Ike's feeling better, but not Horwitz

Ike Davis went to the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan Thursday for a checkup on his injured ankle and found himself staying there for more than three hours.

Don't worry, Mets fans. Davis is getting better and doctors agree that at this point he doesn't need surgery. But while Davis was there, he heard that longtime Mets public relations man Jay Horwitz had broken his ankle in an early-morning fall. So Davis sat with him for three hours.

"He obviously is in a lot of pain," Davis said of Horwitz, who has been with the Mets since 1980 and hadn't missed a game since 1990. "His leg was not in the right spot -- his ankle -- from where it normally should be. They put it back in place. And he's got a broken bone. So he's obviously not feeling too well."

Horwitz, 66, fell while walking in the parking lot of a hotel near Citi Field. He is expected to have surgery next week. He is very popular with the players.

"He's been here forever," David Wright said. "He goes hand-in-hand, at least to me, with Mr. Met."

Izzy wants to pitch in 2012

Jason Isringhausen's improbable comeback season could spawn another one. The Mets reliever, who turned 39 on Wednesday, said he'd like to pitch in 2012.

"As of right now, I want to pitch next year," Isringhausen said. "I plan on it the way my arm feels. Getting the rest of my body in shape over the winter the way I know I can, losing a few pounds, I think everything will be fine. And the way my arm feels, then I have nothing to hold me back."

Isringhausen was not available for Thursday's doubleheader with the Braves. He has a herniated disc in his back that is causing numbness in his right leg and foot. He hopes to pitch again this season.

Isringhausen is 3-3 with a 4.05 ERA and seven saves. He picked up his 300th save on Aug. 15. The Mets have liked his leadership in the bullpen and his pitching has been solid after he signed following a no-risk throwing session in spring training.

Santana to start tonight

Johan Santana will pitch Friday night for Single-A Savannah in a South Atlantic League playoff game in what is expected to be his final minor-league rehab outing. Santana is expected to throw 40 to 45 pitches.