Momentum Built

Before yesterday’s game, we discussed the sensibility of starting Johan Santana on three days’ rest after throwing a career-high number of pitches. With Johan being in the first of a seven-year contract, and the Mets more focused on the future than 2008, it didn’t seem like a great plan.

However, it worked out for today — Saturday’s win kept the Mets in the hunt for a postseason bid — and we’ll hope it has no impact on 2009 and beyond.

One thing we didn’t consider, and was astutely pointed out by longtime MetsToday loyalist “Murph”, is the momentum that Johan’s performance has given to the team. Momentum is everything in baseball, and there’s no doubt that Santana’s 3-hit shutout was uplifting — and possibly inspiring to the most important person today, Oliver Perez.

Let’s hope like heck that the Mets win the game, otherwise the postgame ceremonies could get really bizarre. A Mets win guarantees at minimum a one-game playoff tomorrow, but a loss will cause everyone to be hanging on every pitch of the Brewers-Cubs contest. It will be a weird send-off for Shea if, in the middle of the “celebration”, the Mets are eliminated from the postseason.

By the way, you can head on over to MetsChat.com to discuss / chat / twitter about the game with other Mets fans.