3
2013
Johan Santana’s Rite of Spring
An article by 
In January of 2008, a few months after one of the more epic collapses in baseball history cruelly deprived Met fans of a chance at redemption for the call third strike that kept us from the 2006 Fall Classic, The Mets acquired arguably the best pitcher in the game for 4 unproven prospects. In Minnesota, a land of 10,000 lakes and 10,000 heartaches (if you’re a Twins fan) this was the latest gut wrenching expulsion of a cherished mainstay in a stretch that saw the Twins lose Luis Castillo, Torii Hunter, and 2 time Cy Young winner Johan Santana.
The Santana trade was Billy Smith’s first foray into the “blockbuster” business as the fledgling GM in training under the watchful eye of Terry Ryan, the longtime Twins General Manager. It was rumored that Ryan wasn’t thrilled with the specifics of the trade with the Mets and that Smith approached him during the final days leading up to the trade in an effort to obtain something akin to a blessing. Ryan didn’t give it, refusing to put what would have amounted to a seal of approval on the trade. His rationale was that he didn’t want to undermine Smith’s “final word” authority, Ryan wanted it to be understood that it was Smith’s team now.
In the months leading up to the trade another story had been quietly brewing in this quiet corner of the baseball universe. Santana was not happy. He’d voiced his disapproval of General Manager Terry Ryan’s tendency to periodically dismantle and rearm as the circuitous exercise in perpetual mediocrity the fans believed it to be. In August of 2007, Santana unleashed his sentiments to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
“I’m not surprised. That’s exactly how they are. That’s why we’re never going to go beyond where we’ve gone.”
“It’s not just about hope,” Santana said. “In a realistic world, you have to really make it happen and go for it. You always talk about future, future. … But if you only worry about the future, then I guess a lot of us won’t be part of it.”
“Why waste time when you’re talking about something that’s always going to be like that? It’s never going to be beyond this point. It doesn’t make any sense for me to be here, you know?”
Santana was upset because the Twins had traded Luis Castillo to the big market big spending N.Y. Mets for Dustin Martin and Drew Butera, a defensive catching prospect with no real value and a low level outfield prospect with a decent eye and little else. It was a salary dump of some two million dollars. It was said Ron Gardenhire, the Twins manager wasn’t Happy with Castillo dating back to October of 2006 during the division series when, inexplicably, Luis failed to put down a bunt during a critical point in 8th inning of Game One.
Half way through the following season he was shipped off to N.Y. even though he was on pace to amass 200 hits and the team was only 6 games back. It was a strange trade for several reasons, beyond the fact that the Twins weren’t really out of it, the return for Castillo, who was having a good year, was minimal. The trade also happened so quickly there was speculation that Gardy wanted him out fast.
There was talk that the Twins clubhouse, which had in earlier years been a model of cohesion, was fractured. There was again tension between some of the younger players and the veterans dating back to an ugly confrontation at the conclusion of the 2005 season when Torii Hunter took a swing at young slugger Justin Morneau.
Following the Castillo trade when it was clear the Veterans would be sold off for parts, they weren’t happy about it and they let it be known. Castillo went on to the Mets where strangely the clubhouse began to fracture as well. There was talk that certain players were skirting the press and one incident where an unidentified player pretended his English was poorer than it actually was to avoid the Media. Meanwhile, Reyes was struggling with his hamstrings, and the team in general seemed to play poorly whenever Castillo was in the lineup, in fact it had become a strange and glaring reality how badly they played when Luis manned second.
It seemed like Reyes wasn’t himself. I don’t know whether Castillo saw Reyes as just another “Juan Pierre” speedster batting ahead of him or as the phenomenal talent he actually was, but I found it odd that 2009 was a lost year for Reyes while Castillo enjoyed his best year as a Met. Ironically it was said Castillo and Reyes clicked more off the field (as Reyes began to keep later hours) than they did on the field. I’d always been astounded by the arrogance of Castillo’s talk when he first came to the Mets about taking Reyes “under his wing,” as Reyes was already a far greater player by then than Castillo ever was, but I took it in stride and gave Luis the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he just didn’t understand how good Reyes was.
Eventually Castillo’s 4 year 25 million dollar deal would become one of the worst contracts handed out to a Free Agent by the Mets, as Luis found it harder and harder to stay on the field, or get on base, or even slap the ball onto the outfield grass, while Luis’ delusions of being on equal footing with Jose (or even his mentor) became absurd and comical in hindsight.
Santana, meanwhile, in 2007, had what you might call an off-year for a guy who’d won two Cy Young awards in the three preceding years and who arguably should have won a third. His era rose to 3.33 after averaging 2.75 over that 3 year span. I mention this because for some, Santana’s discontent with management was carried onto the field, not in an overt in your face manner, but in a “why should I give it my absolute best?” Kind of way. In his first season with the Mets Santana’s ERA dropped back down to 2.53, adding some credibility to this perception.
I admired Santana when he was on the Twins and was thrilled beyond belief when the Mets landed him, but while I liked Santana, the player, I always had reservations about Santana, the person. I remember the fuss he raised when he was working out of the bullpen in 2001 and parts of 2002, the way he bashed the Twins front office in 2007, the weird “be a man” comments, and of course the “consensual” incident on the golf course in 2010, but ultimately it was Johan’s disappointing performance on the field, the injuries, and the unfulfilled promise that deflated all my positive feelings. Sure, he’ll forever get a pass for delivering our first no-hitter, but as someone who has seen more than most fans’ share of Santana, in person, back in the hideous Metrodome, as well as on SNY, it was hard to get past the fact that Johan on the Mets was nothing like the Santana I remember on the Twins.
The Twins offered him 6 years and 100 million and eventually he went with Minaya’s offer of 7 years at 137 million. People decried the trade as a gift to the Mets, as absurdly one sided, but Deolis Guerra the youngest prospect with the highest ceiling in the Santana trade is still in the Twins organization and has quietly turned a corner while Carlos Gomez had a breakout season last year, albeit on another team. Even more valuable for the Twins, however, is the money they aren’t paying Santana in 2013, not to mention the money they didn’t pay him in 2012 and 2011. Smith is no longer GM of the Twins, Ryan took his old spot atop the organization back from his apprentice who never quite got past the failure of Santana’s return.
Sandy Alderson’s peculiar preemptive torpedoing of our de facto Ace and opening day starter yesterday was odd. Was he anticipating discontent from his oft-injured ace? Is there any truth to the whispers about Santana staying to himself and failing to connect with non-Latin players? You don’t really get the sense that Johan has taken Harvey or Wheeler “under his wing.” Has Santana become the new Castillo? The proud veteran struggling to come to grips with his own decline?
“I think there was an expectation that when he came in, he’d be ready to pitch,” Alderson said. “But I think that was his expectations too, regardless of the winter that he had. I don’t think there was disagreement; I don’t think there was a disappointment on our part or an acceptance on his part that that’s the way it would be. But it was clear over the first few days he wasn’t ready. So we’re going to get him ready.”
Santana’s response was somewhere between disdain and quiet indignation, “I’ve been doing this for years,” Santana said. “I know what it takes. And that’s what I’m doing right now — getting ready for the season, not for spring training. I’m very focused. I know exactly what I have to do, so that’s what I’m doing.” The following morning he decided to finally step out onto a mound, commenting, ”What is spring training for? Training.”
What I find more odd than Santana coming in with a weak shoulder, is Alderson’s cold hard criticism leading me to speculate that Santana is history. If he can get a handful of decent starts under his belt he’s gone, you can bank on it.
I was hurt when we traded Dickey, crushed when we lost Reyes (a loss I may never recover from as a fan), strangely though, and I’m not entirely certain why, I will not mourn the loss of Santana. He’s no Tom Seaver, in fact, he’s not even Pedro. Players age, performance declines, the years pass and we all get older. Some of us handle it better than others, and my thinking has always been that playing in the major leagues and getting paid 25 million a year would certainly be enough motivation for me. I understand wanting to win, but after a while the noble pursuit of glory becomes the awkward product of an unsustainable ego in an aging body. Still, Baseball returns every spring filling us with hope and promise, a strange and beautiful game.
About the Author: Matthew Balasis
I’ve been a Met fan since August 1969 when a fire resulted in the Red Cross placing my family on the 6th floor of a building in Willets Point. I could see Shea from our balcony and I knew something big was going on. I followed them through the dark years and the resurgence of the 80’s only (sadly) to miss the fall of 86 because I was in Boot Camp. I've been serving penance ever since in Minnesota where I'm an SLP. I've written a lot about the Mets in an effort to share with my kids (and anyone else who might listen), a sporting tradition that made much of my childhood worthwhile. Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewBalasis
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 25 | 18 | .581 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 21 | .523 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 23 | .477 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 24 | .415 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 12 | 32 | .273 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/19/2013
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“cold hard criticism”?
I have to say that seeing no one has yet to disagree with which seems to be the obvious that Santana was not as “ready to pitch” as some had expected. I keep seeing this scenario where when no info about a player comes out there is talk of why are the Mets attempting to hide it and when info comes out it’s to be critical of the player.
Yep, almost the perfect “Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t” situation.
“Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t”
This
…and part 2 as the smear campaign against Santana has now entered the blog world from pro-Alderson mouthpieces. Here we go.
This is not a smear campaign.
Would you wave that banner if it was Wight who showed up not “ready to play” and we posted a reaction to it like this?
You in fact, would be the one leading the charge.
sure….if we could even define “ready to play”
if Wright showed up weighing 10 lbs more than usual….and had 9 weeks to lose it….it wouldnt be a big deal…
how much did Santana weigh when he checked in?
what was his body fat percentage?
can he do some crunches…pushups…dips….run some laps…?
do u know the answer to ANY of these questions….or do u take some rumors and quotes with no detail and fill in the blanks with your own angry imagination?
be honest….
Braaaaay! Braaaaaay!
More of the same from the biggest jack ass on the internet.
Tell us more Brayonne. Jack ass.
Oh I will. I will be here watching everything his FRAUD for a GM is doing. So be ready to get angry and irritated a LOT more each day whenever I am of the opinion that Alderson’s methods should be questioned.
And responses like yours just motivate me even more
With or without this supposed controversy, there isn’t a doubt in my mind if they can move Santana at the trade deadline – if they have to eat a chunk of his salary – that will be the plan.
I think the worst kept secret is that the Mets would under the right scenario move Santana some time during this season.
With news of the Mets saying that they’d “love” to deal Santana a few months ago, trust me, eating money won’t be the issue.
Can I ask a silly question to anybody who thinks the Mets saying he wasn’t in pitching shape was smear and not just … honesty? There’s a difference between smearing and being honest. If Santana was supposed to be in shape and wanted to pitch in the WBC and made the Mets be the bad guy by forcing them to say no – and he is NOT in shape, then how is that a smear?
I’ve seen this claim in 3 different pieces. I welcome anybody to answer this.
What do the Mets have to gain by “smearing” Johan?
- He’s gone after 2013 unless a miracle happens and he’s throws 215 innings
- His trade value is as low as you can get today
- If the Mets are ever in a position to trade him during the 2013 season, I think the fan base understands the reasons…
So what is the gain by “smearing” him? It’s not like they have a contract negotiation going, or have him on their roster next year and are trying to shove him out the door.
After this year, Santana will have made $70+ million from the Mets, had 1 amazin moment that I am so grateful for but since opening day 2011, he’s pitched 117 innings.
So if somebody could enlighten me as to WHY the Mets would “smear” Santana, I’d appreciate it.
I’d like to add to this and say, don’t the Mets want to pump Johan up? Don’t they WANT his value to go up? Wouldn’t the best case be he either pitches them to a playoff spot OR they trade him for something valuable?
So why smear? What is in it for them?
Jessep: Correct me if I am wrong as I am not up on this. Does Santana for 2014 have a vesting option for 200 innings pitched in 2013. This could be a way to justify holding his pitch count and innings pitched for 2013. This is just my conjecture. What is to be gained if this is not the case? Maybe justification to buy him out just like Bay.
I can’t see how they have to invent an excuse. is health issues are not a secret.
Hotstreak: According to Baseball Cot’s, Santana’s 2014 contract becomes HIS option if a few things happen. The most realistic is if pitches 215 innings in 2013.
That is something he hasn’t done since 2008.
I have to find it hard to believe the Mets are afraid of this possibility right now.
the mets would go with a 10 man rotation before they let that option vest
I agree in part with you – they’d have to battle the players union on that. But realistically, do you think the Mets are REALLY afraid Santana will hit 215 innings? I mean, Johan can have a good year without hitting 215.
highly doubtful…
any trade partner would want him for a playoff run…
doubtful they put him on an innings cap ….
it does make trading him a bit more complicated
“His trade value is as low as you can get today”
And maybe lower than it was Yesterday before he cited a lack of work ethic…
All he really should have said was we are taking it very slow with Santana and he will pitch when we feel he is ready.
Not knocking Sandy for saying something just don’t see how we gain from it at all…
More likely lose from it.
When Duaner Sanchez came to ST out of shape was that a smear campaign too?
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/clock-ticks-sanchez-article-1.216363
That article is in no way related or even similar to this situation. Linking an article where Duaner tearfully apologizes to Willy & Omar after being sent home is not even remotely connected to this situation where all Alderson had to do was tell reporters something to the effect that him and Collins will talk to Johan.
Sanchez came to came out of shape, admitted to it, showed up for practice late and was sent home. The information made it to the media.
Santana is not in pitching shape, the information made it to the media
What’s the difference? Why is one a smear and one not?
Duaner was remorseful after being called out for repeated incidents. That was to his credit, as it was a promise to turn the corner.
Johan has been more evasive and defiant. That is not the sign of someone who is on board. I expect Johan to rethink his habits and do better. But he just might not be the same physical pitcher to whom the Mets gave a boatload of money.
I would say your last statement (not the same pitcher) is an absolute given.
every player faces this eventually. Some deal with it better (more gracefully) than others, but they all have to do it at some point.
The devil is in the DETAILS
1 – “A frequent target of teammates’ ribbing because of his pot belly even before the accident, Sanchez arrived for spring training about 15pounds overweight. ”
2 – “Then the misty-eyed reliever apologized for repeated tardiness, which had prompted the manager to send him home from camp Thursday.”
Omar did not have to say a WORD to the press…..who are all over the place in Spring Training and could see this stuff for themselves…
thats not a smear campaign from the front office…
Seriously now, you don’t think the media is all over Santana, the best pitcher on the roster? Yeah, sure, they gave a relief pitcher like Sanchez more attention at ST, then a CY Young award winner that pitched his first no – hitter last year.
Stop kidding yourself now, they were all there, they all saw the bullpen, and remarked on it, including SNY media.
Luis Castillo, not Louis.
Got it, thanks.
I agree with the damned if you do/damned if you don’t comment from above.
Many of the same people that harp on Sandy for “lying” or not being honest, get all upset when he is asked a direct question about a specific (and significant) issue, and tells the plain truth.
I would bet if he dodged every question with a “no comment” he would get dumped on for that too.
anyway, reading what was actually said, to me did not resemble a “smear” campaign at all. If anything, just an early warning to the fans that they may not be seeing Johan opening day.
I do not believe this is a smear campaign. I believe this was simply a case of a GM who loves to hear himself talk, had one of his quotes bite him in the ass. This was a time that screamed out for a no comment or “we thought he’d be ready, but the key is having him ready for the entire season which is the important goal.”
In looking at Alderson it is important that you never confuse being articulate with being smart. They are not the same thing.
Don’t know if this was posted:
@AdamRubinESPN
OPINION: Before pointing finger at Johan, #Mets ought to do self-examination:
http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9010540/new-york-mets-season-already-looks-bleak
ahem…
“Now can they act shocked or even disappointed at the shape in which he arrived? Isn’t it the organization’s responsibility to have a specific off-season program?”
whaa???
What does this mean?
Whether or not an off-season conditioning program even exists (I don’t think contractually the team can require the player to specifically do anything beyond keeping themselves in reasonable condition), who is to say Santana (and Francisco) simply didn’t do it?
Ruben has his moments, this aint one of them … I for the life of me don’t understand what the point of the above article is. That these guys didn’t keep themselves in shape over the winter? As, Johan would say, isn’t that what Spring Training is for? How can he blame the team for players who don’t go above and beyond their contractual obligations?
Bayonne — The article you link to in no way exonerates Johan’s attitude and lack of physical fitness in 2013. Johan the Warrior, a guy I greatly admired, is Johan from a past season. Relative to any insight into the current Johan, the Rubin article is really just filler.
The part of this I just can’t reconcile with is why this has to be aired out to the press…Free agents across the league are watching and reading crap like this, and the mets as usual look like the clippers of the baseball world.
I feel the same way, why would Sandy go public with this?
Part of me honestly wonders whether it’s not enough that Fred and Jeff and the other suits at City field know that Sandy is in charge, whether its more about the PLAYERS knowing that Sandy is in charge.
Is Alderson a little drunk from power? Just a bit tipsy from the sound of is own voice?
I feel like Alderson’s comments were almost like a preemptive strike against a guy they suspected might not come out going “above and beyond” after an off season where the team sacrificed yet another superlative performer to a future that would not include Johan.
Matt — So much of the mishandling in the past was caused by Jeff. Omar was cut off at the knees when he tried to go ’round Jeff. It’s likely that Sandy wanted to stake out the reason for Johan’s likely lack of early 2013 performance. But in fact, I think the Mets abbreviated Johan’s recuperation time and minimized the difficulty of it. After all, they had to sell tickets.
“Is Alderson a little drunk from power? Just a bit tipsy from the sound of is own voice?”
no its just Sandy being Sandy….
in a small market…his constant feet in mouth moments dont become as big of a deal….
in NYC…with a much BIGGER and hungrier and angrier audience…hanging on every word…..it is a much bigger deal….
thats NYC
I feel like Sandy is too cool and calculating a character to speak out like this about Santana’s lack of preparation without some ulterior motive … is he trying to light a fire under Johan? Is he preempting any discontent among the team’s dwindling veteran presence? Is he minimizing the team’s lack of disclosure on Santana’s actual physical limitations? I don’t know, but I doubt Sandy is simply blowing steam, he’d have to actually care to be blowing steam. Sandy’s too much of an fancy talking automaton to vent.
Well it kind of makes you wonder why there hasn’t been a peep about Marcum showing up and not being ready to pitch doesn’t it?
Someone on the other thread hit the nail on the head I think, (can’t find the comment right now), Santana delayed the onset of his conditioning program so he could peak later in the year, giving him a better chance for another contract at the conclusion of this year. He’s no dummy. Alderson simply called him on it.
but that has NOTHING to do with Marcum…
can u answer that question?
But you’re right just, his cold methodical “I’m doing it my way and I don’t really care what you think” approach may not fly in the hyper emotional cauldron that is the NY sports scene … but it may not matter. It’s not like we can vote him out of office.
A bit of hyperbole by Rubin (and of course, only looking at the negatives).
as to the off season work, of course players are given a roadmap to follow. But the players are on their own time, and the team can’t force them to do anything. that falls squarely on the players to do.
How many times did Ruben use “alarming” in that piece? lol.
Rubin has always fancied himself a tough truth-teller and is always a glass-half empty guy. But he has been tough on every GM he has covered.
You obviously have not read rubins book “Omar, Pedro and Carlos” where Rubin sings the praises of Omar and his great plan to use Pedro to recruit all the players from the DR to want to come to the Mets.
Great article, Matt.
It gives a lot of insight to the personalities involved here. Santana lashed out at his old team the Twins when they didnt give him the best contract in MLB. That gives a pretty good look into his character. I loved the trade at the time like everybody else but for now all I can say is This is the final Omar boondoggle still on the team and the sooner he goes the better.