Is Johan Santana Back?

When the Mets picked up Johan Santana and gave him a huge contract, he was the best pitcher in baseball. However, since that trade that brought him to New York, Santana's career had seemed to be going downhill. Downhill until this year at least.

Last year, Johan Santana did not even pitch a game. He also underwent elbow surgery. That surgery ends most people's careers, but not Johan Santana. Johan is pitching fantastic again this season. He has a 2.38 ERA. Opponents are only hitting .184 against Santana this season. To top all of that off, he has two complete game shut outs this season. One of which was the brilliant no-hitter yesterday against the defending world champion Cardinals.

Actually as I checked last night, the rumors of Santana's demise were greatly exaggerated. Other than last year, when Santana was injured, he had been fantastic with the Mets.
In 2008 he was 16-7 with a 2.53 ERA
In 2009 he was 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA
In 2010 he was 11-9 with a 2.98 ERA
His worst season prior to this year, he barely had an ERA above 3.
This year though, appears to be his best with the Mets and he seems to once again be among baseball's elite pitchers.

-Noland