Opinion: The Santana Blame Game
Earlier today, MetsBlog detailed that Johan Santana‘s win total is not a reflection of how he has pitched this season.
So, who’s to blame for the lack of Santana wins? Let’s find out as we play, The Santana Blame Game! Let’s meet our contestants:
Contestant #1:
Residing beyond the right field fence, where the tomato vines once grew, is the underachieving, Hello Kitty backpack wearing cast of characters know as the Mets bullpen!
They have a combined 4-4 record with a 4.41 ERA in Santana’s starts this season. They have also blown leads in six, including four of the last five, of Santana’s 24 starts this season, which is one more than the Twins bullpen accumulated in his last 100 starts with them.
Contestant #2:
A 54-year old American gangsta, born in Hahira, Georgia, who currently resides in the underground, bulletproof manager’s office of Shea Stadium. Say hello to Mets manager Jerry Manuel!
After inexplicably removing Santana after throwing 105 pitches through eight innings in a July 22 loss to the Phillies, you would have thought Manuel would have been less conservative in Santana’s future starts, but that has not been the case. Since that start the Manuel allowed Santana to complete a 118-pitch effort in a 9 to 1 blow out versus the Cardinals, but removed him after 103 and 104 pitches, respectively, in his last two starts, each resulting in a blown save.
Contestant #3:
He is a native of Venezuela and two-time Cy Young Award winner, who is doing his job and has the best goatee in the tri-state area, give a warm welcome to Johan Santana!
In Santana’s start on July 22 versus the Phillies, Jerry Manuel removed Santana after eight innings while throwing only 105 pitches. Later, in an interview, Manuel has said if Santana had come to him and was adamant about going out to start the ninth he would have left Santana in the game. Shouldn’t the Mets expect their $137 million pitcher to to want the ball in those spots? Perhaps, but since he became a full time starter in 2004, Santana has only pitched seven complete games, while average 6.2 innings per start.
Contestant #4:
This inconsistent group of 14, who is currently one of the worst in the National League at driving runners in from scoring position with two outs, forgets how to score after the seventh inning and carries three catchers. Give it up for the Mets Offense!
The Mets offense provided 5.14 runs of support during Santana’s starts this season, but has scored less than three runs or less in 33% of his starts this season. In his four consecutive starts from June 17 to July 4, the Mets offense scored a total of eight runs, with three of the four resulting in Santana losses.
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