This Is Jeopardy

Damn you Johan Santana for making me pick on you. But let’s face it, if you’re going to say stuff like “I’m the best pitcher in the division“, you can’t walk Jamie Moyer with the bases loaded and two outs. And then, you don’t let the world cave in on you by giving up a grand slam to Shane Victorino. You just don’t.

Now don’t get me wrong.  This shouldn’t diminish anybody’s man crush on Johan.  Nobody.  Johan has earned the benefit of the doubt and this doesn’t take that away.  He gives up home runs early in the season.  And I’m sure it’s a little easier to give up four home runs on a night where the temperature is in the 80’s and in a ballpark where a home run measured in feet is … about in the 80’s.  Sure, when he was given a three run lead off the bat and he almost gave it all back in the bottom of the frame, that was probably a sign that it wasn’t going to be Santana’s night.  But when he got through the second and third without incident, then you thought that maybe he got through his blip and it would be smooth sailing the rest of the evening.  And when Rowdy Roddy hit the fair pole with this third home run of the series, there were good feelings all around.

Then the world collapsed.  And I could live with that, except that you don’t walk Jamie Moyer.  Ever.

It was almost as bad as walking Mariano Rivera.

(Dumbest excuse for walking Moyer courtesy of Joe Morgan: “I think if Jamie Moyer didn’t hit that ball sharply while grounding out to second base the last time up, Santana just throws him three fastballs down the middle.”  This of course from the same announcing team that figured out in the ninth inning that “You know, that walk to Moyer in the fourth was the turning point of the whole game!” Oh, you think?  Gee, I would have never figured that one out for myself!  I couldn’t tell which noises were the crack of the Phillie bats and which were the thud of Orel Hershiser’s IQ points dropping through the floor of the broadcast booth by osmosis.)

Now … having said all that, the Mets need to look at it this way: They lost two of three to the Phillies in Philadelphia.  While there may be tons of angst attached to that, there’s no shame in it.  They have to forget that the Phillies mauled their two best pitchers, and just keep focusing on the fact that it’s May 2nd, they’re in the thick of the division, and they’re getting out of Dodge.  What fans must focus on is this: Unless there’s something physically bothering Santana (which has to be in the conversation because of last year’s injury … and that we’re paranoid by nature), it’s entirely possible that Johan will pass Halladay as the best pitcher in the division by September.  And hopefully that will mean something with the Mets not being 25 games out by September. Unfortunately, Santana didn’t prove his statement correct tonight.