Major League Baseball

Mets' Ike Davis likely done for season

Published Aug. 5, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Mets first baseman Ike Davis will scale back his rehabilitation for a bone bruise in his left ankle and almost certainly will miss the rest of the season.

Davis has been out since colliding with David Wright on May 10 while trying to field a popup at Coors Field. He began running in the past few weeks but there has been little improvement in the ankle. He saw several doctors Friday in New York and the consensus was to have him stop jogging but not eliminate all activity.

''His bone bruise looks roughly the same,'' Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Friday. ''At this point it's not looking good for his return.''

Davis was off to a strong start in his second major league season, batting .302 with seven homers and 25 RBIs. But after trying rest, wearing a protective boot that may have hindered his recovery by limiting circulation and receiving cortisone shots, he sounded resigned to waiting until next season to play again.

Davis has been hitting off a tee and says the ankle doesn't hurt when he throws, just when he runs and moves side to side.

''I've been out for over three months now. That's like more than an offseason,'' Davis said. ''I feel like I would have to start a new season if I came back this year anyway. I've got to get healthy. I can't have this thing nagging me for years.''

Alderson said the team's doctors hope the injury can heal without the need for surgery - which could be similar to microfracture surgery. If Davis does need an operation, Alderson said he should be ready by spring training.

''There is some cartilage involvement which creates a question mark,'' Alderson said. ''This is one where there is not a nice road map.''

Alderson also said he has not given up on the possibility that ace Johan Santana will pitch for the Mets this season.

Santana was diagnosed with fatigue in his surgically repaired left shoulder on Thursday and will stop throwing until he regains his strength.

The two-time Cy Young winner had surgery on his shoulder capsule last September.

Santana has been rehabbing in Port St. Lucie and he pitched three scoreless innings last week for Class A St. Lucie in his first rehabilitation outing.

A day later, Sanatana followed what would be his usual routine and played long toss and then threw a bullpen session the next day.

Doctors told him that was too much, that he should have taken the day off after the start to see how his arm reacted.

''We can forget this is rehab. I was trying to do everything I do in the regular season,'' Santana said. ''It's something you have to get into the routine and listen to your body.''

Santana was scratched from his next scheduled start and he flew to New York to see doctors.

He will stay with the team for its six-game homestand that began Friday against Atlanta and he will not throw but will continue with the exercises that are part of his therapy.

He should resume throwing when he returns to Florida.

''The next step would not be to go back and pitch another three or four innings - probably go back to side work once he's ready to go,'' Alderson said. ''Probably gets us into early, mid-September at this point.''

The Mets hope Santana can pitch again this season, more for his psyche than anything.

''I think that Terry (Collins) and I believe that there is some value to him throwing before the end of the season, whether that's at the major league level or at the minor league level. I think there's some value to get him to see how far he can progress,'' Alderson said. ''If it's not possible he won't be pushed to do it.''

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