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In last night’s win against the Cubs, Johan Santana pitched eight innings, struck out 10 of the 33 batters he faced, let up seven hits and just two runs, while throwing 125 pitches.
…ahh, yes, it seems like just yesterday we were forced to listen to columnists and talk-show hosts accuse santana of refusing to throw over 100 pitches…
Meanwhile, today, according to Newsday, “Santana has the fifth-highest average number of pitches per game in the majors this season.”
Santana, regarding last night’s start, while speaking to reporters after the game, said:
“I was just trying to help, trying to do my job, trying to stay there as long as I can…I know that every game from now on is very important, whether it’s me, or Pedro, or whoever is on the mound. Every game is important. We cannot afford to lose any games, you know. I knew, and I felt that I could do this…I’m just trying to do my job and help as much as I can. In that situation there, this is it, this is why you are here, to win those big games and win the pennant race and that’s what we’re all here for.”
Jerry Manuel, regarding Santana, said:
“In the second half, every big game that we’ve needed and Johan’s turn was due, he stepped up…He stepped up big tonight. He brings also a level of intensity that those guys really enjoy playing behind him and getting behind him. That’s the one intangible that kind of separates him a bit.”
Manuel told reporters that Santana was ‘fired up tonight,’ adding, ‘I don’t think I would have been able to take him out anyway, that’s how adamant he was about going back out there to set them down.’
In 14 starts since the All-Star break, Johan Santana is 7–0 with a 2.37 ERA, during which the Mets are 11–3.
He has not lost a game since June 28.
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To all the people unhappy that he wasn’t striking out ten a game, I kept saying “wait until the 2nd half.”
Man is Johan good.
Not to take anything away from Johan, because he can only face what the Cubs throw at him.
But the Cubs did rest players.
Now, I expect Cubs will rest even more players as the final weekend approaches. So Brewers will be even greater benefactors.
I am just saying Johan saw a weaker line up than Niese.
It was the biggest game for the Mets all season and he showed us why he is our ace. He still faced a major league team with talent. (He made Soriano and Lee look silly a couple of times.)
No matter how you try to make the start seem less that it was, I am not buying it.
Again, I am not trying to diminish what Santana did.
My warning is more about the Cubs. They did not play a full hand. And if they chose to play a full squad on Wed or Thurs, we should watch out.
And note, the Mets dominated Soriano on Monday as well.
You are not trying to diminish it, and yet you keep making the point.
At very least you could have looked some things up, such as Aramis Ramirez BLOWS against lefties this year, and in fact has had up and down up and down struggles year to year with them.
So other than Soto who has logged 140 games in his first full season, who are you going to tell me that Pinella was hiding? Again, Ramirez? Well that would make sense on Lou’s part since he struggles against lefties and never has hit Santana in his 4 trips against him.
The Mets would have won this game even if the Cubs had put out their “real” line-up.
It amazes me that when the Mets beat a team that doesn’t have all their starters in that they won against a “lesser” team. But, when the Mets have to play with a line-up that consists of infielders playing the outfield and a patchwork end of the bullpen they are expected to not lose a step.
MOTA DELIVERS FOR THE METS! PEARCE HOMERS
2 RUN HOME RUN
2 RUN HOME RUN
PIRATES US 5-4!
NOT TO BE A JINX BUT DID ANYONE GET AN EMAIL ABOUT PLAYOFF TICKETS BEING SHIPPED???
Giaco, mine came yesterday…eek! Eek!
jinx! AHHH!!! Matt you’re a jerk!! AHHHH
[/sarcasm]
MOTA MOTA MOTA MOTA!!!
I love MLB Gameday
yea not worth the prospects or the money..what a waste
a pirates win would simply be huge for us and gives us some breathing room
well nevermind
He’s lived up to his reputation. Now imagine if the Mets bullpen had held up. 9-0?
Worth. Every. Penny.
pirates 2 on, one out in the 9th.
scratch that. doug mentkeiwics was involved
Whats this, Mota gives up a go ahead homerun and Meintkiewicz hit a grounder with RISP, Cameron comes through in the clutch. Are you sure this game isn’t being played at the Shea Stadium within the Twilight Zone.
Consider my mind blown.
the real question is this, if the season comes down to Sunday, do you think Santana will be able to go an inning without letting up eleventy billion runs?
I’m staring right at you Tom
All hail Johan Santana.
HAIL HIM!!!
johan is god…
after being at last year’s last game, i imagine the only way that could happen would be if paul lo duca drop kicks santana, breaking both of his arms while alfredo amazenga throws numerous black cats at him, and then johan pitches the first inning. Seriously, to do what Tommy did last year, you have to be either really bad or really old and tired. My presumption is certainly the later. Lets hope Johan isn’t as tired as that pitch count suggests.
For what its worth, Sabathia is going to pitch Wednesday and Sunday, giving him three straight starts of three days of rest. If he can handle that, I feel Johan can provide another quality start with normal rest and his ability to be in the zone and unconcerned with pressure. In what I took from his post-game press conference, who cares if the guy doesn’t show emotion in the clubhouse with the press, the guy cares about the only thing one should care about, winning.
That comment made no sense, i am tired, too much baseball for one night
Yes, but on Sunday, a tired CC Sabathia will face half a Cubs team. Yes, Cubs will sit more players on Sunday than they sat against Johan last night.
And a stronger Johan will face a strong and mean Marlins team who is po’d they are out of the playoffs and want to bring the Mets down too…. like they did last year.
and between now and Sunday the Brewers have games to play too
The Cubs will not lie down for the Brewers, not with two days off after Sunday. There is no reason they need a third day off in a row. They are resting now and have the two off days. If anything i think they will play on the weekend to stay sharp between the rest.
And I’m not going to get too concerned about a team that has nothing to play for except ego and anger when next week we could be playing a playoff team fighting for it’s life.
I am just laughing though…
A “mean” Marlins team? Are you serious? “Mean”?
I hope the Mets are ready for those meanies, and anyway the Mets still need to play the Cubs tonight, and tomorrow. The weekend is a million miles away right now.
Yeah….OH NO NOT CODY ROSS!!!!
You keep saying that the Cubs are going to sit more players this weekend, but how do you know that? Now is when you want to rest the guys. The last couple of games the hitters are probably want to play to keep their timing. You don’t want to sit for days and then start the playoff series.
Yeah, no kidding. Lou is resting different guys on different days. He is not going to rest everyone all at the same time. We have already seen it in this series.
I would bet anything that the Cubs will start their normal lineup on Sunday. Lou is not going to want ANY starter to have had 3 days off.
This is why i refreshed Metsblog every 2 seconds for 2 hours in order to find out that he signed for our team. Worth every bit of those long and agonizing 7200 seconds…
LOL
I remember those frenetic days, vividly. Metsblog.com was gaining unprecedented hits running up to the acquisition of Johan.
I remember when I heard the news break…it was ESPN news and it was b4 the window began to sign him….
Upon hearing and reading it….I jumped up and down all over my apartment and took a big swig of jack….great great great feeling.
We need big-game Ollie tonight.
I think he will show.
This is the show case that he needs for his big contract.
Well, it’s his history to pitch well against the better teams, so hopefully that continues.
Not to get picky but his stats for the 2ND HALF are even better than that right? Those are his stats since the allstar break.
he was awesome last night.
can’t believe omar is with us for 4 more years ..
Omar got you Johan. Deal with it…
yeah because the yanks and sox werent interested.
False reports. Truth is that the Twins liked out package better, and look @ Hughes, Kennedy, and Cabrera now…
Exactly. Think the Yanks could get Kenny Rogers for that package today?
The Twins offered Santana to the Yankees for Kennedy, Cabrera, and another prospect (probably Tabata) just before accepting the deal with the Mets, but the Yankees turned them down.
Omar got Santana by default.
…and, in those 3 team losses, Johan gave up (in consecutive order) 2 runs, 1 run, and 2 runs. and, in those three games, the pen gave up 6 runs, 4 runs, and 1 run to lead the team to defeat.
Johan pitched masterfully last night. Now it’s time to move on to today and the match up between Perez and Zambrano.
It’s safe to say that every game from here on out is a “must win”. With a one game lead in the Wild Card and, given the fact that, tbe Brewers are playing Pittsburg we cannot afford to loose. I do not want this coming down to Sunday. I do not want to play 162 games and end in a tie only to play a single game elimination.
We have to keep winning. I’m releaved we won last night but this race is far from over.
/Plus it would be nice to clinch this thing before sunday so that we can hold johan back ’til game 1 of the playoffs.
Carlos Z will be on a strict pitch count…he also got lit up his last start.
matters in either scenario, Perez has to shut down the Cubs and the Mets need to lumberjack whomever is on the mound tonight, Zambrano or anyone in the pen.
Zambo is only going to be out there 5 innings, max.
yes, understood, Mets need to pound him in his 5 innings
Ok here are some bored nerd stats. Johan’s actuall 2ND HALF numbers.
16 starts
2.27 ERA
8-0
1.11 WHIP
111.2 innings
96 hits
28 runs
28 walks
94 SO.
Actually shows that he has been even better than incredible.
Also, he now leads the NL in ERA over Lincecum and is 2nd in all of MLB.
and!!!! in the 3 team losses, he gave up 2, 1, and 2 runs!!!
BEST PITCHER IN BASEBALL, PERIOD.
What would the rotation look like right now for the first round?
Johan, Pelf, Ollie
Bullpen: Maine (hopefully), Pedro, Feliciano, Schoenweis, Ayala, Stokes, Joe Smith, Heilman, and maybe Parnell?
Matt you have quite an inferiority complex towards the traditional media.
It’s not an inferiority complex. It’s a truth complex. The traditional media stays as far away from the truth as possible.
Hey I don’t disagree, but if this place was any different, he wouldn’t have to keep saying it over and over.
Johan now leads the NL with a 2.64 ERA (Lincecum got shelled last night). Would Cy Young be out of the question for Santana now? I know Webb has the wins, but Santana has the ERA, strikeouts, and big game advantage.
Honestly, who cares, I just want the Mets to get this done.
I don’t care about MVPs, CY Youngs etc etc etc.
If the real Oliver Perez shows up tonight, the one that competes balls to the wall and keeps the opposition off balance he can be the MVP and CY Young for tonight.
Agreed.
Ollie got a new haircut. I think he is ready.
His haircut is fantastic. If he really wanted to win over the fans, he would dye the sides blue, with orange in the middle
Being a met fan, and watching mets not win awards my entire life, I really don’t care.
I think Johan will win a cy with the mets. He could get it this year, but it doesn’t matter.
I think wright will win an MVP, but not this year, and frankly, that doesn’t matter either
Stat story:
Santana: 2nd best ERA in baseball
Delgado: 3rd most HRs
Reyes: 3rd most hits, 2nd most SBs, MOST triples
Wright: 5th most RBIs
In the NL:
Reyes and Wright 1 and 2 for hits
Beltran and Wright tied for 3rd for runs
Three guys in the top ten for RBIs
on the downside….
THREE pitchers in the top ten for game appearances.
Don’t you mean:
“On the downside”
….our BP is horrendous!!!
And of course that downside is in the bullpen.
How is it news that Johan is an ace?
huh? Johan did last night what aces do and matt posted about it.
I need to share this… was reading the Daily News online, and in the comment section below one of the stories about the Yankees (voting on who the Yankees should keep and dump; the results of each poll were pretty logical and clear-headed, actually.) Now, I know that fans of all teams propose ridiculous trades that benefit their teams lopsidedly, but I saw someone suggest the Yankees do this:
Trade Matsui and Cano to San Fran for Matt Cain and a San Fran 2B prospect.
Now, I don’t know how good this 2B prospect is (can’t even remember his name), but he’s probably pretty good if an East Coast fan knows who he is. My real kicker is… why in the world would San Fran trade Matt Cain for anyone?
This post was followed immediately by another Yankee fan post saying, “Why in the world would the Giants trade Matt Cain?”
Yeah Yankees fans can be pretty delusional with how they value their young talent.
They hyped up Joba/Hughes/Kennedy and we saw how they worked out. They believed Melky was a budding star CF…it got so bad they had to bring in probably the worst defensive CF in the AL. Cano has regressed big time and even when he was playing better his work ethic was never stellar.
This year they were an old team at nearly every position: C, 1B, SS, 3B (ok so ARod isn’t over the hill old and he put up numbers that most other players in the league would shoot themselves full of synthetic hormones to achieve), RF, CF, LF. Point is, it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better in the Bronx unless they sign a boatload of young talent that really isn’t available. Tex and CC might be on the right side of 30, but they’ll be saddled with whatever mega contracts they give them for years well past their respective primes.
Regardless of what happens with the Mets this year, I will say with a high degree of certainty that we’ll be the more competitive team for the next few years.
I would say nothing with high certainty.
Remember, the guy starting for the Mets on Friday night was considered crap that the Mets should have dealt by some.
I would not say Chamberlain was over hyped or Hughes, one was misused and the other had some freak injuries. Kennedy perhaps over hyped, but young pitchers take longer to develop than position players.
I would say that you absolutely don’t trade Chamberlain, and you shouldn’t trade Hughes or Kennedy either, because if they get anything less than Santana for them, that’s a huge hit you take.
Well, San Fransisco has a wealth of pitchers and their offense is pretty putrid, so the question is not so much why would they trade Cain, but why for Matsui an aging injured player and Cano.
Right. San Fran needs young positional stars, and the Yankees just don’t have that to offer. The best bet for the Yanks is the Free Agent market. They have the money and there is an offensive and a pitching star out there to be had.
I’m ashamed I doubted this man earlier this season. Simply put, Johan is the best in the bigs.
Johan Santana now leads the NL in era, QS%, has a very respectable 1.17 WHIP, nearly 200 Ks, only 60 BBs. While I think Lincecum is still going to win the Cy Young award, Santana is clearly the 2nd best pitcher in the league this year, if not the best, only because he’s doing this in games that matter.
You can’t discount Brandon Webb and his 22 wins, or Brad Lidge being perfect for the Phils.
Well, I remember hearing Joe Benigo shout about how O.P. is a big game pitcher and Johan isn’t. Well, Johan answered the bell. Now lets see what O.P. does tonight. He better have take his Aderole today.
You know Lincecum will probably win the Cy Young award because of better number but Johan deserves it more. The Giants have not smelled the playoffs all year so Lincecum has no pressure on him at all. Santana has had to win almost every game he has pitched the last couple of weeks and he has come through big time. Webb shouldn’t get it either because he pitched horribly when the team needed him to the most. The other person that would deserve it is Lidge.
To me, and I am biased, but Johan deserves the Cy Young. Tim Lincecum plays in the worst division in baseball. He plays for a team that has zero pressure. And he isn’t playing in NYC after the biggest expectations and the biggest contract for a pitcher. Johan’s record should have around 20 wins if not for the NUMEROUS blown saves. And he has NOT LOST in the 2nd half, and to add to that, he has pitched in big game after big game and brought this team back from the depths to a possible playofff birth. I’m sorry but since the object of this game is to score runs and keep your opponent from scoring, and since Johan has done tht better than any NL pitcher, shouldn’t get get the Cy Young?