Looking back at 2004 - Part 5 of 5 - Johan Santana's run to the Cy Young

From the Seats, December 31, 2004

MINNEAPOLIS - Johan Santana started the season in the rotation behind Brad Radke, to make it his first full season in the starting rotation. He had a mediocre start to the season, by June 3rd he was 2-4 with a 5.51 ERA, nothing to special.

He lost two games in July, one to the White Sox, 2-1 and the other to the Tigers, 2-0, that would be the last lost of the season for Johan. He took off in the second half going 11-0 pitching 85.1 innings, with a 1.27 ERA, 104 K's, 18 BB and an opponents batting average of .148. And this from a guy who didn't make the All Star team!

Just because Johan plays for the Twins and is in the Central division does not mean he got half of his wins in the second half from Detroit or KC, no, he went head to head with the big boys and mowed them down.

Johan Santana beat the Royals three times, the White Sox twice, Red Sox, A's, Mariners, Yankees, Rangers, Angles, Orioles and Indians. He would have beaten the Yankees for the second time if the bullpen could have held it together.

Not only did he beat these teams, he dominated them, striking out players, not just getting them out. Against the O's September 19th he struck out 14 birds, a career high. In that game Johan pitched 8 innings, the score was 5-1 and Joe Nathan came in for the 9th, he was booed by fans for it, the first time I have ever seen a fan favorite such as Joe Nathan booed when he came into a game. I think a note needs to be made that Nathan was not being booed, instead Ron Gardenhire for pulling Johan, but no reason to risk injury.

November 11th it was announced that Johan Santana won the Cy Young anonymously, only the 7th time that a player has gotten all first place votes for Cy Young. I think the best part about it was that Johan was the same person from the start of the year to when it was announced he won, players and coaches say that and you could tell from his interviews. Congrats again Johan!

I hope you have enjoyed this look back at 2004. It was not the best year, in both baseball terms and non baseball, but it certainly wasn't the worst either. Have a safe and happy end to 2004!