When Ervin Santana made his major league debut, the lanky right hander was a highly touted prospect starting a day game in Cleveland in place of an injured Kelvim Escobar. The first four batters he faced HIT FOR THE CYCLE. And yet he remained in the game. He gave up 6 runs in 4 innings pitched that day and garnered the loss.
So his next start, at home, at night, he throws a complete game 5 hit shutout of the White Sox, striking out 7. His start after that he gives up 1 run in 6 and a third, only to see the bullpen blow it in the infamous Donnelly "Pine Tar" game.
And so it goes... one disaster, one masterpiece. Home night wins, day road losses, an eerie consistency with manager Mike Scioscia dismissing the voodoo of the dark greatness, the black magic, as a small sample size. Then each season started to see that happen - good year, bad year...
Ervin finished 2005 by relieving Bartolo Colon in the deciding game of the ALDS. Colon had torn a muscle and the rookie pitched 5 and a third innings allowing 3 runs to keep the Angels in what would be only their fourth ever postseason series win.
In 2008, Ervin finished 6th in the Cy Young voting. His K/BB ratio of 4.55 was best in single season franchise history. In 706 IP he ranks 5th in franchise history with 7.39 K/9 and cracked the exclusive Single Season K/9 franchise Top 10 at #9 with 8.79 in 2008 (Nolan Ryan holds 7 of the top 8 spots). HIs 51 Wins ranks 16th all time.
0 recs | 15 comments
I love Black Magic
When he is on his stuff has to be some of the nastiest in the bigs. Of course the flip side of that is when he is flat he is extremely hittable, luckily for us he’s been more nasty then hittable. Let’s hope next year is more fullfillment of his future ace potential
halofan4life - December 29, 2008
Ditto...
I love Ervin. I hope he keeps up the progress of last year and continues to develop into a legit #1 RH starter.
jimmuscomp - December 29, 2008
Ervin doesn't get enough props
I get so tired of reading posts about Brandon Wood. It’s nice to see one about a player who is already very good at a very young age. We may be paying Ervin a whole lotta money some day.
ArkAngel - December 29, 2008
Quickly
trade him for Tejada!
PhiSlamma - December 29, 2008
v0000000000000000d0000000000000000000000000
norcaliangelsfan - December 29, 2008
HEY ERVIN:
Please do that voodoo that you do so well!
Rev Halofan - December 29, 2008
In remembrance of the late Harvey Korman....
Hedley Lamarr: You will be risking your lives, whilst I will be risking an almost-certain Academy Award nomination for the Best Supporting Actor.
Taggart: What do you want me to do, sir?
Hedley Lamarr: I want you to round up every vicious criminal and gunslinger in the west. Take this down. I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers and Methodists!!!
Taggart: [finding pen and paper] Could you repeat that, sir?
Governor Le Petomane: Thank you, Hedy, thank you.
Hedley Lamarr: It’s not Hedy, it’s Hedley. Hedley Lamarr.
Governor Le Petomane: What the hell are you worried about? This is 1874. You’ll be able to sue her!
Fan Since 1981 - December 30, 2008
Where's Froggy?
red floyd - December 30, 2008
so bad year in 2009?
lets hope the trend ends.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - December 29, 2008
Santana is the next Ramon Ortiz
Ducks
BBFan1 - December 30, 2008
Yawn
On what do you base that assertion? Ramon Ortiz never had half the fastball or slider that Santana has, or did you not notice that Santana regularly buzzes his heater in at 95-97, while Ortiz was lucky to crack 90?
jjackflash - December 30, 2008
I was kidding
If he doesn’t revert back to his 2007 form, Santana is probably the Angels’ ace stuff wise.
Like I heard someone say [Steve Soliz, explaining at some Angels’ clinic], what made Santana nasty in 2008 was his ability to have command of his filthy stuff.
BBFan1 - January 1, 2009
Though I don't usually comment on Top 100
I read all of your Top 100 posts. Very subjective yet you put a lot of time and effort into it and it is appreciated. Keep up the good work. Of course, this is why we pay you the big bucks :)
vladtheimpaler - December 30, 2008
I attended that CG shut-out against the White Sox...
what a great home debut… one of my top-10 attended games at Anaheim Stadium.
Downing Rules - December 31, 2008
AnaheimHalos61 - December 31, 2008
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