Santana Throws Off Mound For First Time Since August - RealGM Wiretap

Johan Santana threw off a mound Sunday for the first time since his August shutdown.

After the 20-pitch session to bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello Noah Syndergaard Mets Jersey , Santana pronounced himself fit and on track for the Opening Day start.

"This is my first time in a while, but it was fine," Santana said. "I don't think it was my best or anything, but it's Day 1. You've got to start at some point.

"Today was a beginning for me. ... You always worry about how you feel and everything, but at the same time I was just trying to get my job done and not trying to overdo things out there."

Padres Might Have To Pay Some Of Shields Contract To Move Him - RealGM Wiretap

The San Diego Padres have disappointed this season, but dismantling all the pieces they put together this past winter won't be easy.

James Shields hasn't pitched badly Neil Walker Mets Jersey , but moving him could be difficult given his backloaded contract.

"They'd probably have to pay some of [the contract] down," a rival executive said.

Shields signed a four-year, $75 million deal with San Diego after helping the Kansas City Royals reach the World Series last October.

Cherington Aware Hes Being Evaluated By Ownership - RealGM Wiretap

Amid a disappointing season, Ben Cherington says he is being evaluated by Red Sox ownership just as Bobby Valentine and the players are.

Cherington and owner John Henry joined the club in Seattle on Monday in a trip that was preplanned. Henry had breakfast Monday with Valentine then met individually with some players and staff as part of what he described as a "fact-finding" stop.

The Red Sox have lost the first seven games of a nine-game road trip.

"It's hard to watch," Cherington said. "It's a reflection on all of us when things aren't going well. I think we knew when we made the trade that we weren't helping our team in games the rest of this year. But, that said Mookie Wilson Mets Jersey , it's still been hard to watch."

锘? Rare skin parasites, causing relentless itchy skin, suffered by thousands of people world wide are becoming more common. The itching is so intense and relentless that the only relief is to take near scalding baths several times a day to keep the vermin at bay.

How are the itchy skin parasites contracted? One lady contracted them from a bird nest she knocked down from a window. Another lady along with her husband contracted them from furniture they rented while their furniture was in transit. One fellow contracted them from a dust cloud while cutting down a dead tree. Another woman removed a nest of mice from a comforter stored in her garage and contracted them. Exchanging dresses at a wedding with another bridesmaid was the downfall of another lady. One woman even says she contracted it from a fellow sitting across from her at a meeting at work. She claims to have seen droplets coming from his mouth as he spoke. My own personal hell started when I had a cloud of dust descend upon me as I pulled a strangulating vine from a tree in my back yard.

Onset of symptoms usually starts approximately twenty-four to thirty-six hours after exposure. The initial symptoms are an itching of the skin driving the individual to a hot bath to relieve the symptoms. Unfortunately within several hours the intense itching returns. Anti itch creams only provide respite for a few hours.

Usually there's very little to be seen by the naked eye, except perhaps some notice their skin sparkling in the sun light. Within a few days, as the symptoms become more severe, the itching develops into a biting sensation which feels as if it's from under the skin resulting in rashes and lesions developing everywhere.

The family doctor usually prescribes Elimite Mike Piazza Mets Jersey , Diprolene, Quell, Cortisone, sulfa drugs... and antibiotics for the rash. There instant relief for up to about four days and then the itchy skin symptoms return in full force. It's almost as if the parasites adapt and become immune to the barrage of treatments.

Next, the family doctor refers the individual to a dermatologist or a specialist. The dermatologist or specialist is often at loss to explain the physical condition. Because he can't diagnose anything, he often suggests the problem is caused by stress or because the lesions are being scratched by one's fingernails.

After pleading Michael Conforto Mets Jersey , he may take a plug sample for biopsy and a sample of blood. The sufferer finally thinks that the results of the test will identify the offending organism and begins to anticipation the results of the tests so the right treatment can be prescribed.

However, the blood test comes back basically normal except for a slight elevation in the CBC which may indicate a slight infection--nothing for alarm. And the results of the biopsy are likewise negative. The individual begins to think that heshe is living a bad dream.

Unknowingly while all this is happening, the sufferer's environment--that is the entire home including all furniture, bedding, clothing... is infected. Some sufferers begin to notice black specs or a gritty material in their bedding or they notice fibers emerging from some of the lesions and cotton ball like material on their skin.

Their desperation and panic results in all kinds of de-wormers, herbal remedies Matt Harvey Mets Jersey , chelation therapy and or removal of amalgam from filings in their teeth to remove mercury, medications from Mexico, faith healing, rifing... most to no avail.

The offending parasites are generally one or more of several skin parasites:
1. Collembola (spring tails)
2. Strongyloides stercoralis
3. Morgellons
Unfortunately the fact is that nearly all physicians are totally inexperienced with the treatment of these pathogens and for two of them there are no diagnostic tests available. And ironically the one tha.