Will Johan-Johnson matchup become must see TV?

by LEFTY120491 on Apr 29, 2009 8:13 AM EDT

I think today is the day that Johan Santana will be recognized as the soul provider for this team on the mound. As we remember, he struck out ten Nationals in his previous start and and the last time he faced the Marlins, he pitched near perfect ball in a duel with Josh Johnson. This afternoon, Citi Field will witness its best pitching matchup to date as the two square off again from Flushing.

Will this matchup become a rivalry? After all, the Mets and the Phillies quickly became rivals after words from Jimmy Rollins prior to the 2007 season- when the Mets blew it on the final day against these very same Fish. But back to Santana- Johnson.

I want to know what you guys think about these two pitchers facing eachother once again. Will it take a couple more solid pitcher's duels to make these two facing eachother must see TV?

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I don't know

But I am hoping that the two meet a couple more times this season and said as much the other day over at MetsGeek. One of my favorite moments as a baseball fan was when the Expos and Mets played twice in three series, and Pedro Martinez faced Bobby J. Jones both times. Jones was obviously no Pedro Martinez, but he was pitching phenomenally in the first half of ’97 (11-2, 2.22 ERA through June 9 before starting to fall back to earth) so there was quite a bit of buzz about the matchups. Pedro disappointed in the first game, getting knocked out after five, but both men threw eight innings in the second game with Jones and the Mets taking the 2-1 victory.

I wish stuff like that happened more often.

by Alex Nelson on Apr 29, 2009 8:33 AM EDT reply actions

"This afternoon, Citi Field will witness its best pitching matchup to date"

Is Josh Johnson better than Yovani Gallardo? I’m not convinced.

by JoshNY on Apr 29, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions

Johnson vs. Gallardo 2009

Gallardo: 26.2 IP 2-1 3.71 ERA 23 K 8 BB 1.01 WHIP 4.16 FIP
Johnson: 28.2 IP 2-0 2.20 ERA 29 K 5 BB 0.91 2.24 FIP and surprisingly his two worst starts were against the Nats.

I’d give the edge to Johnson.

by Reg Dunlop on Apr 29, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

sure, if you assume their first four starts this season are conclusive

Johnson is off to a great start, no question. Based on the entirety of their short MLB careers, and bearing in mind that Gallardo is two years younger, I’m not convinced.

by JoshNY on Apr 29, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I was just looking at it this year

by Reg Dunlop on Apr 29, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

fair enough

this year, Johnson has been better

by JoshNY on Apr 29, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Johan

Johan is the best pitcher in the game and Johnson’s probably not in the top ten. That said, I give the Mets the advantage today, not because of Santana, but because it’s still April.

If it were September, we know how this game would turn out. Mets can’t beat the Marlins (or anybody else for that matter) when the money is on the line……I think David Wright will become the new Mr. May…..

by Scottyr on Apr 29, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

This makes absolutely no sense.

What, are the Mets affected by the frigid September temperatures? Have you even looked at David Wright’s September stats the last two years? Go look at them right now. Go. If you remain convinced he can’t play good baseball in September, you are a hopeless person OR a Philly troll.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 29, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm guessing Philly troll

'Oh yes, I know all about that duty-of-a-citizen stuff. It doesn't go. There are exceptions to every rule, and this was one of them. When a man risks his liberty to come and root at a ball-game, you've got to hand it to him. He isn't a crook. He's a fan.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Apr 29, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

if you’re not, then seriously just stop posting

by Rob Castellano on Apr 29, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

2008 Mets

April 13-12 112 RS 116 RA
Sept 13-12 125 RS 118 RA

But why am I even bothering?

by Reg Dunlop on Apr 29, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Stats

Good stats Reg! Why don’t the Mets win?

by Scottyr on Apr 29, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Lack of clutch, hustle, grit, etc.

by BlackOps on Apr 29, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Why don't the Yankees win? Why don't the Rays win? Why don't the Blue Jays win? Why don't the Brewers win? Why don't the Cubs win?...etc.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 29, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

September

It’s not the temperature in September, it’s the pressure. What happened to the Mets offense in the last week of 2008? What happened to the Mets, on their home field, against the Marlins on the last day of the season?

I’ll spell it out for you….the Mets choke under pressure. Sept 2007 RIP, Sept 2008 RIP….oh yeah, I forgot the Beltran called third strike against Wainwright in game 7 2006 NLCS, but I won’t count that because it was October.

by Scottyr on Apr 29, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

So wow. The fact that ONE player had ONE strike called against him in ONE game...

…means “In October, the Mets will never win because they are chokers. Never mind that they almost won that Game 7, that the real reason we lost was Aaron Heilman…no, the entire team fails to play under pressure.” I mean, do you actually hear what you’re saying?
Would you like to know the reason the Mets lost last year? I mean, I would’ve thought you knew at this point, but IT WAS THE BULLPEN. It was, trust me!

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 29, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Bullpen

Hey….the bullpen blew 29 saves for the Mets last year, I realize that. But what happened in the last week of the season? On the biggest of stages, the offense choked….again!

by Scottyr on Apr 29, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

define choke for us all, please.

by BlackOps on Apr 29, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

But if the bullpen had blown like 5 less saves, there would be no problems.

Your argument is invalid.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 29, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Definition

Choke….the polar opposite of what the Phillies did in 2008.

by Scottyr on Apr 29, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

You're right.

The definition of what the Phillies did in August 2008. That’s much more correct. The Mets didn’t choke last year. They came back from a large deficit in the standings, but just didn’t have enough in them, unfortunately. It happens.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 29, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair Enough

Did the Mets choke in 2007? How many games ahead were the Mets with 17 to play (I think it was 7). Point is, it’s the same core that continues to breakdown late in the season. In my opinion the Mets have not recovered from the 2006 NLCS much as the Yanks have not recovered from the 2004 ALCS against the Sox. Same problem……

by Scottyr on Apr 29, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

See, what you're saying now is much more lucid than what you have been saying on the other thread.

I mean, I and probably everyone else on the site would still disagree, but I understand your rationale. I think Omar is really the problem, as the COMPLEMENTARY players haven’t been doing it.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 29, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions