Without No-Hitter, Would Mets Fans Still Love Johan Santana?

Added by Laura Ludlum on August 23, 2012.

Johan Santana threw this first no-hitter in Mets history earlier this season.

The Mets placed 33-year-old starting pitcher, Johan Santana, on the 15-day DL with no expectations for him to pitch again in 2012. This leads me to ask this question:

If Johan Santana doesn’t pitch the first no-hitter in Mets history, is he still beloved at this point?

2009: Sat out for the rest of the season on August 25 due to bone chips in his left elbow.

2010: Sat out for the rest of the season on September 3 due to a torn anterior capsule in his shoulder.

2011: Out the whole season recovering from surgery.

2012: 15-day DL stint for a sprained ankle.  Sitting out the rest of the season now due to inflammation in his lower back.

It’s a good thing the Mets aren’t making a run at the post-season because they would be down their star pitcher for the 4^th year in a row.  Is Santana getting a pass because fans think, “Well, the Mets are out of it, they don’t need Johan right now anyway?”  If that is the case, then why are they still so quick to jump down Jason Bay’s back?  Oh, it’s because he didn’t throw a no-hitter.  That makes everything okay I suppose.

I’m not trying to take anything away from Johan’s special game.  It was a major feat, not only for himself, but for the entire Mets organization.  It’s one of those “Where were you?” moments for any Mets fan.  However, one game doesn’t cut it.  This is a pitcher who is plagued by injuries, and, as we saw this season with his 6-9 record and his 4.85 ERA, injuries aren’t so easy to bounce back from.

Mets fans, lest we forget that this is a man who is being paid $25.5 million next season alone?  At this point, because of his health problems, his less than mediocre numbers, and his incredibly high salary, it would be nearly impossible to shop Santana around to other teams during the offseason.  Of course, if there were a team crazy enough to take him, I would let him go (pending us getting something good in return naturally).