The fact is, Johan is just telling the truth. When he has a BAD start, and says something like this, then we have problems.

I think the reason we’re worse (we don’t seem worse, we are worse – you are what your record says you are) is because we can’t think like a team. I wonder if Elias has any info on our seemingly-historic ineptitude in scoring runners on third with < 2 outs. A lot of times teams are unable to do that because the players tasked with getting the runners in don’t shorten up and give themselves up for the run – they go for the big blast. Santana obviously has nothing to do with that – you’re certainly correct on that front – and this team is far better with him on the field than off it. I still wonder, though, if this frustration and “stat-building” ideology that Santana seems to fall within is crippling the team. Say what you want about our not having enough players – winning teams have been constructed with worse lineups (or have we forgotten about the 2000 Mets) and worse rotations. Our problems are cultural – selfishness prevails over selflessness, finger pointing prevails over unity. If you think this isn’t the case, then again, why is Manuel, who has watched this group for years, insisting on standing on the mound to pass the ball, doing drills together, talking about players wanting “career years,” talking about Beltran caring too much about stealing %? Clearly, he recognizes a problem that he has seen developing over the years.

Santana, as the highest paid player on the team, should be counted on for more than just pitching. He is a leader by virtue of status, whether he likes it or not. As such, he should not publicly display this kind of divisiveness. You are probably right that he isn’t the problem, but he appears to represent this zeitgeist in the current Mets.

If the Mets offense this season (if you want to call this lineup an “offense”) had supported him by even so much as 1-2 runs more, along with more bullpen support earlier this season, and his record could easily be 9-5 or 10-4. And this discussion would be a moot point.

Fact is, did any Mets fan here honestly think that Johan was going to win 20 games this year with this team’s supporting cast? I was betting on 17 tops.