From Rich Lederer in his 1/23/09 Baseball Analysts column:

Using a metric of strikeouts per 100 pitches (which would combine strikeouts with pitch efficiency), the #7 pitcher (min 100 IP) in 2008 was Ervin Santana. Coming in at #18 is Johan Santana, who might one day be regarded as the other Johan Santana.

OK, not really, but the list is interesting and puts Ervin in some pretty good company (the top 10):

Rich Harden 7.37
Tim Lincecum 7.20
Joba Chamberlain 6.90
CC Sabathia 6.58
Josh Beckett 6.40
A.J. Burnett 6.33
Ervin Santana 6.24
Dan Haren 6.17
Edinson Volquez 6.08
Chad Billingsley 6.05

Interestingly, Ben Sheets didn't crack the Top 30, finishing at #39, which might indicate some reason why his arm is less than hardy, since he struck out 158 over 198.1 IP--he is apparently making a lot of pitches. JerWe, on the other hand, whom we know from observation never makes one pitch when five will do, is but 10 slots below Sheets, with a score of 5.00 to Sheets' 5.17 (Weaver logged 152K over 176.2 IP).

Seeing Volquez reminds us that while Josh Hamilton received a lot of well-deserved press for his season in Texas, the Reds did well with their end of the trade, too.

Lederer goes on to harsh the mellow of Angel fans by noting Joe Saunders' 17-win season wasn't supported by his Bottom 30/3.43 ranking and predicts a regression for Saunders to a 11-13 win season in 2009.

In all, though, it is interesting reading. As always, it is a means of evaluating a pitcher, but not necessarily the sole means.