there in the first inning,” the southpaw said. Nieve surrendered a two-run double to Chipper Jones while allowing three runs in the fourth. “My arm action on all of my pitches was off,” Nieve said. “I’ll just wait for my next outing to fix everything.”

- Look for Manuel to get his way with Jenrry Mejia, at least as far as working the 20-year-old righthander as a reliever from this point forward in camp. If Mejia does end up with Double-A Binghamton, it’s likely he won’t be ready to enter the rotation immediately there, since he won’t be stretched out. My expectation is that from this point forward in camp, Mejia will work as a reliever rather than get three-, four- or five-inning work.

Mejia likely would need to bump Sean Green or Bobby Parnell from the bullpen to make the roster. Parnell, displaying a cutter he's been working on in camp, tossed a scoreless sixth with two strikeouts. Manuel called the showing "the highlight of the day."

- Nelson Figueroa has now tossed eight scoreless innings after tossing a pair of run-free frames against Atlanta.

- Lowe felt a pop from his big toe after the third pitch, from a burst blister. His fastball only registered 84 mph after that occurrence. Lowe hasn’t been taping the toe this spring, but had done so throughout his career.

- Reliever Carlos Muniz was dispatched to minor-league camp.

- The Mets might be advised to take more starting-caliber players on upcoming trips. An MLB official took note of the skeleton crew that traveled to Disney. The rule is four starting players need to travel, although it’s been amended this year to include the starting pitcher and not just position players. Even if you give the Mets credit for Omir Santos in addition to Murphy and Niese, which is a stretch, they’re still one short.

While the Mets will not comment on the course of action required to treat Jose Reyes until all the test results are in, a source tells the Daily News that Reyes is in reasonably good shape. The most extensive change for Reyes could be a dietary modification — which is pretty insignificant. No radioactive iodine treatment may be required, the source indicated, although the person did not want to conclusively declare that to be the case for fear of a public-relations headache if a late test result somehow determines otherwise.

Omar Minaya spoke with Jose Reyes' agent and team doctors this morning, trying to smooth out any potential misunderstanding about the shortstop's medical condition. Minaya said Reyes definitely has a hyperactive thyroid, no matter what the shortstop indicated Wednesday.

"He has elevated thyroid levels," Minaya said. "I talked to the doctor. We had a conversation with our doctor and (Reyes') representative. He has elevated thyroid levels. We are waiting for test results."

Reyes had told ESPN Deportes last night: "The specialists who took care of me in New York have told me that I'm fine and that there's nothing wrong with my thyroid. The test showed that I'm fine. We just have to wait for the results of the additional test. The (doctors) found inflammation in my throat and no medicine to treat the thyroid or any other condition has been prescribed."

Minaya said he couldn't explain the comment from Reyes.

"You'll have to ask him that," Minaya said. "But I can tell you I had a conversation with our doctors, I had a conversation with their representative and we're all in agreement that he has elevated thyroid levels. ... Like I said, I can't answer for Jose. I do know that we had a conversation because I understand there was something said. But when we both left the conversation with the doctor and his representative, we were in agreement."

Experts in hyperthyroidism uniformly say Reyes' availability for Opening Day should not be in question. Asked if that's a correct assessment, Minaya said: "Let's wait for the results of the tests."

Minaya said he has not spoken directly with Reyes.

Here's the lineup as Jon Niese and the Mets are en route to Disney to face the Braves:

Pridie, cf
Tejada, 2b
Murphy, 1b
Hessman, 3b
Carter, dh
Santos, c
Nieuwenhuis, rf
Cabrera, lf
Adams, ss

Also on the trip to pitch: Fernando Nieve, Nelson Figueroa, Bobby Parnell, Eddie Kunz and Eric Niesen

Other a.m. tidbits:

• Kiko Calero faced hitters in batting practice Tuesday. He could be in a Grapefruit League game Thursday for the first time as a Met.

• Francisco Rodriguez throws a bullpen for a second straight day today. Next up, assuming all goes well: batting practice Friday, then game Monday.

• Mike Pelfrey is still expected to make Thursday's start against the Red Sox opposite John Lackey.

Despite the Mets sending out a release tonight suggesting Jose Reyes had an overactive thyroid, the shortstop minimized the issue.

"The specialists who took care of me in New York have told me that I'm fine and that there's nothing wrong with my thyroid," Reyes told ESPN Deportes. "The test showed that I'm fine. We just have to wait for the results of the additional test. The (doctors) found inflammation in my throat and no medicine to treat the thyroid or any other condition has been prescribed."

Dr. Leonard M. Freeman, the director of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Moses Division of Montefiore Hospital, said most cases of hyperthyroidism are easily treated with radioactive iodine. Assuming Jose Reyes has the common type of hyperactivity, known as Graves Disease, his availability for Opening Day should not be in question, Freeman added.

However, given it's only 27 days until the April 5 opener, it could be a close call.

“When treated, the vast majority of patients do quite well,” Freeman said. “I treat many patients every week.”

The thyroid, located in front of the neck, is responsible for metabolism. An overactive gland, left unchecked, can lead to a rapid or abnormal heart rate or even protruding eyes and vision issues.

Sometimes the treatment can cause patients to end up with an underactive thyroid, but that can be addressed with a thyroid pill each day, Freeman said.

Freeman did note, however, that he is not familiar with Reyes' particular condition and can't offer a precise diagnosis.

“If left untreated it can lead to problems — cardiac, vision, things like that,” Freeman said. “However, if treated promptly, which seems like he’s probably on the path to that happening, this should not have any impact on his performance this season as I see it. He would be available close to Opening Day if that’s the case.”

Breaking news: Jose Reyes reportedly has been confirmed to have an overactive thyroid. The team will issue a press release shortly.

UPDATE: Here's the Mets' release:

"Test results today on Jose Reyes have confirmed that Jose has an overactive thyroid.  Jose will remain in New York to await results of additional blood tests that will help further determine his treatment.  Those test results are not expected back before Thursday.  We will share more information as it becomes available."

Lefthanded reliever Jay Marshall has been returned to the A’s, the Daily News has learned. The Mets’ waiver claim of Marshall was voided Tuesday by the commissioner's office based on a shoulder injury he had at the time of the claim.

While Jerry Manuel has talked up Jenrry Mejia potentially making the Opening Day roster in the bullpen, he's been far more cautious/realistic in assessing Ike Davis' chances.

Davis went deep for the second time this spring, off Alberto Arias in the seventh inning of the Mets' 8-4 loss to the Astros. The first baseman is hitting .524 this spring, but Manuel noted it's a long shot for Daniel Murphy not to be the Opening Day starter at the position. Murphy is 1-for-12 to start the Grapefruit League exhibition season.

"Some unforeseen things would have to happen in my opinion for that to happen," Manuel said. "... It's a little bit more difficult to make that decision based on a position player unless everybody just has to be 100% in agreement that that's the right way to go. I would say more young pitchers have made the jump than more young, unproven position players. I could be wrong, but I would think."

Of course, that didn't stop the praise of Davis.

"Well, I tell you, he has a real fluid, powerful swing," Manuel said. "You’ve got to give him some thought. When a guy keeps hitting the ball out to center field, grand slams and so forth, you’ve got to give it some thought. What we’ll probably do is just keep him and watch him play. He played nine innings today. He probably won’t play tomorrow. He’ll go with us. Just kind of watch him play and see what we have."

Said David Wright: "He looks good. He's hitting about .800. I think that speaks for itself. I don't know how you can say anything negative about a guy that seems to be hitting the ball as well as he has. He's got a great approach up there, a lot of power. It looks like mentally he's really advanced as far as a hitter. It looks like he's got a ton of upside."

Wright homered for the second time this spring, off Brett Myers, while Gary Matthews had three hits.

"I just got to a count you feel comfortable in, 3-2, and put a good swing on a good pitch," Wright said. "It's about putting yourself in that good position. Jerry and HoJo have got me comfortable with where I'm at offensively. Now it's just about going out there and trying to see some pitches and practice in the games what we've been doing for a few months now."

- It's unlikely we'll get a verdict on Jose Reyes tonight. Reyes is not expected to even be at the complex in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday.

- Catchers Mike Nickeas, Kai Gronauer and Francisco Pena were dispatched to minor-league camp.

- Interesting revelation: A team official said the Mets would not have done the Brian Stokes-for-Matthews trade if Cory Sullivan had re-signed with the organization. The Mets nontendered Sullivan in December, but tried to bring him back after Carlos Beltran had mid-January surgery. The Mets couldn't guarantee Sullivan they wouldn't go out and get a player such as Rick Ankiel later, so Sullivan soon afterward signed with the Astros instead and the Mets swung the trade with the Angels.

- Roger Clemens was in attendance as his son, Koby, entered the game in the seventh inning at first base and later reached on an error by shortstop Luis Hernandez.

Johan Santana allowed four runs on six hits in one and two-thirds innings against the Astros on Tuesday afternoon, including a first-inning homer to Kazuo Matsui. Here's what the ace had to say after his 47-pitch effort (33 strikes):

"They made me work today. They were swinging right away. But I felt good because I was able to throw all of my pitches. I was a little bit off with my mechanics, releasing the ball. That's part of spring training. That's what we're here for, trying to make adjustments and throw all of my pitches. The good thing is I felt good. I didn't feel any problem in my arm. So that's good."

Regarding today's success by the Astros against him, Santana added: "Today I threw some fastballs that were all right, and then some fastballs that kind of ran away. That's something I'm able to tell and to see and feel that it's not there on a consistent basis. But as we go in spring training and we throw bullpens, we'll get better."

Asked if it bothers him as a competitor when he's getting pounded, the ace said: "It's not the first time it happened that I'm in spring training that they swing right away and they put the ball in play. At the same time I'm trying to stay with them, trying to get people out. But I'm not trying to go too crazy. I know it's my first time on the mound (in a game) since August. It's going to take some time. We all know that."

Santana opened his Grapefruit League season by striking out Michael Bourn with a changeup. Matsui then homered on a 1-2 fastball.

"I got that action," Santana said about the changeup to Bourn. "It's a good sign for me. ... But the pitch that I really liked today was my slider. I threw some to righthanded hitters and they swung and missed. To me, it's a big plus. I know the numbers are whatever, but I don't really care. I just care about how I feel and everything that I was able to do."

Specifically regarding Matsui's homer, Santana said: "We were trying to throw a fastball inside. I don't know. He got in front of it and then hit it out. But, again, those are the kind of things that you work on in spring training. You try to work on your location so that you don't miss your spots."

On his health, Santana said: "This is my first time, I can say, since August that I faced hitters in a game situation. I haven't done that in a long time. And I only did it once about a week ago (in a simulated game). And it's not the same because these guys get on base, you have to watch the runners and all that. But it's good to finally be on the field in a real game and work. ... Mentally, you feel good, because that's one of the big steps that you have to make, to finally get into a real game and see how your arm reacts to that surgery. Overall I feel pretty good. ... All I can say right now is I feel pretty good. I'm able to let everything go, and all I have to do is build up my strength. (Last year), not just my changeup, but everything, I wasn't able to finish. Everything. I wasn't able to extend and bend my elbow, so it changed the whole thing."

On working with Henry Blanco: "We haven't worked together in a long time. But it's good."

Mets hitting coach Howard Johnson still appears to have the stroke from his playing days. The '86 Met took batting practice Tuesday morning on a back field at the Mets' spring-training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.