Shutting down Johan

The Mets have placed LHP Johan Santana (6-9, 4.85) back on the 15-day DL with back inflammation. It looks like Johan will not pitch again this season. Since his no-hitter on June 1st, the first in Mets history, Johan has not pitched effectively. He came into the season just hoping that he would start the year with the Mets. He didn't pitch at all in 2011, coming off major shoulder surgery. There were no guarantees that he would ever pitch again. He pitched like an ace for the first two months of the season. After the no-hitter he had a 2.38 ERA. Then he threw the no-hitter and has struggled ever since. Since "NO-HAN," he is 3-7 with a 8.27 ERA. The Mets have to shut him down and protect the investment they made for next season. They owe him $25 million next season and they need him to pitch as well as possible. Johan has not been struggling because he is not a good pitcher anymore. His changeup is still one of the best in baseball. He can still get people out with his fastball and slider. Johan is struggling only because he is tired. Johan just needs to rest his arm, take some time off, and come back and make sure he's ready to compete for the mets next season. Johan is still a leader of this team. He is one of the few veterans the Mets have and he knows how to win games. The Mets were successful in the first half for a lot of reasons, and Johan Santana was certainly one of them. He is a great mentor for the young pitchers the Mets have coming up. Prospect Collin McHugh will make his MLB debut on Thursday, taking Johan's spot in the starting rotation. McHugh is 25 years old and scouts describe him as a pitcher similar to Dillon Gee. He was 5-5 with a 2.41 ERA this year for AA Binghamton and 2-4 with a 3.39 ERA for AAA Buffalo.