The Sunday Question

8 comments

1. 

   darknova306

   1/15/2012-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   I’m expecting absolutely nothing from Santana until I actually see him on the mound in a real game. If he actually pitches this year, I expect he’ll look like a mere shell of his former self. Anything the Mets get from him for the rest of his contract is a bonus at this point, which is sad.

2. 

   MetsFan4Decades

   1/15/2012-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   Sadly, I’m going with no to both these questions.

   I’m predicting once he starts throwing in ST, enen if he doesn’t have much pain….his velocity won’t crack 90. He’ll be left behind to continue with his rehab and work on arm stamina which hopefully will translate to increasing velocity.

   I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t make his first start until after the ASB. And this is the one area of this off season I’m really puzzled with. The FO must know it’s a crapshoot with Johan which is why I don’t understand the apparent lack of depth with starting pitching. What do they know that I don’t?

   1. 

      Stickguy

      1/15/2012-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)

      Reply

      reasonable assumptions.

      and what do they? Got me. Maybe exactly how broke they are? it can’t be anything about Johan, so maybe they are just willing to go straight to plan B and throw complete crap out there to make the starts (Schwinden, James, etc.)

      1. 

         MetsFan4Decades

         1/15/2012-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)

         Reply

         Speakes volumes, doesn’t it?

         I guess the plan is to go into ST, see where he at, then when they finally admit he’s not…pick up a scrub or 2 left off the scrap heap.

         I still think they should go after Oswalt, take the chance on him being healthy for half a year. A one year contract means he won’t block anyone and they could trade him at mid season.

3. 

   Hazmet

   1/15/2012-10:06am at 10:06 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   No in both cases. Hopefully he ends up able to contribute but I could also likely see his long toss workouts result in being able to be added to the long list of perks offered to those $20M investors: “play long toss with Johan from 90 feet each homestand”

   I could see this be a scenario of if he can’t get enough velocity built back up on his fastball there won’t be enough difference to his breaking stuff and he’ll be a .500 pitcher beating the lesser teams in the league and getting lit up by the some of the beasts of the east in our division.

4. 

   Stickguy

   1/15/2012-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   I consider Santana to not even be on the roster anymore. He is no different than Bobby Bo (a former player eating up a chunk of the payroll budget!).

   But seriously, in his case, I say assume he will never play again, and plan around that. If he actually comes back and gives you anything, consider it found money, and worry about any “numbers crunch” then (and those have a way of working themselves out). No way can you plan a rotation spot around him.

   As to what he will be? I can’t see him coming back as a power pitcher of any kind, but maybe he can reinvent himself as a late career Glavine type? And add another pitch to fool hitters.

5. 

   Paul

   1/15/2012-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   No, and no.

   I do expect Santana to pitch for the Mets before the All-Star break, but I expect him to have a losing record & high ERA as he adjusts to a new way of pitching.

6. 

   NJstuckinTX

   1/15/2012-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)

   Reply

   I really hope Bill James’ guestimate on what Santana projects to do this season is accurate. But, my feeling is that it won’t be near close to that. I would figure maybe a .500 record, like 10-10 or something like that would be what we get out of him.