Thursday, January 22, 2009

Will Johan Santan stay healthy in 2009

With spring training about 3 weeks away the Mets are still looking for another free agent pitcher to round out there staff. The ace of the staff had knee surgery right after the season ended. Of course we do not know how it will affect him until he starts pitching at spring training. Tim D over at Roto Authority which you can check out here Is claiming that with all the pitches he threw in 2008 that he is more likely to have an arm injury.

Below are the most pitches pitchers pitched of at least 3500 pitches in 2008. It includes playoffs and Meyers what he might have pitched in spring training as an estimate.


Cole Hamels - 3914
C.C. Sabathia - 3912
Brett Myers - 3781
Jon Lester - 3738
Tim Lincecum - 3682
A.J. Burnett - 3650
Matt Cain - 3606
Johan Santana - 3598 most in his career
Roy Halladay - 3560
Gil Meche - 3555
Joe Blanton - 3547
Chad Billingsley - 3543
James Shields - 3543
Justin Verlander - 3528
Ervin Santana - 3526


He goes on to mention that he has seen anywhere from 15 to 60% of pitchers that have over 3500 pitches have some sort of arm injury the next year. Well we know that Johan is not included in that. 2008 was the first year he threw over 3500 pitchers. He has had 2 years of over 3400 pitches. The following year his records were 16-7 with a 2.8 era and 15-13 with a 3.3 era. Johan has started at least 33 games in his first 5 years in the majors. We will see him do the same I am sure in 2009

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