"The route was never considered a straight line. But Johan Santana's bumpy journey from operating table to major-league mound was again delayed today, when Mets general manager Sandy Alderson announced that Santana's latest rehabilitation start was scrapped so the pitcher could visit team doctors in New York. The appointment at the Hospital for Special Surgery could determine whether Santana pitches again this season.

On Thursday afternoon, Santana competed in a professional game for the first time since last September, when he underwent surgery to repair the torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. He tossed three scoreless frames for Class-A St. Lucie, reported no trouble while throwing and appeared to have taken his largest step forward.

Except as the days passed and another start approached, his arm refused to return to its normal state. Alderson remained vague on the nature of Santana's current condition, mostly because he wanted the doctors to clarify that later this week.

"I can't really characterize it as pain versus discomfort versus typical soreness," Alderson said. "Whatever it is, it's sufficient in nature that we want to have it checked. He wants to have it checked. So I think that's the prudent thing to do."

A separate person with knowledge of the situation reiterated that the doctors' visit was considered precautionary, a product of the uncommon injury Santana suffered and the unpredictable rehabilitation period required. The person requested anonymity because a doctor had yet to diagnose Santana's condition."