Intro:

Johan Santana's ability to start Opening Day for the New York Mets has been placed in jeopardy as the ace announced he was not ready to start pitching in spring training.

Santana, who battled injuries throughout last season, did not throw off a mound in either his native Venezuela or Florida over the winter and the Mets are concerned about his conditioning.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English): Johan Santana, New York Mets Pitcher: "You know we been doing all our stuff. When I got here everything was prepared to be ready for the WBC (World Baseball Classic) and then everything changed after, you know, they decided that I was not participating. And then as we started getting everything, you know, ready for games (we realized) it would just take a little bit of time, you know? I feel fine but it's just not, I just gotta build up my strength in my shoulder and throw more. Play catch and throw long toss to be able to go on the mound."

SOUNDBITE (English): Johan Santana, New York Mets Pitcher: "No, that's what I'm saying: I haven't get on the mound for a while so it takes time to get everything adjusted again and to get into pitching mode again. It takes time so that's what we doing. It's not a set-back, at all. It's just that it needs time to build up and to feel good."