Ryan Dempster, Jimmy Rollins … Shut your mouths and meet Johan Santana of the Mets
Posted by: Richie Rich in 2008 MLB, Cubs, Mets, Phillies, Pitching, StatsThere have two bold predictions bandied about by a couple National League ballplayers so far this offseason …
- Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster has already told us that he thinks the Cubs will win the 2008 World Series
- Philadelphia Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins told us back in November that he thinks the Phillies will win 100 games in 2008.
Personally, I have no problem with players thinking their teams will succeed before the season starts. I wouldn’t want a player on my team that thought ”Damn, we’re gonna get our asses handed to us this season.”
But I present the counter argument to Dempster and Rollins. One of the American League’s most dominant pitchers is no longer pitching in the AL. Johan Santana is now pitching for the New York Mets.
Now, Rollins made his prediction before Santana signed with the Mets. But he’ll be held to it, just as Dempster will. When the Mets added the two-time AL Cy Young … they gained a pitcher who’s absolutely OWNED the NL over the past six seasons.
From 2002-2007 Santana has battered the NL for a 15-4 record with a 2.13 ERA while batters have hit only .185 against him.
| JOhan Santana 2002-7 | W | L | G | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | AB | ERA | Avg | K/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11.7 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 46 | 3.09 | .261 | 13.1 | 1.54 |
| FLA | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11.3 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 42 | 1.59 | .214 | 12.7 | 1.06 |
| NYM | 3 | 0 | 3 | 22.0 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 75 | 0.82 | .173 | 7.4 | 0.64 |
| PHI | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4.7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 1.93 | .143 | 9.6 | 1.71 |
| WSH | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15.0 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 53 | 2.40 | .189 | 7.2 | 0.67 |
| CHC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8.0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 29 | 1.13 | .172 | 6.8 | 0.75 |
| MIL | 3 | 1 | 9 | 40.7 | 28 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 58 | 149 | 3.32 | .188 | 12.8 | 0.91 |
| PIT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 1.29 | .208 | 6.4 | 0.71 |
| ARI | 2 | 0 | 2 | 16.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 50 | 0.56 | .120 | 9.0 | 0.44 |
| SDG | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12.7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 42 | 3.55 | .190 | 7.1 | 1.03 |
| SFO | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9.0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 32 | 3.00 | .219 | 8.0 | 1.11 |
| LAD | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 23 | 0.00 | .087 | 11.6 | 0.71 |
| NL Totals | 15 | 4 | 28 | 165.0 | 107 | 42 | 39 | 38 | 180 | 579 | 2.13 | .185 | 9.8 | 0.88 |
| AL Totals | 75 | 37 | 178 | 1014.7 | 809 | 369 | 344 | 256 | 1109 | 3750 | 3.05 | .216 | 9.8 | 1.05 |
| MLB Totals | 90 | 41 | 206 | 1179.7 | 916 | 411 | 383 | 294 | 1289 | 4329 | 2.92 | .212 | 9.8 | 1.03 |
The Cubs better find out how to solve Santana. Because they haven’t fared well in the four times they’ve faced him (1.38 ERA, 11K, 13 IP). Actually - Santana has OWNED the Cubs. He faced the Cubs as a starter once back in 2006. I was at that game at the Metrodome. Santana was phenomenal. In Eight Innings, Santana gave up five Hits and one Earned Run while striking out six.
Santana doesn’t have much history against the Phillies - he’s only pitched against them once (2002 in Philly). He only gave up two Hits and one Earned Run in 4 2/3 innings while striking out five. Jimmy Rollins went 0-3 with one of those K’s against Santana.
Entries (RSS)
February 15th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Cubs - in playoffs in 2007.
Phillies - in playoffs in 2007.
Mets - in 2007, refresh my memory, please
Note to Santana - Win something first
February 15th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
What Cheese said — and more of it.
If memory serves, Rollins talked some smack last year too — and the Phils actually backed it up while Santana’s new team famously tanked.
Sure, Santana is solid. But last I checked he only pitches every five days. And as Kenny Mayne used to say “games aren’t won on paper. They’re won on television sets.”
February 16th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Johan is awesome. Possibly the most awesome pitcher in MLB.
However, I do believe your beloved Mets choked last September and it was my Phils who won the NL East.
So until the Mets actually do something on the field, F’ them!
February 16th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
check this out, good read
February 18th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
not a Met Fan but
the Phillies won as many Playoff games as the Mets in 2007
and if you think Johan Santana isn’t going to help ANY team in the NL, you are all crazy……
No DH
No Indoor Stadiums in the NL called “The Homer Dome”
I wish my Dodgers got him
February 18th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Poor, poor Phillies fans. You guys made the playoffs for the first time in forever, got swept, and now your 2008 season is over before it starts.
You just keep telling yourselves the Mets will choke away the NL East again. The Mets were better than the Phillies w/o Johan last year, it took an incredibly bad (and completely fluky) collapse at the end to get you guys in. Better set your sights on the WC, there’s no chance you win the division.
February 19th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Steve,
Perhaps Jose Reyes hitting like shit in the ENTIRE second half was a fluke too ?
It’s talk like yours that will make winning the division this year much much sweeter.
February 20th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Hey Phillies fans.
You got hot, we got cold. End of story.
But there’s something about 2007 you have to remember: it’s done.
The Mets have retooled, and we’re looking at a playoff run, whereas you Phillies are going to win 90 games tops (absolute tops) while the Mets have a better chance of winning 100 (we’ll still win more than you).
Johan Santana is going to destroy National League hitting.
Pedro Martinez is (hopefully) going to remain healthy enough to win 10+ games.
John Maine is going to have a breakout season and eventually take Pedro’s place when he retires.
Oliver Perez is pretty much going to be the same guy, I just hope he doesn’t hit as many guys.
Orlando Hernandez is going to be as good as he was last season, and hopefully injury free.
After watching Mike Pelfrey win two games, I realize now why the Mets are so patient. If he can dominate other teams like he did the Braves, then the Mets starting rotation is going to be a force.
The Phillies have a decent enough offense, but the pitching is weak. Sure you have Brad Lidge, but we’ve got Billy Wagner.
There’s a difference between having confidence and being smug, assholes.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Mets fans are delusional.
Pedro lasted 4 innings before he hit the DL.
Santana will be great in the NL, but their hitting is nothing amazing.
I think the Braves and Mets will duke it out for the Wild Card while the Phillies run with the East. And everyone can laugh as much as they want at Dempster, but he worked his ass off to become a solid starter again and so-far-so-good. Solid Spring and great first outing.
Leave the arguments to what happens on the field.