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In last night’s win against the Phillies, Johan 
Santana let up just two runs on five hits while walking three and striking out six in to the seventh inning.
The last time Santana allowed more than three runs in a start was more than seven weeks ago in Cincinnati.
He has allowed three runs or less in 90 percent of his 30 starts this season, during which the Mets are 18–12.
The Mets are 7–0 in Santana’s last seven starts.
His 2.70 ERA is third best in the National League, behind Tim Lincecum (2.60) and Jake Peavy (2.63).
In the Star-Ledger, Dan Graziano writes, among other things:
“This September is not last September, no matter how much familiar noise the Phillies may have made in the first two games of this series. Last September, the Mets had no pitching - no one, in the rotation or the bullpen - who was capable of getting a single big out. This year, they have Ollie Perez and Mike Pelfrey. They have a stunningly tough Luis Ayala and about 83 other relievers with whom their manager can play late-inning matchups. And they have Johan Santana.”
Santana, when asked if a game like last night is why he was acquired by the Mets, among other comments, from his talk with reporters following last night’s game:
“I knew it was going to be a tough match, but at the same time I knew I had to step it up…It’s definitely one of the reasons why I am here. I’m up to the challenge…I was able to make adjustments, stay focused throughout the game and wait for my teammates to score some runs and that’s what happened…When the game is on the line, you have to step it up and do your job. I wasn’t trying to do anything crazy. In that situation there I have to do whatever it takes to stop those guys and trying to win the game. That’s pretty much it…
“We still have a long way to go, but, like I said, we trust each other and we’re having fun and we don’t let anybody down.”
Santana later told reporters that he and his team are confident, adding, “We just have to continue doing it, because we know we can get it done.”
For more on Santana, read John Harper in the Daily News.
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from the second inning on santana looked unhitable (except for the howard hr) i was at the afternoon game and ill tell ya pedro until the dobs hr didnt look bad there were just some badly played balls ie tatis failing to catch that ball in the second and thejose/ evans botched pop up - but still our offence was sleepwalking until the 8th anyway
Sorry to back track to Game Two, but I was really surprised not to see either from Metsblog writers or any single blogger any discussion of Tatis’ play in RF.
Yes some good balls were hit against Pedro, but if Endy was playing RF instead of Tatis, I think the game would have been very different. Tatis played tortured defense at least on three balls, which all dropped in. If Endy played defense those innings could have gone very differently.
btw it was nice to see joan and gil hodges jr take down the the number to reveal # 14 who did the evening game?
Al Jackson and some old-time scout. (Sorry, didn’t catch his name.)
Wish it was Fonzie, but they did honor him with a tribute on diamond vision, which got a nice pop from the crowd
hopefully he’ll be at the ceremony they are holding with all the Mets past players
Really? I am really sorry I missed that. I hope the tribute video gets posted somewhere. Fonzie’s my all time fave. Wore his jersey to the afternoon game yesterday (not that it did much good).
Santana is remarkable.
Such poise, such gut, such confidence!
Santana is worth every penny.
YES HE IS!
Been saying it all year…Santana is worth everything invested in him. Like the topic said new players new september.. guarenteed. Santana stepped it up big time and not to mention delgado…
Santana should be in the lead (with Lincecum) for the NL Cy Young. Ahead of both Webb and Sabathia.
Santana leads all MLB with 24 quality starts. He is second in the NL in ERA behind only Lincecum. There is no more consistent elite starter in baseball right now than Santana.
And for all those who whine about him not going longer into games, he is 2nd in the NL in IP/start.
He is worth every penny.
Unfortunately the writers look at wins first, second, and then third, and then I guess they might look at ERA. But I am totally with you. When it came down to big pressure starts, Webb choked in his on Saturday, and Santana pitched like a true Cy Young last night. It shouldn’t even be a contest.
You are right, unfortunately. I know it’s not the same as the MVP award, but I think something has to be said for someone who steps up when it matters, which Santana has done and Webb has not (so far). And as good as Lincecum has been this year, he’s pitching under zero pressure for a team that has nothing to play for in what is probably the worst division in baseball.
I would have no problem with Lincecum winning it, because he’s been so good this season. But if the writers are debating between Webb and Santana, the only front where Webb beats Santana is wins. So you’d basically be punishing Santana for the Mets having a crappy bullpen. And you can’t say he hasn’t competed, since he’s second in the league in average IP per start.
But if Santana misses out on the Cy Young but is pitching in the World Series? I’d take that trade off.
He’s pretty much been everything we’ve needed him to be and even more. I just think he brings a calming presence to this ballgame, and like what you said, somebody who can FINALLY get the big outs!
As much as we scream about it, the bullpen this year is much better too. and since we have 89 pitchers in the bullpen, it fits better to Manuel’s managing style.
Dan Graziano wasn’t paying attention last year? You could argue that the Mets huge lead made them not big outs, but the Saturday performance by Maine? Huge.
This is all very well and good that the Mets stepped up, or should I say Santana and Delgado, as well as Feliciano, Stokes and Ayala stepped up and avoided the sweep.
But there is an enormous amount of green left, 19 games. 6 vs. Washington, 6 vs. Atlanta before the final 7 game homestand.
yes the Mets handled the Phillies much better this year, even given some truly brutal losses in the mix, but what killed the Mets most of all last September is what lurks Tuesday night an absolutely miserable team with nothing to lose.
I will give Manuel credit for this notification to his team that if you score 2 runs in 2 games, it does not matter who you play you are going to struggle to compete.
I don’t think it is unreasonable to say that with these 12 games in the next two weeks the Mets have got to take advantage big time.
I agree that the Mets lost to teams like Nats and Marlins last year to lose the division, but I think it’s different this year. The Mets lately have been beating the ‘bad’ teams unlike last year.
I could “think” it is different this year but until the results are in what has happened to date won’t change anything.
The Phillies have 6 against the Marlins and 6 against the Braves. Then they get that Nationals at home to finish the season just like last year. The Mets we know have 6 against the Nationals and also 6 against the Braves and finish just like last year also with 3 at home against the Marlins. How the teams fare against the division before the final week will determine a great deal.
One thing I really like about Santana is that he hustles like crazy on defense. Like that play when Hamels bunted and Santana hurried over to get Coste out at second base. A lot of pitchers would probaly opted to just throw over to first base, but I saw Santana pushing the envelope and really try to get every single out.
And he is the best hitter among the Mets pitchers.
When you think of all the major acquisitions the Mets have made over the years, can you think of any one that’s not a catcher (Carter and Piazza) that so completely lived up to the hype and expectations as has Santana?
well you can argue Beltran…he struggled in 2005 but was in top form in 2006. The thing with him is that the hype and expectations were unrealistic and over the top. They were based off his October performance in 2004 and that was just an exceptional unrepeatable performance.
Pedro Martinez gave the Mets a thrill his first year with the Mets, I know the rest of the years on his deal weren’t that great but I mean, it was still something else when he came to the Mets. I’m still young so I can’t think of any in the current ERA in Mets history that major acquisitions were made that turned out well for the Mets. I could probably think of more bad ones than good.
good point on Pedro, I remember seeing him a few times at Shea in early 2005, and that place was electric just to see him.
I think the Pedro signing will be much debated over the years, but I tend to agree with you. The overall impact of the signing was probably worth it by itself. Plus he was pretty darned good for a year and a half before the injuries finally caught up with him.
As for Beltran, I thought of him as well. His first year wasn’t so hot, but he’s been a consistently excellent overall player for thee years now.
I also forgot Mex. The Keith Hernandez trade turned around the franchise in 1983, and he was as good as advertised.
In terms of immediate impact, the Santana acquisition is probably the second or third best major acquisition the Mets have made.
Yeah, good point. It’s hard to argue with the Hernandez acquisition, especially since (like Santana) he was expected to immediately be one of if not THE team leader. Tyrannosaurus Mex did that and waaaay more within three years. I’m talking about hardware here, a little something for the ol’ trophy case.
Santana has done very well, but I think his best is yet to come. I still remained alarmed that his k-rate is down.
This team will not fold like last years team. Last years team didn’t look confident and crumbled in big spots and a manager that let them crumble in big spots. Manuel won’t let that happen, he will use everyone in the bullpen he has to to keep guys fresh and keep their confidence up.
No, Manuel is not God or a miracle worker but he knows how to use a bandaid well as evidence with mixing and matching and using the lefties with the left handed hitters and so on in the bullpen. He uses the players that is given to him and makes sure they all stay in the game.
The one big thing that could go wrong or possibly the second is if David Wright is in a big situation where the Mets need a basehit and he wraps into a doubleplay. He is either tired or has lost confidence along the way.
Seriously though, if the Mets scoring chances rest on Wright’s shoulders, Mets could be in trouble but hopefully very soon Wright snaps out of it.
ugh…another comment of mine dropped. thats two today.
In summary…I agree and Manuel does not manage like WIllie “I’m stubborn” Randolph
Patience is a virtue, however, not held by many a NY sports fan. Earlier in the year, many people were wondering, “where is the ace in Santana?” People kept on saying, he’s an amazing second half pitcher, he warms up as the year goes, he doesn’t push it to the limit the 1st half. And yet, people still doubted. Now you have pitchers all over the league (Webb, Haren, Hamels last night) not able to step it up late in the season in big games. But what is Santana doing? Pitching at his best late in the season. This is what the guy does. What a treat to have this guy on our team. He has great stuff, knows what he’s doing out there, but most of all, he never backs down, never looks worried, and just gives this team an aura of confidence.
Biggest difference between 2007 and 2008…pitching. This team had plenty of offense last September, but the pen was overworked and burned out.
Still worried about this team leaving a ton of runners on base, and after leaving bases full, then Howard’s HR to make it 3-2. Gado’s bomb right after that squelched whatever momentum they were getting…that hit was HUGE!
Another thing about Santana is that he doesn’t thow 95+ mph and tries to dominate hitters. He knows how to pitch with his 91 mph fastball and crazy changeup. He can mix up his pitches and keeps the hitters off balanced. He is a pitccher and not a thrower.
I was listening to the Philly station (WIP) this morning and they had this guy on from MLB.COM (Seth Everett?), and this guy is babbling on how the Mets should be worried because they don’t know if they can win when Johan is not on the mound, and how if the Phils stars perform, they should win, etc.
I mean, what is this guy smoking? The Mets are the hottest team in baseball, and they are winning with one pitcher?! ANd he even was dissing Pelf and Ollie.
It’s crazy…fans down here already bleeding Gory Eagle Green so I don’t think they are losing sleep over last night’s loss. They are hanging onto the hope that the Mets are all worried about blowing it again…
Johan is our ace, but our other starting pitching has been better than many teams in the NL of late. There is no question about that. We have lost many game in the last few months due to the bullpen’s inconsistency and offense late-game hibernations..not b/c of our SP.
I haven’t had the privilege of listening to that mumbling idiot Everett talk since Czabe was replaced by Mike and Mike here in DC, but clearly the guy is completely clueless about the game. It’s kind of sad since it’s his job to cover baseball, but evidently talent or intelligence are not prerequisites for being hired by MLB.