Johan Santana News: Pro Sports Daily

Johan promises to return by spring training

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September 5

New York Daily News

"Johan Santana was explaining the timetable for when he expects to resume pitching following Tuesday's elbow surgery, when Jerry Manuel walked by the conversation taking place outside the Mets' clubhouse. "Tuesday," Manuel chirped in from the back of the scrum. Santana smiled and mustered an "I wish" in response, but the ace lefthander is done for the season after having bone chips removed from his left elbow. The best news the two-time Cy Young winner could offer was to express confidence that he fully expects to be "good to go" when spring training begins - and optimism that next season can't possibly be as littered with injuries as this one has been for the Mets. "One thing we have to ..."

Surgeries go well for two Mets pitchers

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September 1

MLB.com

"Dr. David Altchek, the Mets' medical director, performed successful surgeries Tuesday morning on left-handers Johan Santana and Oliver Perez. In the procedures, Santana had multiple bone fragments removed from his pitching elbow, while Perez had scar tissue removed from the patella tendon of his right knee. The surgeries were performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan."

Pitching Pains Keep Coming

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August 26

New York Post

"Johan Santana's surgery wasn't the only downbeat pitching news for the Mets yesterday, just the biggest. The club also announced Oliver Perez has returned to New York to have his ailing right knee examined and that reliever J.J. Putz was shut down for the rest of the season due to a slight tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament. Perez, who lasted just two-thirds of an inning Sunday at Citi Field against the Phillies in his most recent outing, is out indefinitely and isn't expected to make his next start Friday at the Cubs. Jerry Manuel said left-handed reliever Pat Misch, who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo yesterday along with outfielder Nick Evans, is being considered to fill ..."

Mets ace Johan Santana to have season-ending elbow surgery

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August 25

New York Daily News

"Johan Santana will have his elbow cleaned out, ending his season, but the ace should be fine for 2010, the Mets announced. Team doctor David Altchek examined Santana at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Santana will undergo an arthroscopic procedure to remove bone chips. The 30-year-old lefthander finishes the season with a 13-9 record and 3.13 ERA. He logged 166 2/3 innings, snapping a streak of five straight seasons of exceeding 200 innings pitched. Santana's velocity has sagged during the second half."

Santana to have MRI on pitching elbow

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August 25

Newsday

"If the Mets were still in the business of attaching catchphrases to their seasons, perhaps this one would work for 2009: Whatever can go wrong will. A Mets season dominated by injuries just hit four-alarm status, as Johan Santana's prized elbow is hurting enough that the lefthander is concerned about it, Jerry Manuel said. So instead of pitching against the Marlins in Florida Tuesday night, Santana will spend the day getting an MRI and visiting with Dr. David Altchek. Manuel hoped to have "something definitive" in terms of a diagnosis by sometime Tuesday, and the hours waiting will be painful for team officials. Santana is the prize of the organization, the guy they gave $137.5 million ..."

Johan scratched, to see doctor Tuesday

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August 25

MLB.com

"Mets players said Monday they expect Johan Santana will require surgery on his left elbow to repair whatever malady has prompted the club to scratch the pitcher from his scheduled start against the Marlins in Miami on Tuesday. Instead of making his 26th start, Santana is to have his elbow examined by Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek. And, if his teammates' sense of the situation is right, his next start likely will be next season.The Mets offered minimal information, i.e., no specific diagnosis or theories, about the problem that manager Jerry Manuel said began to develop before the All-Star break. But Mike Pelfrey, Santana's fellow starter, said, "I don't think anyone expects good ..."

Santana scratched from next start for Mets with soreness in elbow

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August 25

New York Daily News

"Just when Mets fans thought it couldn't get any worse, it was announced after Monday's game that Johan Santana won't make his scheduled start against the Marlins Tuesday because of soreness in his throwing elbow. The condition could end the ace's season and it raises questions about his arm for the remainder of his career. "I'm terribly concerned, no question about it," Jerry Manuel said following Monday's 6-2 loss to the Phillies at Citi Field. "He's been pitching probably since the break (with soreness), but not to the level of discomfort he has now." Nelson Figueroa will start in place of Santana, who will remain in New York to see Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery. ..."

Johan Santana should rest

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August 25

New York Daily News

columnist Tim Smith

"The final nail in the hopes and dreams of the Mets' 2009 season was driven home when Jerry Manuel announced Monday that Johan Santana would miss his start Tuesday against the Marlins because of "discomfort" in his elbow. Manuel said he would have more definitive information after Santana was examined today by Dr. David Altchek, the team's medical director, at the Hospital for Special Surgery. With all the injuries that the Mets have sustained this season, this news on Santana is the most ominous information yet. Santana is the heart and soul of the Mets, an ace who cost them a fortune and the linchpin in what was supposed to be a championship team. With all of the questionable medical ..."

Santana Benched With Sore Elbow

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August 25

New York Post

"Sometime today, the Mets might fondly recall the good old days when they only had to worry about injuries that affect 2009. In potentially the most sobering development of all in this hexed season, Johan Santana's barking left elbow will be examined by Dr. David Altchek today. Santana has been scratched from his scheduled start at Florida tonight, and manager Jerry Manuel said his $137.5 million ace could be finished for the season. "He has been pitching [with pain] probably since the [All-Star] break, but not with the level of discomfort he has now," Manuel said yesterday after the Mets' 6-2 loss to Philadelphia. "I know now that it concerns him." It's time to perform a Citi Field ..."

Santana Will Miss Start and Probably Have M.R.I.

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August 25

New York Times

"Through all the injuries that have plagued the Mets this season, the team could take some solace that Johan Santana, their star left-hander, had been immune to this seeming curse. That is no longer the case. Santana has been pitching through discomfort in his valuable left elbow but will not make his scheduled start Tuesday against the Marlins in Florida. Instead, he will visit the team orthopedist, Dr. David Altchek, and most likely have a magnetic resonance imaging test on the elbow. The hope is that Santana has bone chips or spurs that can be cleaned out eventually and not a more serious injury. Either way, as the Mets flounder through the season - they are 57-68 after a 6-2 loss to ..."

Mets pitcher Johan Santana gets fined, avoids ban after Saturday's plunking

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August 19

New York Daily News

"Johan Santana has been fined but won't be suspended for throwing a pitch behind San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval, then plunking Bengie Molina on Saturday, a source told the Daily News. Santana retaliated after David Wright was beaned by Matt Cain. Sandoval, a fellow Venezuelan, had no problem with Santana's action. He joked that in Santana's hometown of Tovar they must not play fusilado, a dodgeball-type game popular in that country, since Santana missed him. As for Wright, he plans to go through a concussion test today at the Hospital for Special Surgery, which he expects will clear him to begin physical activity. "Everything's good," Wright said. METS' MATZ: Lefthander Steve Matz, the ..."

Johan Watches Teammates' Back the 'Right Way'

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August 16

New York Post

"When it was over, when the Mets had predict ably lost another game and incredibly had lost another marquee player, Johan Santana was defiant. "I've been playing this game for a long time and I play the game the right way," Santana said with steely resolve after having retaliated against the Giants for the Matt Cain pitch that hit David Wright in the head and knocked him out of yesterday's game with what has been diagnosed as a concussion. "I protect my teammates, regardless. "It's not something I need to discuss with [the press] or anybody. It's our own thing." Wright was hit above the left earflap of his helmet in the fourth inning. The Mets would take a 1-0 lead two batters later. ..."

Johan Santana is the 'medicine' for NY Mets fatigue

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August 10

Newark Star-Ledger

"For most of four days, the room had remained largely quiet. There were sounds from televisions hanging from the ceiling, and from conversations here and there. But for the most part, the atmosphere in the visiting clubhouse at PETCO Park was as subdued as the Mets were lethargic. Then Johan Santana took the mound Sunday, making the Mets feel like a major-league team again. And when the clubhouse doors opened to the media after the game, loud rap music was thumping from a stereo in the center of the clubhouse. A weary team had been energized. A quiet room had come to life. "He can do that," manager Jerry Manuel said of Santana. "He is the medicine for the fatigue. He comes and be brings the ..."

Hot Santana winds blow down the Padres

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August 10

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Maybe the last thing the Padres needed to see on this homestand - or the thing they needed to see last - was Johan Santana. Lest, you know, they get too cocky. Before Sunday's sun-splashed outing against the New York Mets had begun, the 10-game encampment at Petco Park was a rare and rousing success, the first homestand the Padres were assured of winning since they were wrapping up that weird 10-game winning streak May 24. But that was an entirely different club, and if you're going to field a lineup with youngsters and major league newcomers, you have to have the full Santana effect before pressing onward. The Padres pretty much got that Sunday, mustering little more than back-to-back ..."

Rockies salvage split of doubleheader after Santana, Mets win Game 1

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July 31

New York Daily News

"Seven strong innings from Johan Santana and more strong hitting lifted the Mets to a 7-0 victory over the Rockies in the opener of a day-night doubleheader on Thursday. But the Mets' five-game winning streak came to a halt in the nightcap when their suddenly-productive offense sputtered. The Mets got only six hits and hurt themselves with an early baserunning blunder in a 4-2 loss to the Rockies in front of 38,962 in the second game of the first doubleheader at Citi Field. Angel Pagan got caught in a rundown between third and home with nobody out in the first inning on what appeared to be the back end of a double steal. But both Pagan and Mets manager Jerry Manuel described it as a ..."

Johan Santana, Mets can't match Mike Hampton, lose to Astros 5-4

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July 25

New York Daily News

"Even Mike Hampton can outslug the Mets. (That's outslug in the longball sense, not referring to minor-league-clubhouse-type zaniness.) Hampton belted a two-run homer off Johan Santana, and the Mets fell seven games under .500 for the first time in five years with a 5-4 loss to the Astros Friday night. The Mets, trailing by a run in the seventh, had Jeff Francoeur thrown out at the plate to end the half-inning on an aggressive send by third base coach Razor Shines. On a two-out single by Daniel Murphy, right fielder Hunter Pence's throw to Pudge Rodriguez handily beat Francoeur to the plate, stranding Omir Santos in the on-deck circle. "He's got the best arm on the team and he made a ..."

Amazin'ly, 4 Mets Selected to Team

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July 6

New York Post

"The Mets defied logic yesterday by landing four invitations -- most in the entire National League -- to the July 14 All-Star Game in St. Louis. Despite sitting three games under .500 and four games back in the East, third baseman David Wright and center fielder Carlos Beltran were voted in as starters, while Johan Santana and closer Frankie Rodriguez were tabbed by NL manager Charlie Manuel of the Phillies. Beltran is on the disabled list indefinitely with a bone bruise and will not play, but Wright, Santana and K-Rod are eager for what will be the fourth All-Star berth for each. "It's an honor," said Santana, who is going for the first time since 2007. "I will try to do my best to help ..."

Wright, Beltran among Mets' four All-Stars

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July 5

MLB.com

"David Wright, the only member of the Mets' celebrated and decimated core to avoid assignment to the disabled list this season, almost certainly will be the only position player representing the Mets in the All-Star Game next week. Wright and center fielder Carlos Beltran have been elected to the starting lineup for the National League, and Wright will be at third base for the 80th edition of Major League Baseball's Midsummer Classic at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14.But Beltran, assigned to the disabled list, is expected to forfeit his spot on the roster and continue rehabbing his bruised and aching right knee.With two of their pitchers, Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez, ..."

Johan Santana rebounds, proves ray of hope for Mets despite loss to Rays

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June 21

New York Daily News

"In his last outing, Johan Santana was shelled by the Yankees, surrendering a career-high nine runs before leaving in the fourth inning of an eventual 15-0 loss. His lack of command was alarming, raising questions as to whether Santana was injured. Former Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson even said that Santana was nursing a sore knee. So it was with much anticipation that Santana took the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field Saturday. The Mets were sure that Santana would be right as the rain that they dodged to get the game in. Jerry Manuel was certain a few mechanical problems had been worked out in some bullpen sessions since that disastrous display against the Yanks. "I ..."

Santana matchup excites Shields

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June 20

Tampa Tribune

"James Shields' changeup is his bread-and-butter pitch, but few other big-leaguers are known for the off-speed pitch like the man Shields will face today, Mets lefty Johan Santana. Today's showdown between the two at Citi Field should be a showcase of keeping hitters off-balance, and Shields admitted to being excited about matching wits with a master. "Changeup vs. changeup - we'll see how it works out," he said. Shields, who will be making his 100th big-league start, isn't necessarily looking forward to having to take his swings against Santana's change in this interleague affair. But it will be interesting to get a closer look at a pitch he has long admired from afar. "When I was in the ..."

Johan Santana rights his delivery

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June 18

New York Daily News

"Pitching coach Dan Warthen feels Johan Santana adequately addressed the mechanical flaw in his delivery during a between-starts bullpen session Wednesday at Camden Yards. To get Santana's fastball to stop cutting unintentionally, they worked to get the ace's left hand out of his glove quicker, so Santana's arm acts less like a "catapult" during his motion. Santana, who allowed a career-high nine runs against the Yankees Sunday, next faces the Rays Saturday at Citi Field. He has grown weary of talking about the outing in the Bronx and declined to discuss his bullpen session. BAD ENDING: David Wright's hitting streak ended at 11 games with an 0-for-5 performance. Wright, who lined out to ..."

Santana Will Make Next Start

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June 18

New York Post

"Johan Santana threw a pain- and problem-free bullpen session here yesterday afternoon at Camden Yards that pitching coach Dan Warthen labeled as "vintage Johan." Santana, of course, is under the microscope after posting a 6.50 ERA in his past six starts and giving up a career-high nine runs in his previous outing Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Warthen said Santana changed his grip during the 47-pitch outing and, more important, lowered his arm angle after letting it get a little out of whack. "I thought he was excellent -- vintage Johan," Warthen said. "I think we have most everything figured out. He got his deception back and his velocity back, and I'm expecting very good things [in ..."

Johan Santana has healthy skepticism over Rick Peterson's comments

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June 17

New York Daily News

"Two days after surrendering a career-high nine runs during a 15-0 shellacking at Yankee Stadium, Johan Santana reiterated yesterday that he is healthy. Speaking before Tuesday night's series opener, the ace tried to counter former Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson's suggestion on ESPN 1050 Radio that Santana's knee may be bothering him. "How does he know that my knee hurts?" Santana rhetorically asked. "That's the question that I have. You guys tell me how the heck did he find that out....Not even the trainer knows. Not even me. I didn't know my knee hurts. Just put it that way. "We got along pretty good," Santana continued about his relationship with Peterson, "but the reality is he's ..."

Johan Rips Peterson For Injury Theory

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June 17

New York Post

"Johan Santana thought he had a good relationship with fired Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson. That explains why Santana was both perturbed and baffled to hear Peterson had come out of nowhere to play the role of doctor in diagnosing the ace left-hander's recent pitching woes. A sometimes-animated Santana fired back at Peterson yesterday for saying Santana's surgically repaired left knee has flared up and is contributing to the 6.50 ERA over his past six starts. Santana was responding to a Monday radio interview by Peterson, who told ESPN 1050 that the knee -- not mechanics, as Santana insists -- is behind Santana's sudden stumble. "How did he know that my knee hurts?" Santana said ..."

Peterson Says Johan's Knee May Be Issue

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June 16

New York Post

"Rick Peterson just can't seem to quit the Mets. The team's former pitching coach caused a stir yesterday by passing along what he described as a "rumor" that Johan Santana's surgically repaired left knee is bothering him again. Peterson, now out of baseball after being fired by the Mets along with Willie Randolph last June, said knee pain could explain Santana's string of bad outings and worrisome drop in velocity. "I know it's been reported that he's had a blister on his middle finger, and that certainly can be a major, major detriment for a pitcher," Peterson told ESPN 1050 yesterday morning. "And then there's been some rumors that you hear about his knee being a little bit bothersome ..."

Johan Santana losing steam for Mets as velocity continues to drop

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June 15

New York Daily News

"Forget about bragging rights in the Subway Series. Mets fans can deal with that. The real concern is if Johan Santana is OK. Santana had the worst start of his career in Sunday's 15-0 loss at Yankee Stadium. He was charged with nine runs, all earned, in three-plus innings, prolonging a string of a subpar outings. "There's no excuses," Santana said. "Today was a terrible day and that was about it." The most runs Santana had allowed was eight on July 23, 2002, for Minnesota at the White Sox. He also matched the shortest outing of his career, equaling two other three-inning efforts he had with Minnesota. Beginning with a slugfest in San Francisco in which Santana was roughed up on May 16, ..."

Despite Bronx beating against Yankees, Mets' hopes start and end with Johan Santana

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June 15

New York Daily News

columnist John Harper

"In recent weeks Mets fans told themselves it was nothing to worry about, like that first hint of a sore throat you tell yourself won't turn into something worse. Yeah, sure, Johan Santana had been a bit off his game, but still, he's Johan Santana. Only now you can't pretend anymore. Now the sore throat has turned into a fever and body aches, and you're just hoping you don't have the swine flu. The Mets, after all, have hung tough in the face of all the injuries, all the bad baserunning, all the killer losses, but if there's one thing they can't survive it's Santana at less than his best for more than the occasional start here and there. It would be a lot easier to shrug off the beating ..."

Noo Yawk, Noo Yawk!

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June 15

Philadelphia Inquirer

"You have to wonder how long Jerry Manuel can hang on as the Mets' manager after the fiasco in the Subway Series. Forget yesterday's NFL game, won by the Yankees, 15-0. It was horrible baseball that put the manager's job on the line. On Friday night Mets second baseman Luis Castillo dropped what should have been a game-ending pop-up, allowing the Yanks to pull out a 9-8 win and hand closer Francisco Rodriguez a strange loss. Yankees reliever Brian Bruney, on a rehab assignment with the Trenton Thunder, chimed in from 90 miles away. "It couldn't happen to a better guy on the mound," he told the New York Daily News. "He's got a tired act." Bruney recalled a K-Rod miscue a couple of years ago, ..."

Yanks rout Santana, Mets, 15-0

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June 15

Baltimore Sun

"Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees hammered Johan Santana in the worst start of his career, routing the Mets, 15-0, on Sunday for the biggest blowout in Subway Series history. Jeter went 4-for-4 and the Yankees got two-run homers from Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano in a nine-run fourth inning, chasing Santana (8-4) early to take two of three in a testy series at Yankee Stadium. Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez shouted at Yankees reliever Brian Bruney in left field during batting practice and the two were separated by teammates, one day after they exchanged barbs through the media. Once the first pitch was thrown, the Yankees provided all the fireworks. They needed only four innings to ..."

Yanks pound Mets, Santana

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June 15

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"On a day when Johan Santana allowed a career-high nine runs and was pulled after pitching to five batters without getting an out in the fourth inning, only one thought came to mind. What's wrong with him? Derek Jeter went 4-for-4 and the Yankees got two-run homers from Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano while scoring nine fourth-inning runs on the way to a 15-0 Subway Series victory on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Righthander A.J. Burnett held the Mets to four hits and four walks and struck out eight over seven innings. Mets manager Jerry Manuel referred to Santana's meltdown as "a bump in the road." But in his first seven starts, the two-time Cy Young Award winner was nearly untouchable, with a ..."

Mets Need Ace At His Best

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June 15

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"THE degree of difficulty grows regularly for the Mets. One-third of the roster is on the disabled list and Gary Sheffield's knee has a date with an MRI machine. The players who remain have a tendency to commit sacrileges on the game, including beauties such as missing third base or dropping routine pop- ups. And we have not even yet discussed the mental fortitude of a club that has so badly wilted the past two Septembers. So the margin for error with the 2009 Mets is smaller than positive reviews for Land of the Lost. Which actually could turn out to also be the name of the Mets' 2009 highlight film if Johan Santana does not begin doing those Bob Gibson, 1968, imitations again soon. ..."

Santana Blisters At Health Questions

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June 15

New York Post

"For someone who insists his health is "fine," Johan Santana sure copped to a long list of previously undisclosed ailments yesterday. That can happen when you've just absorbed the worst outing of an otherwise illustrious career and the final result is a 15-0 embarrassment at the hands of your crosstown rival. Acknowledging the mounting concern, the Mets' ace left-hander admitted to a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, a blister on his toe and a sore back all in the past month. Though all of that might help to explain why Santana has posted a 6.50 ERA in his past six starts, he resolutely refused to make it an excuse for yesterday's debacle at Yankee Stadium. "It was a bad ..."

Yankees crush Johan Santana

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June 15

New York Daily News

"After five of the most exasperating days of their season, the Yankees finally had enough. The Bombers unloaded their frustrations on Johan Santana and the Mets Sunday afternoon, crushing their crosstown rivals, 15-0, to complete the first segment of this year's Subway Series in explosive fashion. The Yankees had lost three straight to the Red Sox in Boston before being handed a gift-wrapped win on Friday night thanks to Luis Castillo's game-ending dropped popup. But after being dominated by Fernando Nieve on Saturday, the Yankees were in position tofive of six against their two biggest rivals.Â "You're going to have weeks that you don't play as well as other weeks," Joe Girardi said ..."

When Santana Hurts, the Mets Feel His Pain

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June 15

New York Times

columnist Jack Curry

"Johan Santana is human. As much as the Mets are accustomed to watching him operate as their unparalleled pitching machine, Santana can make poor pitches and mistakes, too. Sometimes, his fastball and changeup do not trick anyone. Sometimes, he has to pitch through pain. The mortal Santana made an untimely appearance at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. The pitching-starved Mets need him to be their savior every five days, but Sunday was especially critical because they were trying to beat the Yankees and salvage what began as a dreary weekend. But the dreariness returned for the Mets because Santana, the mighty Santana, went from being their bedrock to being their worst player. He was battered for ..."

Yankees Batter Santana and Win Weekend Series

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June 15

New York Times

"The last time the Yankees had a victory as emphatic as Sunday's, in which they bludgeoned Johan Santana and the Mets, 15-0, interleague play was 20 years away and Dave Kingman was in their lineup. It was Sept. 25, 1977, the first game of a doubleheader in Toronto, and Kingman homered to help wipe out the Blue Jays, 15-0. In the thousands of games since then, the Yankees had not had another shutout by such a wide margin. This did not seem the setting for a repeat. Only a dropped pop-up by Luis Castillo on Friday kept the Yankees from wobbling into the batter's box against Santana trying to avoid a second consecutive series sweep. They had been humbled in three games in Boston and silenced ..."

Johan Gives Mets Edge In Finale

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June 14

New York Post

"A.J. Burnett began his year well, and he's basically been dreadful since. Johan Santana began his year spectacularly, but even he's slumped a bit lately. Neither starter for today's Subway Series finale comes in blazing hot. But Johnny Damon knows the Yankees need to be ready for Santana, the Mets' superstar ace. "Good pitcher. So we definitely have to be on our game," Damon said. "Hopefully A.J.'s on his game too." Despite Santana's recent struggles, the matchup today sees the Mets with a major edge. Burnett has terrific stuff, but he's got a 4.89 ERA for the season, and since winning his first two starts, he has posted a 5.37 ERA in his last 10. He also is coming off a putrid outing ..."

Johan Santana's 'protest' to be taken out OK with Jerry Manuel

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June 11

New York Daily News

"Jerry Manuel doesn't believe Johan Santana was showing him up Tuesday when he held up the ball and told the manager, "I'm a man," when the skipper gave him the hook against the Phillies. "No, no no," Manuel said. "I don't have a problem with that." But Manuel clearly wanted to table the topic before last night's game. Asked if it was necessary to talk to Santana about the ace's demonstrative reaction to being yanked, Manuel said, "No. What did he do. What happened?" Told Santana clearly didn't want to come out, Manuel replied, "That's how you perceived it. That's OK. That's good. That really probably wasn't the case. He was just saying, 'I'm a man.' That's what he says in the clubhouse ..."

Duke outduels Santana in Pirates' win

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June 3

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"How rare a thing was the Pirates' 3-1 victory Tuesday against the New York Mets? As rare as Jason Jaramillo hitting his first home run. As rare as Nyjer Morgan grounding into a double play for the first time in his career. As rare as Johan Santana losing for the first time in five games against the Pirates. And as rare as the Pirates finally scoring enough runs to support left-hander Zach Duke. "Whew," said Duke, who handcuffed the Mets for seven innings. "We played great tonight. We capitalized when we had the opportunities." Duke has pitched well this season, but usually hasn't had much margin for error. In his four losses, the Pirates scored a total of three runs. Then again, over the ..."

Duke, Bucs battle past Santana, Mets

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June 3

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Three runs is not a ton of run support, but Pirates left-hander Zach Duke made the most of it Tuesday in a 3-1 victory against the New York Mets. The Pirates got a home run from an unlikely source - rookie catcher Jason Jaramillo - and took the lead with two runs in the sixth inning against Mets ace Johan Santana. Duke has pitched well this season, but usually hasn't had much margin for error. In Duke's four losses, the Pirates scored a total of three runs. Then again, over the past few seasons, it seemed Duke couldn't win even if the Pirates scored a dozen runs. The difference this year, manager John Russell said, is Duke's pitches have better finish - that last-second oomph! that makes ..."

Johan Up & Down

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May 29

New York Post

"Johan Santana wishes he had an explanation for last night's start, but he was left scratching his head. "It was crazy, like the weirdest game ever," Santana said after the Mets' 7-4 victory over the Nationals at Citi Field. "I felt good and was pitching, hitting my spots. There were some missed calls by the ump, things you can't control." Santana allowed three earned runs over six innings with 11 strikeouts, but the startling statistic was his six walks. Santana hadn't walked that many batters in a game since July 22, 2002 while pitching for the Twins against Anaheim, when he walked a career-high seven. Santana (7-2) said he was most disappointed with a walk he issued to Ryan Zimmerman ..."

Johan Up & Down

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May 28

New York Post

"Johan Santana wishes he had an explanation for last night's start, but he was left scratching his head. "It was crazy, like the weirdest game ever," Santana said after the Mets' 7-4 victory over the Nationals at Citi Field. "I felt good and was pitching, hitting my spots. There were some missed calls by the ump, things you can't control." Santana allowed three earned runs over six innings with 11 strikeouts, but the startling statistic was his six walks. Santana hadn't walked that many batters in a game since July 22, 2002 while pitching for the Twins against Anaheim, when he walked a career-high seven. Santana (7-2) said he was most disappointed with a walk he issued to Ryan Zimmerman ..."

After plunk, plenty of pluck

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May 23

Boston Globe

"Johan Santana, under typical circumstances and in his normal state of mind, is the undisputed best lefthanded pitcher on the planet, possessor of the craft's most wicked changeup and all other manner of lethal pitches. The last thing he needs on a pitching rubber is extra incentive. Kevin Youkilis, intentionally or not, gave that to him last night in the fifth inning of the Mets' 5-3 victory at Fenway Park, where Santana had not pitched since September 2006, when he still played for the Twins. The Red Sox scored three runs against him, which is commendable given the 1.36 ERA with which he entered and the 1.50 ERA with which he exited. But Santana oppressed the Sox when it mattered most, ..."

After plunk, plenty of pluck

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May 23

Boston Globe

"Johan Santana, under typical circumstances and in his normal state of mind, is the undisputed best lefthanded pitcher on the planet, possessor of the craft's most wicked changeup and all other manner of lethal pitches. The last thing he needs on a pitching rubber is extra incentive. Kevin Youkilis, intentionally or not, gave that to him last night in the fifth inning of the Mets' 5-3 victory at Fenway Park, where Santana had not pitched since September 2006, when he still played for the Twins. The Red Sox scored three runs against him, which is commendable given the 1.36 ERA with which he entered and the 1.50 ERA with which he exited. But Santana oppressed the Sox when it mattered most, ..."

Johan Santana shows what could have been

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May 23

Boston Herald

columnist Michael Silverman

"The last two offseasons for the Red Sox have featured serious flirtations with two elite talents: first Johan Santana, then Mark Teixeira. Due to a million, and millions of dollars, of different reasons, the Red Sox never could close the deal on either star. Last night, Santana's starpower as baseball's best pitcher was only a couple watts shy of blinding. That made it awfully fascinating to watch him step onto the Fenway Park mound for the first time since he was a Minnesota Twin and wonder just how he would have looked in the home whites. Although a strong case can be made that not signing Teixeira will wind up hurting the Red Sox more in the long run, watching Santana pitch just seven ..."

Met Victory With a Switch: The Hitters Bail Out Santana

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May 17

New York Times

"The requisite elements of a Johan Santana start - mishaps aplenty, offensive droughts, a nail-bitingly close game - materialized in the brilliant California sunshine Saturday afternoon, with one notable exception. For a change, Santana did not pitch well. He is entitled to a poor outing every year or two, and for that reason, the Mets were grateful for the two early outbursts that fueled their 9-6 victory against the San Francisco Giants at AT"

Still No Help for Santana

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May 13

New York Times

"There is only so much Johan Santana can do to help himself and the Mets. And he is doing it. After seven starts this season, his earned run average was the lowest in the National League at 0.78, and he led the majors in strikeouts with 60. But just as they did last year, when the bullpen cost him seven victories and possibly the Cy Young Award, few of his teammates are returning the favor. In the field, the Mets committed 7 of their 22 errors before Tuesday with Santana pitching. At the plate, they have provided an average of 2.15 runs with him on the mound. Only three other qualifying starters had lower run support averages - the Seattle Mariners' Chris Jakubauskas, the San Francisco ..."

Amazin'ly Santana's Getting No Support

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May 12

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"MY advice to sports editors is to get their best investigative reporters off of those steroid stories and onto something really important in baseball: What the heck did Johan Santana do to his teammates? It has to be horrible, right? Don't let that pleasant exterior fool you, I am sure Santana secretly replaced the clubhouse coffee with mud or rigged the NCAA pool. There is a story of evil here that must be told. What else could explain his teammates' penchant to turn into the Pittsburgh Pirates every time Santana pitches? Is this man clubbing baby seals in his spare time? Last night, Mets infielders could not catch a groundball behind him, hit for him or offer adequate relief pitching ..."

New York Mets' Johan Santana to face Atlanta Braves' Derek Lowe in series opener Monday

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May 11

Newark Star-Ledger

"During his last start, Johan Santana told teammates in the Mets' dugout how he wanted to get a hit against the Phillies. I initially read that as a sign of Santana's competitiveness, that being dominant on the mound isn't enough for him, but I think I missed the point. Santana wasn't being ambitious. He was being pragmatic. If he doesn't drive in runs when he starts, who will? In Santana's first six starts of 2009, the Mets have played as if they are curious to see just how little they have to do to win with their ace on the mound. They have scored an average of just two runs in games Santana has started, which is why Santana is just 4-1 despite having a 0.91 ERA, the lowest in the ..."

Santana Will Get Extra Rest

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May 4

New York Post

"Jerry Manuel pushed back his rotation after yesterday's rainout here, which means a showdown with the Phillies for Johan Santana on Wednesday at Citi Field. But it also means the Mets' ace will be throwing with two extra days of rest, something Santana did only twice last season. Manuel thinks the extra rest will benefit Santana despite that Santana's worst 2008 start -- last July 17 at Cincinnati, when he allowed five runs -- came after nine days off due to the All-Star break. "With this being still almost spring [training], I think the more rest the better for him," Manuel said. "Anytime we can get him an extra day here or there, and then maintain a rhythm for him, I think it will be ..."

Turning 30 No Big Deal For Santana

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May 2

New York Post

"There's a natural arc of productivity in every baseball career. Players start slow, get better with time, and eventually decline with age. The pinnacle of this arc often comes around the age of 30. But that wasn't on the mind of Mets ace Johan Santana as he celebrated his 30th birthday on March 13. The All-Star lefty actually relished the dawning of a new age. "I want to get older so I can see my children older, too," he told The Post. "So that's the thing. I love 'em right now the way they are, but it's always good to see how they look when they grow. But it's just part of life, man." Santana hasn't suffered any kind of dropoff this season despite entering his new decade. He has been ..."