Santana pitches a game for the ages
I was only a couple of months old when Tom Seaver threw 8 1/3 innings of a perfect game, and just a year old when he struck out 19. I remember well the dominance of Doc Gooden, who threw consecutive September complete-game shutouts in 1985 (getting no-decisions in both!), and of course John Maine's 13-strikeout, no-hit bid in the second-to-last game of 2007, in a must-win game at Shea, is still fresh in the mind.
But Johan Santana's effort today, in the second-to-last game of the season, in the second-to-last regular-season game ever at Shea Stadium, in a game the Mets needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive -- all on three days' rest after throwing a career-high 125 pitches -- was easily one of the greatest pitching performances I have ever seen.
It was certainly the most clutch under the circumstances outlined above. Throw in a Mets bullpen that has already blown almost 30 games this season, including enough Santana starts to prevent him from being a shoe-in for the Cy Young award, and it was clear that despite the short rest, the Mets needed Santana to dominate, and go long.
He did. And how. He cruised through the seventh and eighth innings and came out for the ninth having thrown 104 pitches, like that mattered. A one-out double didn't faze him, and the next three batters went down in order, the final out a flyout to left that gave an initial scare before Endy Chavez settled under it.
Three hits, three walks and nine strikeouts is an outstanding line, and while there have surely been better one-game numbers posted in baseball history, for Mets fans, this one stands out, in bold letters. Was Santana worth the players they dealt? Worth that lengthy contract for all that money? Is he the best pitcher in baseball today?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Give Jerry Manuel credit for shaking up the lineup, although it didn't exactly produce a landslide. The Mets got early runs against pesky Ricky Nolasco -- maybe he's better than pesky, at this point -- and you wonder if there will be a statue for Ramon Martinez at Citi Field someday, the way he has played this last week.
As I write this, the Cubs lead the Brewers, 4-0, and John Lannan is keeping the Phillies in check in a scoreless game. Regardless of those outcomes (and of course we're hoping for losses), Sunday's Shea finale will be a meaningful September game on an extremely meaningful day for the franchise.
Oliver Perez will get his chance at throwing on three days' rest, and he's the kind of pitcher who is probably helped by little fatigue mixed with adrenaline. The last time he went on three days' rest, Perez went six sharp innings in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS against the Cardinals.
We know what happened then. But Shea Stadium doesn't want the Mets to leave just yet. It's having too much fun.
Mets players from the past 46 years will be on hand Sunday to say goodbye, but the festivities begin after the game. Yankee Stadium can have its ghosts. Shea Stadium will have history on hand in the flesh in a game that is the definition of must-win.
That's gotta count for something.
You gotta believe.
But Johan Santana's effort today, in the second-to-last game of the season, in the second-to-last regular-season game ever at Shea Stadium, in a game the Mets needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive -- all on three days' rest after throwing a career-high 125 pitches -- was easily one of the greatest pitching performances I have ever seen.
It was certainly the most clutch under the circumstances outlined above. Throw in a Mets bullpen that has already blown almost 30 games this season, including enough Santana starts to prevent him from being a shoe-in for the Cy Young award, and it was clear that despite the short rest, the Mets needed Santana to dominate, and go long.
He did. And how. He cruised through the seventh and eighth innings and came out for the ninth having thrown 104 pitches, like that mattered. A one-out double didn't faze him, and the next three batters went down in order, the final out a flyout to left that gave an initial scare before Endy Chavez settled under it.
Three hits, three walks and nine strikeouts is an outstanding line, and while there have surely been better one-game numbers posted in baseball history, for Mets fans, this one stands out, in bold letters. Was Santana worth the players they dealt? Worth that lengthy contract for all that money? Is he the best pitcher in baseball today?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Give Jerry Manuel credit for shaking up the lineup, although it didn't exactly produce a landslide. The Mets got early runs against pesky Ricky Nolasco -- maybe he's better than pesky, at this point -- and you wonder if there will be a statue for Ramon Martinez at Citi Field someday, the way he has played this last week.
As I write this, the Cubs lead the Brewers, 4-0, and John Lannan is keeping the Phillies in check in a scoreless game. Regardless of those outcomes (and of course we're hoping for losses), Sunday's Shea finale will be a meaningful September game on an extremely meaningful day for the franchise.
Oliver Perez will get his chance at throwing on three days' rest, and he's the kind of pitcher who is probably helped by little fatigue mixed with adrenaline. The last time he went on three days' rest, Perez went six sharp innings in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS against the Cardinals.
We know what happened then. But Shea Stadium doesn't want the Mets to leave just yet. It's having too much fun.
Mets players from the past 46 years will be on hand Sunday to say goodbye, but the festivities begin after the game. Yankee Stadium can have its ghosts. Shea Stadium will have history on hand in the flesh in a game that is the definition of must-win.
That's gotta count for something.
You gotta believe.
posted by Gaspo @ 1:42 PM
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