Johan Santana

Scott Boras · Post by **Scott Boras** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:35 am

Every year more fantasy players are avoiding the risk of taking a pitcher in the first 3 rounds. Every year John Santana has been money in the bank to those willing to take the risk. Is this THE dreaded year? Will Johan finally disappoint those who jump the gun?

His strikeouts have declined each of the past 3 seasons despite pitching in the NL last year while his WHIP has increased for 5 straight seasons! Granted, he was so ridiculously good that his WHIP HAD to increase eventually, but with declining velocity and after coming off knee surgery, the recent concerns of stiffness in his elbow has to be raising some eyebrows.

The man has his money and his contract, and with equally attractive options going in the late 3rd and early 4th rounds (Lincecum and Sabathia), how early is too early to draft Santana?

Greg covered this indirectly in his recent Rotoworld blog, and I have noticed early drafts being VERY hitter driven. It will be very interesting to see Santana's ADP trend leading into the main event. We all know GG is looking at him in the middle of the first and Crazy is praying he can steal him in the second

When would YOU draft Johan Santana in the main?

Dickie V · Post by **Dickie V** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:38 am

Johan Santana has been scratched from his scheduled start today because of pain in his elbow

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:28 am

i won't be drafting santana. i am going the doughboys route- if you are fat- you are mine. cc for me in the second. if you are fat- you are on my team. tough to get the sb's though. but hanly put on 20 ilbs of muscle- so maybe i will have to tweak it a little to get some sb's. being a sox fan- i could start out with wilbur wood and get 55 starts from a fat guy. funny how that worked.

The Mighty Men · Post by **The Mighty Men** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:40 pm

Originally posted by headhunters:

i won't be drafting santana. i am going the doughboys route- if you are fat- you are mine. cc for me in the second. if you are fat- you are on my team. tough to get the sb's though. but hanly put on 20 ilbs of muscle- so maybe i will have to tweak it a little to get some sb's. being a sox fan- i could start out with wilbur wood and get 55 starts from a fat guy. funny how that worked. And now, coming in from the bullpen....Bartolo Colon!!

616Fantasyguy · Post by **616Fantasyguy** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:42 am

I wouldn't be too concerned with Johan falling victim to the injury bug this year. While his era and whip could go up, I have to believe his wins will be up and his k's should be at or above where they were last year. I think he's a great steal in mid to late round 2.

Don't be overly concerned with him resting his "sore elbow". It was a little stiff and it was only a B game tune up. He's still on schedule to start Tuesday which was originally set to be his first start of spring.

It's time to worry a little if he doesn't make his start Tuesday.

freddiezee · Post by **freddiezee** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:06 am

And right on cue......

the Mets announced that Santana has also been skipped for Tuesday.

In 2008 the most talked about elbow in March was attached to Pujols, in 2009 it will be attached to Santana.

Don't forget that once the real baseball season began, we didn't hear much about Pujols' elbow anymore.

People we too busy praising his stats.

If Santana goes out and wins opening day you might not hear anything about the elbow again, expect a lot of NFBC owners silently wondering why they let the number one pitcher get to the third round. I'm sure that a lot of drafters in the 8-13 range were feeling the same pain about Pujols last year.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have to downgrade Santana on my draft list!

[ February 28, 2009, 06:07 AM: Message edited by: freddiezee ]