Lost in the midst of April's blitzkrieg of Flavors of the Week is a 25 year old righty who has logged over 500 innings at the Major League level. He's shown flashes of brilliance, flashing a mid-90s fastball and a nasty, hard slider. I am talking, of course, about the Dominican Republic's very own Ervin Santana of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the state of California of the United States of America of North America of planet Earth.
You know, "the guy who can't pitch on the road". Remember him? The pitcher who everybody loved as a breakout candidate in 2007, only to give up on him at some point last season. Sure his huge disparity in his Home/Road splits was puzzling (3.27/1.27 vs. 8.38/1.84 in '07, 3.08/1.16 vs. 6.85/1.59 Career), but this season Ervin has looked like an Ace away from California (3.72/1.14 in 19.1 IP), and even studlier at his home park (1.93/0.86 in 14 IP). In fact, his 2.97 ERA is currently better than that other Santana's (3.12 for the Mets this season).
In 33.1 innings of work in 2008, Santana has made 26 bats miss, issuing just 8 free passes and 3 balls to leave the park. He's gone into Ameriquest Field, the Metrodome, and Comerica Park, and come away with a Win at each stop, adding another Win at his home Angel Stadium, for a 4 - 0 record in April. He's pitching great on the road and at home, on turf and on grass, at night and during the day, and especially vs Righties, who can't seem to tough Ervin's stuff (.164 BAA).
If, by some chance, he's available in your league (he's probably not), grab him immediately -- I don't care if it's an 8-team mixed league. He should be owned in all formats. He's good. Not sub-3.00 ERA good, but he's putting it together; reaching potential. Not bad considering the guy wasn't even a lock to crack Anaheim's 5-man rotation this Spring.
Santana has shown this potential, posting a 1.23 WHIP in 204 innings in 2006, leading many to have lofty 2007 expectations. In 2008, the hype is gone, but the talent isn't, and the numbers are following. And here's news, this isn't a surprise to me. By the time everybody had grown tired of watching their ratios take beatings by Santana last season, he finally decided to put together a September to remember.
27.1 IP, 30 K, 13 BB, 2.96 ERA, 1.28 WHIP in 4 starts and 2 relief appearances; a .218 BAA. All Ervin has done is taken that ball and rolled it into 2008, leading many to remember the predictions they had for him in '07. I was only bold enough to draft him in 1 league (Andy Behrens' Yahoo! Mockery), and wish I hadn't listened to those saying I wasted my time on a guy who may not make the rotation, and taken him in my drafts that followed.
Buy high, folks. This kid is good, he's 25, and he's making the naysayers eat their own words, at least for the time being.
Extra Credit Question:
Ervin Santana changed his name in 2003. What was it formerly?
Until next time...
His name is "Magic", Ervin "Magic" Santana.
Ervin doesn't like day games much either.
Ervin takes the bump at home tomorrow vs Oakland, who in 10 GP (9 GS) has put together a 0.93 WHIP, 1.38 ERA, and a 7 - 1 record. I hope everyone's starting the kid...
No doubt about it. If Ervin keeps ahead of the counts against a rather patient team, he'll be golden.
By the way, you bums, he changed his name from Johan Santana.
If it doesn't say that on Wikipedia, I don't believe you.
Just an update:
As much as I like Ervin Santana this season, I moved him in a multi-player deal in my 12-team mixed roto...
M. Teixeira/J. Soria/J. Putz/M. Cain
for
R. Howard/B. Wagner/B. Sheets/E. Santana
Moral of the story: even if you're high on a player and think he'll have a strong season, don't marry yourself to him and be afraid to include him in a deal if you think its better for your team overall. Whether the one I made is or isn't is yet to be determined; but I clearly think it suits my needs.
I know what you mean Big man. I've just traded McLouth for Kazmir. I've been McLovin' all season, and he has helped carry some of my slower starters, but with Hill's demotion, trading away Cain (as part of the deal to get Utley), Cueto looking less like Liriano 06 version and more like Liriano 08 version in recent starts, and Smoltz's return to the pen I'm in desperate need of SP.
I'm hoping Kazmir can solidify my rotation, and Hawpe / Kotchman / Quentin can fill OF / Util between them.
Since I moved Ervin, he threw the 4-hit shutout the next night in Kansas City (who at least has a better offense than San DIego), and has since had 2 rough outings in Tampa Bay and then at home against Torre's boys. The two outings have raised his ERA almost a full point, but he's still sitting under 3.00 with a 1.01 WHIP, and I still think he'll be a nice contributor all season. That said, if you can get value for him based on his season numbers still looking dirty, don't hesitate to do so.
I think the scorching weather was a factor in leading Ervin to expending more pitches than he needed to last time out. His location was a bit off, but he should be fine.