Santana's no-Jo

Johan Santana's no-hitter Friday was the first in Mets history,
this for a franchise that has had such dominant pitchers as
Tom Seaver and Dwight Gooden.

During Johan Santana's Twins years, I frequently pondered this question on my way to work on days he was to pitch: What am I going to do if he makes some history tonight?

On Friday night, Santana finally threw the no-hitter I anticipated on so many nights. He did it, of course, for the Mets, but for a lot of Twins fans in Minnesota, he'll always be one of our guys.

He is having a superb season. This is actually his second straight complete-game shutout. He's struck out 68 men in 68 innings — even with a diminished fastball, he still misses bats — and his ERA is 2.38.


Not bad for a guy whose very career appears in jeopardy a year ago.

I only hope that Friday's feat won't prove damaging. Santana threw 134 pitches (77 strikes) for his no-hitter. His career high had been 125. He missed all of 2011 with a complex shoulder surgery, and has had other significant surgeries. While he keeps himself in superb physical condition, he's not a workhorse.

Obviously it was a risk Santana was willing to take for a shot at history. Only time will tell if it was a wise risk to take.