Johan Santana still top choice of Terry Collins for New York Mets’ opening day starter -MLB Feature
Johan Santana is still equally poised to be an opening day starter in manager Terry Collins books even after couple of Spring Training games he has played. Though there has been nothing wrong with his performance, the fact manager had said about Santana
back in February 21 that he will make up the team on opening day confounds many that he is still of the same view.
“Not for me. I truly believe we’re going to do this right and Johan Santana will be on this team Opening Day.” Collins said.
In a rain interrupted game against Miami Marlins, Santana ended up doing a great job as in over two innings he pitched he conceded only one run that too an unearned run and gave away just two hits.
Under rain forecasts, manager Collins was apprehensive of sending Santana to mound and as soon as by the end of third inning when it actually started, he was called back immediately. Idea behind this was possible injury may be resulting from slippery field
and who knows if Santana lost his balance there and was hammered all across the park much to the detriment of his confidence.
“If he had stayed in the game and slipped on the mound, someone else would be standing here right now,” Collins laughed after the game.
One of the reasons behind unrelenting confidence manager has put in him is subtle pitching varieties he has added to his repertoire. He now is more comfortable with his change-ups and breaking balls and not only that, in a game against Marlins he went on
to hit 90 mph albeit for once while on average hovering around 86-88. He manages to disguise the ball and that goes ballooning down seamlessly is something he can use to bring amazing results. Also the fact that he has developed good sliders makes him formidable
for batters.
In a stark contrast to the view management holds about him, he considers it premature to start believing in being an only candidate for opening day and thinks that he has yet to prove himself on many areas.
“We’ll see,” Santana said. “I think right now, that’s a little bit premature. We’re still building up pitches. When we’re at 80-90 pitches and doing it every five days, that’s when we we’ll say we’re good.”
Not only his recent performance, in fact Santana’s career record speaks volumes of his credentials as an opening day starter for the Mets. With a 133-69 win-loss record and 1877 strike-outs he has been able to draw along with the excellent 3.10 earned run
average, he has what it takes to be an ace.
His standing becomes clear when analysed in the context of his close competitors for the place. Dillon Gee, another likely starter for Mets carries 15-8 win-loss figures and earned run average of 4.04 together with 131 strike-outs and by any stretch of imagination
these are not enough to challenge Santana’s position in any way. Similarly another candidate namely Mike Pelfrey despite boasting 50-54 win-loss record, 493 strike-outs and a 4.40 earned run average hardly poses any threat to enviable career standing Santana
has.
It will be exciting to see what impact Santana will have for the Mets as they continue to battle it out in Spring Training and get ready for the arduous regular season ahead.
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