Daily Archives: September 8, 2008
In a post to Brooklyn Met Fan, Adam writes:
“If you’re only gonna win 1 game in a series you might as well make it Game 3 so you end on a positive and limit the damage done in the
standings…especially when you enter the series 3 games ahead of your opponent.”
Well put. I feel confident today, despite the Phillies winning two of three – mostly because I was a nervous wreck at the start of last night’s game. But, the way it all ended, left me feeling a whole lot better.
So, please answer the following question, while considering the team’s ownership, current management, talent, minor-league system, new stadium, standings, etc.:
[poll id="170"]
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.
Newer posts →
