Johan Santana

From The Met Wiki

Age: age 30 (born March 13, 1979)

Position: Starting pitcher

Bats: Left Throws: Left

Number: 57

Acquired: traded from the Twins

Contract: 6-year $137.5 million, club option on 2014

When you start comparing a pitcher to the 1985 Dwight Gooden, you know you're watching something special. From July 27 of last year through his May 6 start this year, Santana was 12-1 with a 1.54 ERA. Santana's only loss was in a game where he went seven innings without giving up an earned run. Santana took the pitcher of the month awards for September 2008 and April 2009, and then began May with his second 1-0 victory of the season.

Only Dwight Gooden and Tom Seaver have had better years for the Mets than Johan Santana in his 2008 season. It was the best debut season any Met ever had. And his start to 2009 was even better, going 6-2 with a 1.50 ERA in his first eight starts, despite once again getting little offensive or defensive support.

1. Santana won his first start 2-1.
2. He lost his second start, 2-1, despite striking out 13 and not giving up an earned run. It was his first loss in 19 starts dating back to June 2008.
3. Santana's third start was his most impressive so far, winning 1-0.
4. In his fourth start he got his first 6 outs by strikeouts. He gave up one run in 6 innings, and watched his ERA go up from 0.46 to 0.70. He left the game with a 2-1 lead. The Mets won 4-3. Santana struck out 10.
5. In his fifth start his ERA ballooned to 1.10, after giving up 2 runs in 7 innings. Santana gave up those runs on a triple and a homer in the first, but then took command. David Wright's fourth error of the month gave the Marlins second and third with one out, but Santana pitched out of it. He threw 101 pitches through six, but came out for the seventh, which he completed on eight pitches.
6. Another masterpiece in his sixth start, Santana achieved his second 1-0 win of the season. He struck out ten Phils (but walked three) in seven two-hit innings.
7. Another great start, but for the second time Santana got the loss without giving up an earned run. It was the first time in 91 years that a pitcher had an ERA as low as Santana's 0.78 with two losses.

Santana's superhuman streak stopped after that. It's not clear if anything was wrong physically. Since then Santana seemed to be getting by more on guts than on great stuff.

1. Santana's worst start (by far) since last July -- and yet Santana picked up his fifth victory (see May 16, 2009: HOF Lefties Disappoint). While the Mets' defense betrays Santana again, the Met hitters and bullpen pick him up, scoring seven against Randy Johnson and another two against the Giant bullpen.
2. Santana vs. DiceK in Fenway. Again Santana struggled, falling behind in counts early and giving up three runs (two earned) in the first 3 1/3. And yet Santana worked his way through, surviving 3 errors by his teammates that cost him 4 outs and added 4 baserunners. Santana threw 118 pitches to complete seven innings, and the Mets won 5-3. Met announcer Ron Darling called it a superb performance, for Santana getting out of jams and delivering despite not having his best stuff.

[edit] 2008

Johan Santana had the best Mets' debut season in history. He went 16-7 while leading the league with a 2.53 ERA, and with 234.1 innings pitched. He was better than his numbers showed:

1. His bullpen blew seven saves for him this year.
2. His offense took a few months off for him. In 6 starts from June 6 through July 4, Santana was 0-3 with a 2.48 ERA. In four starts from July 22 through August 7 he had a 1.78 ERA, but recorded just one win (a complete game, naturally, where he scored a run, drove in a run, and gave up just one run).
3. He adjusted to do exactly what the Mets needed. He started throwing fewer pitches per inning so he could go deeper in games.
4. He turned it on as the Mets began their pennant chase, going 10-4 with a 2.13 ERA from June through September, ending the season with arguably the most impressive clutch pitching performance in Met history, a complete game 2-0 shutout on 3 days rest.

The Mets acquired Johan Santana for Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra, Philip Humber, and Kevin Mulvey. So far the Mets have been lucky in this trade. The Twins did not take Daniel Murphy or Mike Pelfrey, choosing instead prospects that don't seem to be working out. The final score on this trade will take years to decipher. But Santana has certainly done his share, and with more support from his teammates, would have taken the Cy Young and led the Mets into the postseason.