Johan Santana: A Paycheck Pitcher?

Perception does not always equate with reality but in human interactions there is, perhaps, no greater “reality” than the impression we make upon another.  Over time, the once positive impression I had of Johan Santana has eroded into what I can only describe as simple disgust. 

Like most Met fans I have given him the benefit of the doubt based on his talent, his experience and his recent surgery.  Those are many possible reasons but there is simply no excuse for his failure to make the necessary adjustments to be successful.

On Friday he gave up four runs in the first inning, on the heels of three prior starts in which he gave up four runs in each game, not to mention three starts earlier in the year that ranged from poor (4/11: 5 IP, 5 ER vs. Washington) to disastrous (5/2: 3 2/3 IP, 10 ER vs Phillies). 

That game, was to me, the culmination of what the league has known for some time which is “wait for him.”  Simply wait for a man so infatuated with his change-up that he can no longer locate until he is forced to throw something else. 

Over the next five innings of Saturdays outing he gave up just on run.  He and Rod Barajas, according to Anthony McCarron of the Daily News, decided to go to the slider. 

The result; batters were off balance and once again began to chase his vaunted,...

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