Why The Mets Should Shut Down Johan For The Season

Johan Santana pitched last week for the first time since having shoulder surgery last September. He went three innings, striking out three on two hits. Santana will fly to New York this week instead of continuing his rehabilitation assignment because of lingering discomfort. He will be checked Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery. “It will either be reassuring, or we’ll step back to see where we are,” Alderson said before the Mets were to play the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.

Alderson said Monday that Santana’s second rehabilitation start had been pushed from Wednesday to Thursday. If everything goes well with the examination on Thursday, Santana would be cleared to make his second rehab start but that won't happen until Monday at the earliest.

I personally do not see a reason for bringing Johan back this year. Shutting him down would be the best possible solution for the Mets because we need Santana 100% healthy for the 2012 season. Yes I understand that we are still in the mix for the wild card only being seven and a half games back behind the Braves, but a healthy Johan is something we really need. Johan is currently in the fourth year of a six-year, $137 million contract, Sandy Alderson has said the Mets were not rushing Santana to return this year. “Right now, a window in September is open to us,” Alderson said, “but if it closes, that’s the way it goes.”

With the obvious signs of Johan still experiencing pain in his shoulder, Alderson and the Mets need to see whats best for him going forward. Johan currently has a career ERA of 3.10 and 133 wins on his resume. Hopefully Alderson and the Mets do the right thing in shutting him down so we can have our Ace ready for April 2012. When healthy, Santana has shown how dominate he can be and that is lacking in the Mets current rotation. Mike Pelfrey lacks being an Ace and he is more likely a good number 4 or 5 starter at best. As Mets fans we can only hope for the best for Johan and that he makes a speedy recovery.

Johan's best season as a New York Met came in 2008, going 16-7, 2.53 ERA and 206 strikeouts. Since then he has battle with a knee problems and elbow discomfort. With the Mets he is 40-25 with 600.0 innings pitched, 496 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.85 in 3+ seasons.

Follow Johan on twitter - @johansantana

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