Comments on: Stat: Santana’s Homeruns

By: Another Matt

Another Matt — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:35:53 +0000

Agreed, and in particular, there’s a lot of good offense in the NL East.

By: Another Matt

Another Matt — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:30:42 +0000

The wind is rarely straight in, it’s normally either left-to-right or right-to-left, which knocks them down to one side but carries them out on the other.

Cold works both ways too – it’s tough for pitchers to work in the cold as well, and Santana’s always been a slow starter.

By: Another Matt

Another Matt — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:27:14 +0000

The point is, it depends on game situation.

Who cares if you give up a solo shot in the 8th to make a 6-run game into a 5-run game? It’s no worse than walking a guy in that situation.

By: Gilch

Gilch — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:59:46 +0000

so technically with his current ERA he’s pitching comparable to his career … cant wait till the summer !!

By: InsaneMetsFan

InsaneMetsFan — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:30:10 +0000

You don’t care about ERA?? What an assinine comment!! Do you understand that the number of runs a pitcher gives up is directly related to winning or losing a game?????

By: pgiro

pgiro — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:20:53 +0000

As is usually the case in Baseball, just looking at one particular stat or number in a vacuum does not really tell the story. Let’s take a look at the Home runs Santana allows. Yes he has allowed 11 so far in this short season and yes he’s on pace for 40 home runs, but what does that really mean? It means, like most great pitchers who are ALWAYS around the plate, major league hitters will now and then hit one out. Most of Santana’s Home-runs come with no one on base, that’s not by coincidense or pure luck. He knows exactly what point of the game he’s at. If the Mets are up by 2 or three runs and there’s no one on base, he will try and get ahead of the hitter by throwing the ball for a strike rather than walking him (much more worse than giving up a homerun with the bases empty. He’s know a walk is much worse because it could lead to a bigger inning. The bottom line is the guy is 5-2 with an ERA around 3.00 in a new league, a new catcher, and a new stadium! And if the Mets bull-pen had not blown 3 other games he left with a lead, Santana could very easily be 7-1 right now! Wait till he really gets going after mid season, on his way to 20-wins!

By: DK

DK — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:17:49 +0000

Ha funny you mention the Ephus, that pitch is money, in MLB 2K8!

By: VegasMet

VegasMet — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:33:30 +0000

It amazes me that anyone would express concern over
Johan’s giving up (mostly) solo HR’s, especially when he’s got a decent lead, which has mostly been the case.

I’m surely not the only one who has screamed at the TV watching pitcher after pitcher trying to nibble at the strike zone with a sizable lead, and wind up commiting the cardinal sin, walking people!

He knows they can’t beat him with a single swing of the bat, so he challenges them in the zone. This is what a good, experienced pitcher does, and I’m thrilled that we have one of those guys playing for our side.

I have no doubt that you’d see less HR’s if he were locked into 1-0 or 2-1 duels every game. Thankfully that hasn’t been the case, for the most part. I could care less if he leads the league in HR’s allowed and has 18-20 W’s.

If you want no-hitters go find another Nolan Ryan. Just remember that Ryan managed to win 32 games more than he lost in 27 seasons.That makes him barely over .500 in W/L.

To quote Al Davis, ” Just Win, Baby!”

By: ArmandoReynoso

ArmandoReynoso — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:01:27 +0000

and in one of those looses, he gave up 1 run in 7 IP…

By: gameball

gameball — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:31:24 +0000

Exactly. He works fast and throws strikes, and he doesn’t waste pitches.

I’ll take 40 HRs allowed, if it comes with 20 W’s.