The 2012 Mets season has barely begun, and things already are taking a (potential) turn for the worst.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Johan Santana hasn't suffered any setbacks, but he still feels that an Opening Day return is very up in the air.

"Going through everything I went through last year, one day you feel good, one day you don’t feel so good," Santana said. "It’s like a roller coaster. Right now, so far, I’m feeling really good and hopefully toward the end, mid-spring training, we’ll have a better idea where we’re at and see if we’ll be ready for Opening Day."

Santana obviously isn't ruling out anything, but is taking a very cautious approach. Who can blame him after he had to miss all of 2011? New York desperately needs him to return to his old form if it has any chance of making noise in the loaded NL East.

Manager Terry Collins talked as well on Tuesday and feels a bit more optimistic.

"In my mind right now, in my heart, he’ll be ready — I don’t think there’s any question,"