Ok then, the dust has settled and I have slightly calmed down from the initial joy and disbelief I felt when the Johan Santana announcement was made. I can finally articulate my thoughts. I have not contributed much to the whole rumor mill because honestly I was quite sick of it, but here is my 2 cents.

I am still pleasantly shocked about the whole thing. I guess it was the lack of giving up a fifth prospect, namely Fernando Martinez, and the reality that Santana is actually on the Mets now (pending contract agreement) which has me so elated.  The Giants making the Super Bowl is almost as unbelievable to me.  This one move changes everything in the NL East, and subsequently the whole league.  I won't go so far as to say the Mets have the NL East in the bag but it definitely puts them in a great position to win it.

I think it's a great trade for many reasons but here are a few. Santana takes a burden off the bullpen by pitching more innings per game than most, if not all of the team's current starters.  By doing so, the bullpen which wore out at the end of last season will have a bit more rest every fifth day. 

Santana's overall aura and clubhouse presence should contribute to a winning vibe.  Although he was a bit negative in Minnesota, he wanted out, and Flushing is a much better fit for him. He will be the Citi Field poster boy, and having a player of his caliber/reputation will help to instill confidence in the rest of the team.

The Mets have a bona fide ace at the top of the rotation which makes the 5 spot much better, be it El Duque, Pelfrey if he proves he belongs there, or a player to be named later.  Although the team's already thin farm system is even thinner, the club has a young player who may have not even reached his full potential, but I find that hard to believe. What's next?

And now us Mets fans have something to look forward to instead of looking back at the train wreck that was 2007.  A great burden has been lifted!

Welcome to queens #57!

Posted by Mark Weinstein:

It's a steal of epic proportions.

To get arguably the best pitcher in baseball without having to give up Fernando Martinez, Mike Pelfrey, or anyone of significance from the Major League roster, is simply an incredible feat.

Many people will question giving up on a supposed five-tool prospect like Carlos Gomez, but until a prospect shows his value at the Major League level, his value is only theoretical.

Thinking back, weren't both Alex Ochoa and Alex Escobar once considered five-tool talents?  

When we traded for Gary Carter, there were people who lamented the loss of young prospects Floyd Youmans, Mike Fitzgerald, and Herm Winningham.  Whatever happened to those guys?

Now, I know that sometimes these young guys turn out to be pretty damn good Major League players, as the trades of Nolan Ryan, Rick Aguilera, and Scott Kazmir prove.  But whenever you're able to bring in a player like Santana for a bunch of guys who have yet to prove much, if anything, at the Major League level, it's really a trade you have to make.

Maybe Gomez is going to go out to Minneapolis and become an All-Star centerfielder for the Twins.  Maybe not.  But he was never going to get that chance here in New York playing behind Beltran. And with young pitchers (one coming off Tommy John surgery) you really never know what you're going to get.

Santana comes in and automatically makes the Mets contenders.  And more than that, he helps erase the nasty taste the end of last season left in the mouths of Mets fans.  This trade marks a new direction for the ballclub, and also puts less pressure on Pedro Martinez to carry the club on his back.

Brilliant move, Omar.  I still don't understand the Milledge/Schneider/Church deal, but hopefully I will come October.

Make sure to check out Mark's new NY Giants blog BLUENATIC as well!

Full reaction to come, but for now check out this video of Santana pitching a bullpen session. The commentary near the end is especially telling.

WOW!!!

Former Mets pitcher David Cone will broadcast at least 50 games for the YES Network in 2008 the Post says.

I still get so aggravated thinking of his and Gooden's hitless performances for the other NY team.

I'm tired of regurgitating news like an RSS feeder by the way. I can't wait for the season to start so there is something real to talk about. Aw, maybe I'm just unoriginal, who knows.  The "Hot Stove" just isn't for me I guess. Especially with the on again, off again rumors swirling around everyone.  Enough already.  If anyone wants me to help blog during the slow season, let me know.

Jeff H. forwarded me this link.

The Boston Globe is actually taking pre-orders on a book about the Championship season of the New England Patriots.  Yes, you read that right!  How great would it be if the Giants can really pull this off.  I have a severe case of stickittodamanitis as Jack Black would say.

Update...

Now it is "in the event of a win", why even have it at all right now!?

Paul Lo Duca's "tweaked" knee seems to be a bit worse than expected. He apparently will have surgery on his left knee Monday to repair what his agent called a minor meniscus tear.

Also,  Marty Noble speaks with Tom Glavine about his final regular season game loss at Shea.  The implications of which we are all fully aware of.

Before Lo Duca was traded, I wanted him to stay on the team, but after "the list" and this injury...ciao Pauly.  As for Glavine, he was a good player while in Queens, and I'll applaud him when he returns, but for now, he's dead to me.

According to the Daily News, Rickey Henderson "swiped more than bases" and is being sued by a memorabilia collector. Henderson could not be reached for comment.

I'm not sure where they came up with the whole theft notion. It doesn't say he stole anything but just failed to appear at some signings.

But hey, Pedro didn't make this one in my hometown either despite a line with about 4,000 people on it coming from as far as New Hampshire!

Bottom line, Rickey doesn't like Rickey signing stuff.

Sorry for this blog becoming Giants Heads lately (sounds dirty), but honestly, endless Johan Santana rumors and Ricardo Rincon signings don't do it for me. That being said, in an article for The Virginian-Pilot, David Wright discusses his being a Giants fan, even when growing up. Mets AND Giants? Good boy, David!