Right now it's Mets fans who should be tight.

Oliver Perez is off to the WBC, so who knows how that could affect him. A doomsday scenario for the Mets has Perez pushing it too hard in the World Baseball Classic and Santana's elbow tightness becoming a more serious injury.

The Mets keep saying there is a lot of time, and there is, but there is also a lot of time to be concerned. The problem for Santana is he has yet to even face one batter in practice this spring. The clock is ticking. He will need some side sessions and two or three batting practice sessions before he can get even an inning under his belt.

His first spring training start is probably going to be around mid-March. And that's only if all goes well. The Mets need to slow it all down.

Santana is so right, the season is 162 games. For the Mets to be successful, they needSantana to make 30-plus starts as he has done each of the last five seasons.

As Santana was talking to reporters in the clubhouse, in the background, music was playing. It was the Drifters singing, "Save the Last Dance for Me."

The Mets can't forget who's taking them home. It will be Johan Santana. A little more rest would be a good thing. If his elbow is not 100 percent this season, the Mets have no chance of going to that dance.

New York Yankees News News » Mets need to shut Santana down ... now
Mets need to shut Santana down ... now
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