Johan Santana seriously should ask to be traded. I know it's been one year, and five starts, but the most pathetically mediocre team in baseball doesn't deserve to have its starting rotation bolstered by the game's pitching god.
Because of my Heat/Clear Channel responsibilities, I haven't had an opportunity to be locked into baseball as much this first month or so. But you better believe I watched today's disaster with the Marlins.
I thought going into this year, warts and all, the Marlins were going to win the division. They have potentially the best 1-4 in baseball, a lineup that will mash 200 homers and a good-enough bullpen. The Phillies are the defending champs, but are no ones idea of a constantly elite team. The Braves upgraded, but don't have the big power hitter, or a good enough bullpen. And the Mets did what the Mets always do.
2007, the Mets participate in the worst collapse because their lacking a front-line starter, have a lousy bullpen, a terrible bottom of the order, plus a lack of leadership, fire, and players who can come through in the clutch. So what's the response? Throw 150 million dollars at the best pitcher in baseball, and expect him to also close/set-up, occupy the 6-9 spots, and be the one to bat in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs on October 1st.
2008, to say the Mets leave a mediocre manager but a great person(Willie Randolph) twisting in the wind would be the biggest understatement since saying Dwyane Wade is the entire Miami Heat. He gets let go in the most embarrassing job termination I've ever seen. Still, the Metropolitans start to surge under Jerry Manuel despite having a horrific bullpen, a lousy collection of 6-9 hitters, a lack of leadership, fire, and players who can come through in the clutch. Sure enough, they cough up a 3 1/2 game September lead and blow it AGAIN. At the hands of the Marlins AGAIN. What's the response? In any other corporation, the architect of the Titanic wouldn't get a chance to create the Exxon Valdez.
Except for the Flushing baseball club of course. They reward him with a four-year extension.
And Omar Minaya goes out and implodes the bullpen, but does nothing at second base, nothing at the corner outfield spots, nothing at catcher, nothing in shaking up the clubhouse, and leaves the clutch opportunities in the hands of non-clutch performers. Oh yeah, and amidst all of that, Johan Santana having the best pitching season I've seen from anyone since Pedro Martinez 1999. But because he has 15-8 to show for it instead of 23-4 on any other team, no Cy Young.
So what do we have for 2009? A 9-12 start. A lack of clutchness, fire, and consistent hits. A bullpen that's better but not completely fixed. Horrible pitching from inconsistent arms. And oh yeah, Johan Santana with a 1.10 ERA. 1.10, but is only 3-1 in 5 starts. Why? Because the lineup has managed all of 13 runs in his five starts. Seriously are you kidding me? Does this team do this on purpose? These questions have to go through Johan's head.
Now of course this team will rebound, take a division lead from June/July to the end of September, and then blow it again. And this time, Omar Minaya will fix the back of the order, while not touching the rest of the starting rotation, or lack of clubhouse leadership, or clutchness. So time to guess what will be the downfall in 2010?
Maybe it will be your superstar pitcher saying he doesn't want to be around the organization Joe Beningo once said was run like a "corner deli."
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