"In what Mets general manager Sandy Alderson called a "tweak in the schedule" and not a "setback," Johan Santana's next rehab start likely will be pushed back from tomorrow to Thursday.

"He came back [yesterday] and didn't feel as strong as he would have liked, so rather than force it, back it off a day," Alderson said before last night's 7-3 loss to the Marlins in 10 innings. "We'll see how he feels [today]. I wouldn't view that as a setback necessarily. I think it's a tweak in the schedule. We'll know [today] if it's anything more significant."

It's hard not to fear the worst when it comes to the Mets and injuries, especially since Santana is coming off an injury -- a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder -- that many pitchers have never fully recovered from.

"It's not a pain issue at this point," Alderson said. "He's just not feeling strong."

Santana reported no problems immediately following his first rehab start at Single-A St. Lucie on Thursday, when he pitched three scoreless innings in his first outing since surgery in September."