We know we have been spotty with posts during the offseason, but unlike other blogs we just couldn’t bring ourselves to care or comment on offseason happenings such as the acquisitions of Steve Register and Matt Wise, Moises Alou’s injury(shocker!), if Angel Pagan or Brady Clark are both necessary, if Duaner Sanchez will pitch before October, or if El Duque’s bunion is a national security threat.
But now real games are back, and so are we. Yesterday we saw what everyone had been hyping. Johan Santana in all his glory. What was most impressive about him wasn’t all the strikeouts, or the velocity(we told you he doesn’t get much above 91 mph).
What was most impressive was that in the 6th and 7th inning, who was on mound, grinding out after out? Johan Santana. While Tom Glavine pitched 5 innnings and then asked for the check yesterday for the Braves, there was Santana being every bit the ace. Eating up innings, holding the lead, saving the bullpen.
While Willie Randolph continues to have a cruise-control moments, trotting out Matt Wise and then Scott Schoenweis in the 8th inning(a better opponent would have taken advantage), the Mets opener pretty much followed the formula we expect Met victories to lool like this year when Santana pitches(including Carlos Delgado continuing to suck balls).
Now if Pedro can be 60% of what he used to be, that wouldn’t be a bad way to start at all.
