Appreciation for Johan Santana

[Valadius]

With the Hall of Fame announcement imminent, and the likely probability that he will fall off the ballot in his first year, I wanted to take a moment to appreciate the greatness of Johan Santana. He was truly an otherworldly pitcher for about a decade, and while I couldn't prove it, I choose to believe that he gave his career to give the Mets their first no-hitter in franchise history.

[Edgy MD]

That's not that big a stretch.

He's exactly 100th all-time in pitcher bWAR, and hopefully has one more shot at adding to that.

[Zvon]

Well, you know that I'm gonna say he should go in for the no-hitter alone so no need to type it.

Doh!

[Chad ochoseis]

Off the ballot, with fewer votes than Billy Wagner. Go figure.

[Zvon]

Chad Ochoseis wrote: Off the ballot, with fewer votes than Billy Wagner. Go figure.

You owe me a beer Chad.

[smg58]

"I'm not officially retired. I'm still thinking about trying to come back. Only time will tell."

[Zvon]

smg58 wrote: https://twitter.com/MikeBerardino/status/954434039418703872 "I'm not officially retired. I'm still thinking about trying to come back. Only time will tell."

Hmmm. Sounds like something right up the Mets alley.

[nymr83]

I would love to see the Mets give Johan a meaningless inning in September once rosters expand just to reset his hall of fame clock. who knows, maybe in 5 years the ballot clog clears and he can get considered again

[Zvon]

Nymr83 wrote: I would love to see the Mets give Johan a meaningless inning in September once rosters expand just to reset his hall of fame clock. who knows, maybe in 5 years the ballot clog clears and he can get considered again

AllAdat^
Good idea too.
If we have a 14 game lead I'll be all for it. We are NOT going to be under .500 so I can't say 14 games out of it.

[nymr83]

Even in a tight pennant race there will be a blowout game one way or the other he can come into!

[Zvon]

Nymr83 wrote: Even in a tight pennant race there will be a blowout game one way or the other he can come into!

That's true.
I'll root for whatever he wants to do with the rest of his life, until the end of time itself.

[Benjamin Grimm]

"Until the end of time" is too big a commitment for me. I can only promise to root for him for another 3 billion years or so.

And unless things have changed, Johan wouldn't have to pitch in a major league game to renew his eligibility. He could pitch an inning for Las Vegas, or any other minor league team and it would have the same effect.

[Edgy MD]

Zvon wrote: I'll root for whatever he wants to do with the rest of his life, until the end of time itself.

Unless what he wants to do is more extra-marital rumpuses on the side of a golf course. That might get old real fast.

[nymr83]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: "Until the end of time" is too big a commitment for me. I can only promise to root for him for another 3 billion years or so. And unless things have changed, Johan wouldn't have to pitch in a major league game to renew his eligibility. He could pitch an inning for Las Vegas, or any other minor league team and it would have the same effect.

That just clinches it then! If you thought Tebow sold tickets you haven't seen anything yet. Welcome to "Santana Sundays" at MCU Park featuring 3 innings of Johan striking out 18 year olds!

[Fman99]

Pitched the greatest game I ever attended, game #161 in 2008, last home win ever at Shea, 2-0 shutout of the Marlins with the season on the line and a torn MCL in his knee. Mad respect.

[metirish]

Truly was a warrior , wonderful pitcher , we were honored to have seen him.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Fman99 wrote: Pitched the greatest game I ever attended, game #161 in 2008, last home win ever at Shea, 2-0 shutout of the Marlins with the season on the line and a torn MCL in his knee. Mad respect.

When someone above mentioned that Johan had one memorable game for the Mets, this is the one I thought of, until an instant later I realized that it was more likely a reference to the no-hitter.

Let's call it two memorable games.

[smg58]

The last game I saw at Shea was earlier that summer. Johan pitched eight innings and left with a two run lead, after crossing the 100-pitch threshold. The pen blew the game, and the torches and pitchforks came out regarding pitch counts. Johan was used a lot less carefully after that, and consequences ensued. I may be biased because I was there, but I still consider that game the turning point in the Mets' fortunes.

[Edgy MD]

His legacy still lives on in the person of Carlos Gomez. Deolis Guerra, too, who has been pitching for the Angels.

Phil Humber last pitched overseas in 2016, and Kevin Mulvey hung 'em up in 2012 after bouncing back to the Mets' system.

I blame Johan for my relentless addiction to J.R. Watkins Apothecary Liniment.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

“Talk about under appreciated... I can’t have my own thread to myself for a full day.

It’s enough to make a guy pull his golf cart over for some vigorous rough-searching.”

Maybe the best changeup I’ve ever seen. And yet, as noted baseball archivist Peter Griffin might put it, it did not insist upon itself. Has any other dominant pitch ever been so... unassuming?

[Edgy MD]

Back to Santanappreciation. Terry Collins would later call the no-hitter "the worst night I ever spent in professional baseball."

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: Back to Santanappreciation. Terry Collins would later call the no-hitter "the worst night I ever spent in professional baseball."

Terry's obvious discomfort was an integral part of the drama of that night.