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In the New York Post, Steve Serby’s Sunday’s Q&A was with Johan Santana, who talks confidence, his hobbies, ‘three dinner guests,’ 
pitching under pressure and in the post season, Jose Reyes and his admiration of Rickey Henderson, among other things.
…this is a great interview, as are all of serby’s Q&As, which is a feature i have come to look forward to every weekend…
Santana, on confidence and winning a World Series, as quoted by Serby…
“You gotta be confident about the things that you want and the things you are capable to do. If everything goes right, we’re gonna have a pretty good chance to go into a World Series.”
…i have had the chance to talk with lots of people over the last week who know santana, or played with or coached him, and i keep hearing words like, “bulldog,” “focused,” and, “great teammate,” which is always nice to hear…talent aside, having his attitude and pedro’s attitude on the pitcher’s mound every few days all season long will help with this team’s confidence, all season long, no doubt…
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Thanks for the read Matt. I’m loving the confidence Santana is having, he’s bringing that swagger that we were missing the second half of last year. Let’s hope the 2006 magic returns and we can have our own parade.
screw the 2006 magic, let’s hope they bring back the 1986 magic ;)
Good interview, I already really like Johan. He sounds pretty intelligent & down-to-earth, but with an inner drive that all champions need to have. Also, call me old-fashioned, but I like the fact that he’s married to his 5th Grade sweetheart haha. Although, he did lose me a little bit when he said his favorite actor is Nicholas Cage…
Or worse, that is favorite actress is Sandra Bullock.
I did like when he said playing video games is his hobby. I’d love to sit down and play him in MLB 2k8. I would be the Mets and use Santana, he could be the Yankees and use Hughes. I’d whip his ass.
“I would be the Mets and use Santana, he could be the Yankees and use Hughes. I’d whip his ass.”
hilarious
Agreed. That he met his wife in 5th Grade either shows there were very few options or he’s REALLY loyal. The Nicholas Cage thing did make me not like him for .5 seconds. The only movie I like from him is Family Man with Tea Leoni. Besides that I hate Cage.
The Rock was good.
kiss of the vampire is the awesomest worst movie ever.
Leaving Las Vegas was also very good, although Elizabeth Shue does a mighty fine job as well.
oo, right…that was a great, and thoroughly depressing, movie.
I am not a Nicholas Cage fan either, but I loved National Treasure.
I’m with you, Nate. One of the qualities you look for in an ace is supreme confidence… something that Santana exudes. Only he doesn’t make bold proclamations like a Jimmy Rollins… rather it is a quiet confidence that comes with knowing your own capabilities.
I like it.
I like it a lot.
Man, I can’t wait for this season to start already….
Let’s Go Mets!
Retire #17 already.
I agree about one of the qualities you look for in an ace is CONFIDENCE. Santana obviously has a ton of confidence. As mentioned above, his ability to admit that his favorite actor is Nicholas Cage and his favorite actress is Sandra Bullock shows just how confident he is. He obviously has ice water running through his veins to say something like that in the New York Post. I love this guy already!
To me it always seemed like the entire team was more focused when Pedro was pitching, like they feed off his energy and resolve, they are determined to get him the win. Santana sounds like he will have that kind of effect too, which is a very good thing.
agreed but the combo of Pedro hopefully in a full season & Santana may even be better.. Pedro joking on the bench alone will be hilarious to see on the tube if he continues to be his joking self.
I love that Johan’s first dinner guest is Jordan. Shows he wants to be with the best of the best.
…or that he likes nikes
I love this guys confidence. I love his determination. I love that he seems like a regular guy behind the superhuman pitching abilities. I am going crazy. I know nothing happens when P&C’s report but that is the start and it mean opening day is right around the corner. I can’t wait.
I was just talking w/ a co-worker about Johan’s effect on other players wanting to come play w/ the Mets. It’d be a long way from now, but it doesn’t seem like Miggy will extend his contract. Maybe, after the 09 season he’ll want to follow fellow Venezuelan Santana to the Mets. Plus, he has the same agent as Alou and Pedro. Considering how good the Mets are w/ those two players, it’s gotta be good for us. F-mart plays 1st and a slim Cabrera in LF.
Liked the Q&A, especially what it reveals about his goals for his career, both from a team perspective and individual.
Interesting there were no questions about being the first pitcher to toss a no-no in team history? I also would have liked to see what his comment on moving from the AL to NL would be. It would be hilarious if it was something like:
NYT: So how much easier do you think it will be pitching against National League lineups, where the bottom third of the order is significantly weaker than those you faced in the American League?
Santana: “I think it’s really going to be unfair for those guys, especially the pitchers. I mean you really think David Wells can even come close to hitting my change up? Maybe I’ll pitch right handed to make it easier on them.”
“why are you smiling?”
[spanish accent] “Because I know something you do not know.”
“And what is that?”
“Iam not right handed!”
“My name is Johan Santana. You hit my changeup, prepare to die!”
In the words of the immortal Al Bundy…LETS ROCK! I can’t wait til opening day to see these two GREAT HOF pitchers compete and go at these “also ran” teams.
I love this guy already. He has a great attitude, puts things in the proper perspective.
“What a fantastic guy!”
Three dinner guests?
I’d invite Tom Seaver, Gil Hodges and Ralph Kiner….
That would be a dinner conversation!
RE: Video Games
There’s a great SI article on Santana I remember seeing a few years ago (after the first Cy), which mentions playing MLB 2K5 (I think) as part of his pre-start ritual… he actually “pitches” against the lineup he’s facing by way of research.