This is why you want Santana

I have to admit, it's been a pretty quiet season for Johan Santana in his first year in New York.

I just assumed that by moving a power pitcher into the eye of the media hurricane it would mean non-stop Santana from March to October. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it's just an observation.

One of the things that I noticed about Santana when I lived in Minnesota was that regardless of the skid the Twins were in, when Johan took the mound, everyone expected the win. More often than not, they were right.

His numbers after the All-Star Break were ridiculous, he rarely lost two consecutive starts and in most cases, he got the win over a no decision. Whether it was the psychological impact on the other team's hitters or the belief that all the Twins needed to scrape together was a run or two and Santana would take care of the rest, chances were that the team was ending the night in the win column.

This is why the Mets made such a major play to pick up Santana in the offseason, staring down offers from the Red Sox and Yankees.

Tonight's game was a must win for the Mets with the Brewers gamely trying to tumble across the finish line despite streaky play and the firing of their manager. Holding a one-game lead over Milwaukee, Santana took the ball and shut down the Cubs.

Granted, Chicago is coming off a clinching win and is more concerned with making it through the next week without incident, but Santana still went eight innings, scattering seven hits and allowing two runs against the Cubs.

Was it playoff intensity for Chicago? Probably not. Was it a game the Mets had to have to stay alive? You bet.

That's why you pay the big bucks for Santana.

(Image from: ESPN.com)