" He is our best pitcher since David Cone !!!"
Well here we are at number 20 on this list of the top 50 Mets of all time. So far we have covered Mets from their inception in the ’60′s, the dark era of the late ’70′s , Their rebirth in the ’80′s, the mediocre ’90′s and of course the the halfway point of this decade.
So what are we missing ? Well so far there hasn’t been a player from the last four years – until now !!
Ladies and gentlemen I would like to reveal number 20, the most important pitcher of this most recent era, Johan Santana.
Johan Alexander Santana was born in Tovar Venezuela on March 13, 1979. In 1994 when he was 15, Johan was “discovered” by Astros scout, Chance Partin. He signed Santana, then a center fielder, and sent him to the Astros academy in Guacara. While Johan was attending the academy, he was converted to a pitcher because of his to his arm speed.
In November of ’99 Johan was left unprotected by the Astros in the Rule 5 draft, and he was subsequently drafted by the Minnesota Twins.
In ’00 Johan made the Twins major League roster, and he made his debut on April 3, 2000, in relief against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Four days later , Johan would make his first pro start against the Kansas City Royals. In his rookie season with the Twins, Johan would finish with a record of 2-3 with a 6.49 ERA . In ’01, Johan would spend most of the season in the minors. He pitched in 15 games for the Twins that season and went 1-0 with a ERA of 4.74 in 15 games.
In 2002, the Twins sent Santana back to the minors to gain more seasoning, and to perfect his change up. When Johan returned to the Twins, he was transformed from a mediocre middle reliever to a highly respected ( and feared) starter. In 27 games that season, Johan went 8-6 with a ERA of 2.99.
In 2003, Santana started the season once again in the Twins bullpen.But in August he would be put into the starting rotation permanently. He won his last eight decisions and started in game one of the ALDS against the New York Yankees.
2004 was the season where Johan finally came into his own, He went 20-6 with the ridiculously low ERA of 2.61. He struck out 265 batters that season. Johan utilized his entire pitching repertoire that included a fastball which topped out at 94 mph, his circle change up, and a slider. Johan would win the Cy Young award that season , easily beating out Red Sox starter, Curt Schilling.
In 2006 , Johan would win the Major League Pitching Triple Crown. He had 19 wins, he led the majors with a ERA of 2.77 while striking out 245 batters. He won his second Cy Young award that season.
In 2007, Johan was named to his third straight All Star Game. he finished the ’07 season with 15 wins, 235 strikeouts and a ERA of 3.33.
After the ’07 season ended there was rumblings that Johan ( who was in the last year of his contract) wanted the Twins to sign him to an extension. Talks between his agent and the Twins fell through and he was put on the trade market , with both the Yankees and the Red Sox seen as the favorites to land the left handed ace. But the Mets led by then general manager, Omar Minaya, slipped under the radar and acquired Johan for outfielder, Carlos Gomez and pitching prospects, Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey.Of all these player , only Guerra is still with the Twins. On February 1, 2008, the Mets and Santana agreed to a six-year contract worth an estimated $137.5 million . Santana was named the opening day starter against the Florida Marlins, and he pitched seven innings to earn his first win as a Met. His most memorable game as a Met came on the second to last day of the ’08 season , when he pitched a three hit shutout on three days rest against the Marlins, which spared the Mets from being eliminated from playoff contention for one more day. It would later be revealed that he had pitched with torn meniscus in his knee. Johan would finish his first season with the Mets with a record of a 16–7 and a ERA of 2.53 ERA with 206 strikeouts.
In 2009, Johan Santana pitched the season opener against the Reds in Cincinnati. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing only 1 earned run, earning the win.But unfortunately he would land on the disabled list that August, missing the rest of the season after he was diagnosed with having bone chips in the elbow of his pitching arm. He would have successful arthroscopic surgery to remove the bone chips . Johan finished the season at a record of 13–9 with a 3.13 ERA.
In 2010, Johan would once again have the honors of being the Mets opening Day pitcher. He would earn his first win of the season against Josh Johnson of the Florida Marlins.
Santana pitched good enough to lose last season. He was the victim of virtually no run support what so ever, and he would be shutdown once again in the middle of August because of a torn bursar sack in his left shoulder. Johan’s season ended with a record of 11-9 and an ERA of 2.98. Johan is currently starting his rehabilitation from his surgery, and it is hoped that he will be back by this seasons All Star Break.
In his Mets career so far , Johan has a record of 40-25with a ERA of 2.85
Tomorrow we will profile one of the most controversial players in recent Mets history.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Mets alumni celebrating birthdays today include :
Original Mets pitcher, Roger Craig is 81 (1930) .Roger was used mainly as a reliever in his years prior to being a Met when he was a member of the Dodgers organization. He is quite possibly the most losing-est pitcher in Mets history, compiling a record of 15-46 in his two seasons with the Mets. After he retired he would become a pitching coach, then a manager for the San Francisco Giants. Many people don’t know this but he helped rebuild Mike Scott’s career when he taught him the split fingered fastball.
Middle reliever from the ’05 Mets, Juan Padilla is 34 (1977) .
Sadly on this day in 1986 , legendary pitcher and original Mets pitching coach, Red Ruffing passed away.
The Chicago Cubs signed reserve outfielder, Jerry Morales of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 17, 1981.
And while you sit at home all day just watching the ice and snow slowly melt , just remember that there are just 43 R.A Dickey days ( that has a ring to it !!) to go until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami, and only 50 more until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn loved kumquats !!!
14 comments
metsfan4decades
2/17/2011-8:40am at 8:40 am (UTC -4)
Not sure if anyone could have predicted the injuries to Johan once he came over to the Mets. As a result he might wind up being in the negative worth because of the high contract. Even so, he’s one of my favorite players from this era. ‘Big game’ pitcher comes to mind when describing Johan. You need him to step up, he does. We need a win last days of the season, he’ll not only take the ball on short days rest, he’ll go all the way if necessary (based on a not too reliable BP).
His won/lost record is a little deceiving. As pointed out he’s been the victim of no run support – as well as some really crappy BPs blowing his leads. He deserved better but it’s a team effort.
I see Rubin is reporting this morning a July return for Johan looks very feasible. I won’t hold my breath but that would make my day.
rustyjr
2/17/2011-8:45am at 8:45 am (UTC -4)
I agree , if he had run support he could have been 50. -15
ajgmets
2/17/2011-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
Seeing an effective Johan back with the big club by the All Star break to fortify what we hope will be a pennant stretch run will be nothing short of a miracle or the fulfillment of a Mid Summer’s Night Dream.(Nightmare ?) My realistic thought is that if we see the big lefty back on the Citi Field mound by September 1, I’ll be happy.That being said, while I did indeed have Senor Santana on my list, I ask how do we “justify” his presence based on a track record of less than 2 full years and positive speculation on the future when so many complained about Nolan Ryan’s inclusion on this list. Anyway, based on hearing Santana tell Francesca that he will not rush back and would be “disappointed” but not overly upset if it turns out that he is unable to return this season, I truly hope this “new Regime’ follows the recommendations of the medical staff (hopefully a new group here as well) and realizes that the left arm of Johan is one of the Mets keys to the success of the club for the next 3 years at least.
With no timetable set for his return I am going with the approach that the front office MUST be proactive in making a move to acquire an established arm by the break should this 2011 edition still be alive and kicking for a spot in the post season.
With any luck, we Mets fans will be able in 10-15 years be able to place Johan Santana in the same sentence as Tom Seaver when discussing the Greatest Mets of All Time.
Nice Job on this one >>Here we go now Ed, let’s see where the final 19 will come from…looking forward to it..
njstuckintx
2/17/2011-8:45am at 8:45 am (UTC -4)
(His has to be Omar’s best trade. The crap he gave up for Johan… I’m still amazed at that one.
Also. Did Roger Craig help Mr. Scott develop his sandpaper skills as well?
rustyjr
2/17/2011-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
Lol Craig denies it
kingman 26
2/17/2011-9:42am at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
Forgive me if you have heard this, but it is so funny….
Mike Scott was once asked about scuffing the ball and said to the reporter “It will all be in my book.”
So the reported asked when he would be writing and releasing the book.
And Scott said “Never.”
metsfan4decades
2/17/2011-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
Ha! Yes, I saw that quote somewhere along the way.
He’s either thinly admitting it or wants the mystery of it all to go on forever.
If he was guilty of scuffing the ball, he was damn good ’cause he never got caught.
kingman 26
2/17/2011-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, but another way of looking at it is similar to how the steroid situation went on for so long before getting out of hand—Mike Scott was really good for baseball and got a load of publicity for years…maybe they didn’t look hard enough—the Mets and other teams supposedly would collect scuffed balls and present them to umps and nothing would be done!
TRS86
2/17/2011-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, there’s also the story about the Mets scuffing the balls and taking them out there to show they were scuffed.
kingman 26
2/17/2011-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
I never heard that one!!
TRS86
2/17/2011-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I read about it somewhere and of course that is what Scott claims.
“They checked them all during the game and found nothing,“ Scott said. “Don`t forget those balls were in the clubhouse, not in the game. And I don`t know what they did to them. I don`t know what they`re trying to make of this. I could bring in a ton of baseballs tomorrow, and do what I want to do, and hand them to Chub Feeney.“
stickguy
2/17/2011-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
Johan coming back, at all effective, in July would still surprise me. But in a good way for a change.
how come the yankees and phillies seem to be able to sign older, high mileage pitchers, and they just cruise right along for them (even the ones that were hurt in the past seem to miraculaously heal).
But anyone coming to the mets and getting a mult year deal falls apart (Johan, Ollie)
The Karma gods owe us some pay back. And this would be a fine, fine year to start!
Prismo
2/17/2011-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
No, I’d say Ollie performed as expected.
TRS86
2/17/2011-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
Honestly as much as most of us did not want the long-term deal I would find it hard to believe anyone thought Ollie would be this bad.