“Ill will” toward Johan?
Posted on March 3rd, 2008 – 8:09 AMBy Howard
Just wanted to make sure we keep this in perspective. The delight that I took in watching Johan struggle in his first appearance for the Mets was playful, and I hope there’s no serious “hope his arm falls off” venom directed his way if he struggles. It’s simply that he’s no longer a Twin, and when he ends up going 10-16 it will be fun to see how New Yorkers react to him and any revisionist history of the trade. Of course, I hope two of those 11 wins come against the Yankees during interleague play. Reading some of the New York reaction to a pretty-much meaningless debut in March was funny. In truth, that he allowed a 3-run homer in his 1st Mets inning was just about as meaningful as the fact that the Twins knocked around Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz (the young pitchers the Twins were trying to get from Boston) in Ft. Myers over the weekend. Fun to look at, but pretty much irrelevant.
So if you want to drop serious hate on Johan, go elsewhere. If you want to have some fun with life after his departure, stick around Section 220. We’ll (probably) keep it in perspective. You know, like, hoping that Cole Hamels of the Phillies goes Sabathia on Johan this season.
And that Tony Batista takes him deep.
other people are here too.
16 Responses to "“Ill will” toward Johan?"
Keeping it real, Howard. Love ya, man.
I’ve always LOVED #57, but there are some real signs that his performance may be wandering back to the mean of late, aren’t there? Pitching in the NL will help, but he may never be as dominant as he was for a 5-year stretch. There are two sides to every trade, and his “decline” and any injury problems that (hopefully won’t) pop up would even out this one with the Mets quickly — it’s the “elephant in the trade” that no one talks about…
johan was never dominant, and often not even a great pitcher early. It has little to do with the “having fun” point of the post, but you can’t start to judge him until after the all star break
I always thought the “second half pitcher” thing was a myth. Didn’t somebody last season pull his numbers together and show the only place he actually struggled was in wins?
Johan was a great pitcher for the Twins and fun to watch.I wish him no harm,but I really don’t care if he wins the NL Cy Young award or goes 15-13 again this year.What I will watch for is if he is still a two pitch pitcher.If he either won’t or can’t throw the slider, the 15-13 might be more of a reality than the Cy.
Here’s what I’m annoyed about. It’s not Santana. It’s New York. There’s a big article in the NY Times today about Santana’s changeup, as if it never existed before he became a New Yorker. As if his years in Minnesota were just warmup games for his career in NY.
So the fact that I hope Santana gives up 40 homeruns this year has less to do with Santana and everything to do with NY.
I’m with wheels. Mets fans have gloated for a month now, and it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside to see them squirm a little. New York is NOT the center of the universe, contrary to popular opinion.
I saw that NY Times piece today, and the first thing I thought was that City Pages already did that story. And CP did it better.
wheels: I read the full article trying to find some comment that implied he learned the change up after going to New York. All I read said he learned it with Minnesota, under Bobby Cuellar in AAA Edmonton. I don’t get any feeling that the NY writer doesn’t realize Johan has been around a while and already is good.
So the fact that I hope Santana gives up 40 homeruns this year has less to do with Santana and everything to do with NY.
Ditto. I’m hoping Santana stumbles not to embarrass Santana…but to make NY look like a bunch of idiots.
I feel the same way. Normally, when the Twins make a trade, I’m satisfied if it turns out to be a win-win… both teams improving themselves by dealing some depth to fill needs. The Tampa trade has the potential to be such a deal and I hope it works out well for both teams.
But not the Santana trade. I hope it becomes so lopsided that it overcomes the AJ-to-SF trade as the benchmark. It’s not venom aimed in Santana’s direction, but rather NY and their fans.
And no, I don’t feel a bit guilty about hoping Santana tanks. He’s nothing more than any other pitcher for an opposing team to me. He chose his path and I don’t owe him anything.
Brooklynegg: I feel the need to respond.
All I read said he learned it with Minnesota, under Bobby Cuellar in AAA Edmonton.
That’s all I read too. The two uses of the word “Minnesota” referred to a AAA team.
So no, there’s no specific comment implying his career will start with the Mets. It’s an overall attitude.
I hope YoYohan blows out his elbow, and then makes Rick Ankiel look like a punk by taking over for Beltran in Center n then wins the triple crown as a hitter thus becoming the first player to have hit for the triple crown n pitched the 3 crown. Good luck yoyo see u in the Series. DY=MVP
Johann always struggles at the beginning of the season. The fact he gave up some runs in spring training is hardly news. Personally, I hope he does well in NY, but the players we got for him do better here in Minnesota.
I hope he does horribly in New York and they have to pay him all that money all those years. Maybe that will bring contracts back down to earth and maybe even make it possible for the Twins to sign Liriano in the future.
Amen, Robert.
Nothing personal, Johan. But you really should have thought about playing so that fans could afford to see you.
I mean, you were about to become a hundred-millionaire…….
