"A week after making his first rehabilitation start , Mets pitcher Johan Santana was diagnosed with left shoulder fatigue during an examination by doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery today. He cannot resume throwing until his condition changes, which again dampens any hopes that he might pitch in the major leagues in 2011.

Santana, who is returning from surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his left shoulder, will remain with his teammates during the homestand this week, according to statement released early this evening. Besides the fatigue, his shoulder was "otherwise normal," meaning there was no structural damage discovered in the joint.

Still, the news is distressing for those hoping Santana might pitch for the Mets next month. After opening the spring optimistic that Santana might return by the All-Star Break, general manager Sandy Alderson has spent the summer saying that the focus for his injured ace is on 2012 and not this season.

Santana requested to see the doctors after experiencing discomfort early this week. His shoulder did not respond well to his performance last week with Class-A St. Lucie. The three scoreless innings were seen as another step forward. But he could not discern the source of his shoulder trouble, so he flew from Florida to New York for the exam. "