In 2008, before knee surgery and elbow surgery, Santana’s fastball sat in the lows 90s and his changeup induced strikeouts 22.4 percent of the time, according to pitch tracking data from TexasLeaguers.com. Here in 2010? His fastball sits in the high 80s.
His changeup causes swinging strikes 15.8 percent of the time. His strikeout rate (6.51) is the lowest in his time as a starter.
via Mets ace Johan Santana needs shoulder surgery after MRI reveals tear | NJ.com.
Interesting analysis here:
http://www.othercrap.com/2010/09/new-york-mets-johan-santana-to-have.html
As for the Mets fumbling another injury, as an athletic trainer myself, I don’t think that’s necessarily the case here. Without evidence pointing you in that direction, you don’t just assume the worst, rarest scenario every time someone has an injury. Thinking it was a muscle strain, then investigating more deeply when Santana didn’t respond to normal rest & treatment was perfectly reasonable and nothing unusual.
That said, however, there’s nothing usual about a $72 million ace to begin with. When Johan Santana’s having shoulder problems, MRI him and be done with it. We don’t know, but the Mets may have done that instead of going the more conventional route were they not in the middle of a road trip.
The way they did handle it didn’t matter much in the end anyway. What’s a week when you’re talking 6 months to a year to fully recover?