"Just like Sandy Alderson, Johan Santana knows he will have to wait until he tests his arm in spring training to find out how much his left shoulder has recovered from his Sept. 14, 2010 surgery.

"My arm will let me know how I feel," Santana said. "Time will tell. We'll see how it feels. I cannot tell you what's going to happen five or six weeks from now."

The Mets left-hander long-tossed yesterday in Port St. Lucie and said his arm felt good, and he expected to be ready for the start of spring training next month — but has learned after numerous setbacks not to make any predictions."