"A pair of rehab processes united today at the Mets' complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. With Johan Santana on the mound, third baseman David Wright stood at the plate and watched. This was Santana's second time on the mound since his setback in early June.

Once Santana threw twice off a mound without incident, general manager Sandy Alderson said last month, he could begin his "spring training" period, with the hope of returning to major-league action. But his progress has been halting. Time will tell.

"He threw another bullpen today, which is good," Alderson said. "Let's see how he feels tomorrow, and what the schedule is for the rest of the week. I think we're approaching that transition point. But Johan himself, and how he responds to these sessions, will dictate how quickly he progresses."

Alderson said Santana was scheduled to throw a bullpen again on Thursday.

Wright, meanwhile, continues to move forward in his recovery from a stress fracture in his lower back. Both Alderson and manager Terry Collins indicated it was unlikely Wright could begin rehab games this week, when the team hoped he would, because he has yet to run. "