Can Johan Santana Win with the New York Mets or Does He Regret Signing?

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

As I glanced at the television screen earlier today, I noticed the MLB scores crawl along the bottom of ESPN2. The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York Mets 2-0 and Johan Santana suffered his seventh loss of the season. It made me think: How much is Santana regretting signing with the Mets?

Santana is a great pitcher. That goes without saying. In 10 seasons he has a career ERA of 3.13, 118 wins, 58 losses, two CY Youngs (2004 and 2006), the 2006 Triple Crown for pitchers, and more. 

The question is are the Mets a great team?

That answer is clear: no.

The Mets were just swept by the Phillies and are now three games under .500. Halfway through the season. They are currently on pace to win 78 games.

They are four games out of first and sit only above the Washington Nationals in the NL East.

Sure, four games out in July doesn't seem like much, but the way the Mets are playing, four games can seem like 10.

Their offense is not producing. The Mets are last in the entire league in home runs (50). Citi Field seems to be as productive to the Mets as Petco Park was to the Padres a few seasons back.

This is not to say that they aren't hitting the ball. They have the highest team batting average in the NL (.271), but they aren't getting the power that is expected. And they definitely aren't giving Santana the run support when he pitches.

Defensively, they are struggling. They are in the top 10 for most errors in the majors (55) and have the seventh-worst fielding percentage (.981).

Yes, the team is banged up, but injuries happen in all sports. That should really not be the excuse, should it?

Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, and Jose Reyes could all be healthy right now and I don't see this team doing anything. They would be certainly better, but not playing at the level that many project them at.

Is firing manager Jerry Manuel the proper solution?

I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure Santana is kicking himself for signing that seven year, $151 million contract back in 2008.

In his 10 seasons, he has only lost more than seven games once; he lost 13 in 2007, his final year in Minnesota. His second highest loss total was seven games back in 2005.

At the halfway point this season, Santana is already at seven losses. He's lost four of his last five starts. In three of his past five, he hasn't allowed more than two runs.

This past June saw Santana hold a 6.19 ERA for the month―worst in career.

Santana, and the rest of the organization, might be thrilled at the news that they have four players going to the All-Star Game (Beltran, Wright, Santana, Francisco Rodriguez) but that won't cut it.

In the end, Santana is a winner and wants to win. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to happen with the Twins, and I don't see it happening with the Mets, either.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?