Johan Santana or just Johan Satan?

[Mazz]

Santana isn't the Santana of a few years ago...his fastball isn't what it once was and his slider is a notch down as well. With that said he is and will be a top 3 SP for the next few years but he isn't the end all be all #1 in my mind anymore. This has nothing to do with his stats, which are good, but if you've seen him pitch over the years you know that his stuff isn't what it once was. He's still a stud....I'm just sayin'

lmao.

[thedude]

Yeah yeah yeah "it's too early to tell." "he's a second half pitcher," blah blah blah. What's up? For the first pitcher taken off the board, what's up? Any takes on what's going on with the "stud?" I'm thinking of pitching Volquez, Cliff Lee, etc. over him every week.

Caveat emptor. Because of guys like Lee and Volquez it is always a risk when you take a pitcher in round one.

[Inukchuk]

Santana isn't the Santana of a few years ago...his fastball isn't what it once was and his slider is a notch down as well. With that said he is and will be a top 3 SP for the next few years but he isn't the end all be all #1 in my mind anymore. This has nothing to do with his stats, which are good, but if you've seen him pitch over the years you know that his stuff isn't what it once was. He's still a stud....I'm just sayin'

lmao.

I don't get it. Are you using cutesy text talk because you don't think he'll be a top 3 guy, or because you think his stuff is as good as it was a few years ago?

[The Artful Dodger]

i dont think anyone is saying Santana is bad, but hes not performing as expected. i didnt draft Johan but i traded for him early on. i was thinking i was going to be getting the performance from Johan that others have gotten from Lee. Johan going to the NL was supposed to be an easier league, i was expecting someone who would dominate. i was expecting someone who at this point of the season would have attleast 2 games(maybe more) with 0 ER, but he hasnt even had 1.
i want to see the numbers he had in 2006, not 2007.

I think a good deal of those who believed Johan would be the clear-cut runaway #1 ace, with top 5 draft pick status in hand for 2009, overrated what the move to the NL would entail. As Jason pointed out, it's more about his stuff not quite being up to scratch for Johan's lofty standards, especially that slider. The result is a continued penchant to give up a HR every now and then. I think Johan will be a top 3 SP by season's end, but there's a good chance he doesn't elevate himself to 1st round status.

[Field]

Santana isn't the Santana of a few years ago...his fastball isn't what it once was and his slider is a notch down as well. With that said he is and will be a top 3 SP for the next few years but he isn't the end all be all #1 in my mind anymore. This has nothing to do with his stats, which are good, but if you've seen him pitch over the years you know that his stuff isn't what it once was. He's still a stud....I'm just sayin'

I completely agree J, well said. The miledge on his arm seems to be slowly creeping up on him.