Johan Santana will be introduced today at a press conference at Shea Stadium. Santana is arguably the best pitcher in baseball today. To honor this historic arrival for the Mets, I give you the 10 top left handed pitchers in Mets history (in order of arrival to the big leagues).

1. Tug McGraw (1965, 1967, 1969-1974) “You Gotta Believe” was the slogan that brought notoriety to the Mets bullpen ace during the 1973 season. Tug was an outstanding left hander who threw a screw ball as his main weapon. He was there for the first post season in ‘69 but in 1973 after an inspirational speech by M. Donald Grant of all people, Tug began chanting to his teammates and anyone else who listened to believe that they (the Mets) could pull off a miracle and get to the playoffs. And of course, they did, taking it all the way to the seventh game of the World Series. McGraw compiled a 3.17 ERA before he was traded to the Phillies for John Sterns and Del Unser in 1974. Tug struck out 618 batters and walked 350 while a Met. His 1973 World Series ERA was 2.63 in 13.2 innings of relief. McGraw went on to be as successful and beloved a Phillie as he was a Met.

2. Jerry Koosman (1967-1978) always pitched in the shadow of Tom Seaver. Because of that, Jerry is sometimes forgotten but no question, here was an outstanding left handed pitcher. Koosman came up in the 1967 season and played with the Mets through the doldrums of 1978. By the time Seaver was traded, it didn’t matter how well Koosman pitched because by then, the Mets were horrible. In Koosman’s first full year, 1968, he led the Mets with a 2.08 ERA and compiled a 19-12 record and was considered for Rookie of the Year honors. In 1969, Koosman won 17 games and pitched a complete game in the World Series clincher against the Orioles. Koosman’s career ERA with the Mets was 3.09. Unfortunately because he played on so many bad teams, his Mets record was only 140 wins and 137 losses. That includes 1977 when Jerry lost 20 games. In 1976, Koosman won a career high 21 games and was the single most reason the Mets posted a winning record that season. Koosman never lost a post season game. He was 1-0 in two NLCSs and 3-0 in two World Series. He appeared in the 1968 and 1969 All Star games. After the 1978 season, Koosman was dealt to Minnesota for another left hander, Jesse Orosco.

3. Jon Matlack (1971-1977) was the 1972 National League Rookie of the Year. Matlack gave the Mets another tremendous weapon to work along side of Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman. Matlack’s record as a Met was 82-81, once again a talented Mets pitcher that did not benefit from run support. Matlack struck out over 1000 batters while with the Mets and he pitched an amazing 65 complete games, 26 of those were shutouts. His Mets ERA was 3.03 and he posted his best record in 1976 when he won 17 games. Like many talented Mets players of the seventies he was traded away for washed up players. In this case, Matlack was traded to Texas after the 1977 season for Willie Montanez, Ken Henderson, and Tom Grieve. Of the three dominating starters of that era, only Jerry Koosman remained for one more season.

4. Jesse Orosco (1979, 1981-1987) came to the Mets as a farm hand from Minnesota after the 1978 season in the Jerry Koosman deal. Not many realized at the time how crucial this trade would be to the success of the 1980’s Mets. Orosco became one of the Mets closers during his career with the club. Who can forget Jesse launching his glove into the night sky on October 27, 1986 after he struck out Marty Barrett to win the game and the World Series. In 8 seasons with the Mets, Orosco won 47 and lost 47. He began his career with the Mets as a starter but in time he became a force out of the bullpen. Orosco was traded to the Dodgers after 1987 then ironically pitched against the Mets in the 1988 NLCS in which the Mets lost in seven games. The Mets reacquired Orosco in 1999 but before the season started he was dealt to St. Louis for Joe McEwing. Jesse had an amazingly long career from 1979 to 2003.

5. Sid Fernandez (1984-1993) On December 8, 1983 the Mets traded Bob Bailor and Carlos Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Ross Jones and left handed pitcher Sid Fernandez. After this trade was made, many scouts felt the Mets now had the two best young pitching prospects in baseball, Fernandez, and a teenage sensation named Dwight Gooden. Fernandez got into 15 games in 1984 compiling a record of 6-6. He struck out 62 batters that first year with a deceptive fastball and a big sweeping curve ball. Fernandez’s break out season came in 1986 when he won 16 games, struck out 200 batters, and pitched over 200 innings. Sid played an important part during the seventh game of the 1986 World Series when he relieved a stumbling Ron Darling. With the Mets trailing 3-0, Fernandez pitched brilliantly, firing up his teammates as they stormed back to win the clinching seventh game. Through 1993, the portly left hander compiled a 3.19 ERA with 1449 strikeouts. Sid’s record while with the Mets was 98 and 78. He threw 23 complete games and 9 shutouts. His ERA in the 1986 World Series was a stingy 1.35. Fernandez appeared in the ’86 and ’88 All Star games pitching an inning in each never giving up a hit or a run. Sid signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles for the 1994 season.

6. Bobby Ojeda (1986-1990) Prior to 1986, the Mets traded Calvin Schiraldi and others to the Red Sox for left hander Bobby Ojeda. Bobby was a crafty left hander with not a lot of over powering stuff. But one thing Ojeda did do well was get batters out. He led the Mets with wins in 1986 with 18. He also won two games in the post season, one against Houston and game three of the World Series against his former club, the Red Sox. After the ’86 season, Ojeda severely cut a finger on his pitching hand with hedge trimmers. He did make 10 starts at the end of the ’87 season. Bobby compiled a 51-40 record with the Mets before he was traded to the Dodgers after the 1990 season. His Mets ERA was 3.12. He threw 9 shutouts while pitching for the Mets.

7. John Franco (1990-2004) is the greatest Mets closer of all time. Acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in 1990 for Randy Myers, Franco saved 276 games for the Mets. While wearing a Mets uniform, Franco became the all time saves leader for a left hand pitcher. Franco pitched for the Mets for 14 seasons pitching in 695 games. Having lived through the lean years of the 90s, John had tears in his eyes on October 16, 2000 when the Mets won the National League pennant. Franco required Tommy John surgery during the 2003 season. He pitched for the Mets again in 2004 then went to Houston as a free agent in 2005 before retiring after the season.

9. Al Leiter (1990-2004) was traded from the Florida Marlins in February of 1998. The Mets gave up pitcher A.J. Burnett and two other players. Leiter, who came up through the Yankee system and who grew up in New Jersey as a Mets fan, had won World Series championships with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Florida Marlins. Needing a front line starter the Mets were able to pry Leiter from the Marlins at a time when Florida was looking to clear salary. The Mets just missed the playoffs in 1998 but to no fault of Al. Leiter won 17 games and lost only 6 in his first year in New York. In 1999, the Mets ended the season in a tie for the NL Wild Card with the Reds. Leiter shutout the Reds 5-0 in a one game playoff the day after the regular season ended. The win propelled the Mets into the playoffs. The Mets returned to the World Series in 2000. Leiter pitched in game 1 and in game 5. He did not win either but he deserved a better fait. His ERA in the two games against the Yankees was 2.87. During 7 seasons with the Mets, Leiter won 95 while losing 67. Leiter ended his Mets career with 1106 strikeouts, an ERA of 3.42, and pitched 7 shutouts. He signed with Florida as a free agent in 2005.

8. Mike Hampton (2000) did not think much of New York schools but he did a lot to help the Mets win the pennant in 2000. He was traded from Houston for Roger Cedeno and reliever Octavio Dotel. In 2000, Mike’s regular season record was 15-10. His ERA for his lone Mets season was 3.14. He won 2 games in the NLCS against St. Louis including a 7-0 3 hit shutout that clinched the Mets first pennant in 14 years. He signed with Colorado after the 2000 Season.

9. Tom Glavine (2003-2007) signed as a free agent for the 2003 season. The All Star Brave was brought in to help the Mets turn the corner after the Valentine years ended. In the beginning, Glavine mostly struggled as a Met. He was a below .500 pitcher in his first 3 years with the Mets. He probably should have won many of those games but the Mets seemed to never be able to give the crafty lefty any run support. His best season came in 2006 when Tom posted a 15-7 record. Pitching Coach Rick Peterson helped Glavine reinvent himself. The results were positive as Tom helped the 2006 club to their first division title in 18 years. Glavine finished the 2007 season and his Mets career with a forgettable effort against the Washington Nationals. In a game the Mets needed to win to tie for the division, Glavine gave up 7 runs in the first inning. Overall Glavine performed well for the Mets winning 61 and losing 56. He won his 300th career game last season in Chicago. He resigned with Atlanta this off season.

10. Oliver Perez (2006 to present) After Duaner Sanchez was injured in a car accident in 2006, Omar Minaya traded outfielder Xavier Nady to Pittsburgh for Roberto Hernandez and underachieving left handed pitcher Oliver Perez. Once Rick Peterson got a hold of Perez, things started to change for the talented left hander. Perez became a powerful force in the 2006 playoffs as pitchers Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez became unavailable due to injury. Perez pitched in two crucial games for the Mets against St. Louis in the NLCS. Perez was on the mound in game 7 keeping his team alive but the Mets bats were never able to muster enough to overcome Jeff Suppan’s pitching. Last season Perez posted a 15-10 record and established himself as one of the better left handed pitchers in the game.

Johan Santana (2008…) joins the Mets as the most expensive pitcher of all time. Traded from Minnesota just days ago, Santana will be expected to lead the Mets staff and get them back to the playoffs. Last year Santana only won 15 games, as much as Oliver Perez and John Maine. But most feel he is baseball’s best pitcher and can only help the Mets to where they want to go. In a pitcher freindly park pitching in the National League, hopefully Johan Santana will eventually be named as one of the best left handed pitchers to ever wear a Mets uniform.

Honarable Mention

Al Jackson – Al will never get to the hall of fame but this lefty did have some good stuff at times. He pitched with the Mets from the beginning going 8-20 in 1962. In that inaugural year, Jackson pitched 12 complete games including 4 shutouts. Not bad considering the Mets only won 40 games that season. Jackson pitched with the Mets through 1965. He came back in 1968 and played some in ’69, the World Championship year. With the Mets, Jackson compiled a 4.26 ERA with a 43-80 record including 10 shutouts and 41 complete games. He struck out 561 while walking 304.

Frank Viola (1989-1991) At the trade deadline of 1989, the Mets sent pitchers Rick Aguilera, David West, Kevin Tampini, and a couple of low level minor leaguers to Minnesota for All Star left hander Frank Viola. This was a trade designed to get the Mets back into the race. It didn’t. At the time of the trade the Mets were 7 games out in the NL East. They finished 6 games out and failed to win 90 games for the first time in 6 seasons. Viola finished the ’89 season 5-5. Frank won 20 games in 1990 and pitched almost 250 innings but the Mets missed getting to the playoffs again. After a losing season in 1991 when Viola won just 13 games, he signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Billy Wagner (2006…) is one of the best relievers in the game. He certainly had his share of ups and downs with the Mets. Billy struggled his first year with the Mets but did manage to save 40 games. Last season, Billy was brilliant through the middle of August. But Wagner struggled through the remainder of the season and blew a crucial game in late September against the Marlins. After two seasons, it’s a tough call to make in terms of Billy cracking the top 10 list. No doubt he has the talent.