At the start of the 2008 season, there were many reasons why we needed Santana. We needed an ace on the staff, someone to go out there and expect to win. We needed a workhorse on the staff. Someone who could give the bullpen the day off, the relieve their work so they close out other pitchers' games.
For part of the season, Santana's ERA was above 3.00, a surprise to some, but he was still getting the job done. He would pitch a lot, most of the time. What should have been short nights for the bullpen (just the 8th or 9th inning) often became long nights after Santana set them up. The bullpen has blown 6 potential wins for Santana (he could have 17 wins), but Santana, out Ace, looked beyond frustration and focused on his job of pitching.
Santana over the years has been proclaimed as a second half pitcher, and he really has been turning it on since then. Lets rewind the clock before the All Star game. Since July 9th, Santana has pitched in 9 games with a record of 4-0. He has had 2 complete games (including a complete game shutout yesterday), has pitched 63.1 innings and has an ERA of 2.27. (His season ERA right now is 2.75 and he has pitched 177 innings so far this season).
This month he has really turned on his stuff. In four games, he is 2-0 pitching 29.1 innings pitched. His ERA this month? A stunning 1.84. He is mowing them down this month. This is the pitcher the Mets need now. They have a 2 game lead in the division and this is the key the Mets did not have last year, someone reliable to lead them into the post season. Lets Go Mets!
