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The Spectacle Blog
Six days ago, my Dad and I watched Johan Santana pitch a complete game, four-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres at CitiField.
I wrote, “Very, very impressive. The only question is if he can sustain this over an entire season.”
Tonight, Johan Santana threw a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals. He struck out World Series MVP David Freese to end the ballgame. It is the first no-hitter in the Mets 50-year history. It’s amazing that the likes of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Nolan Ryan, Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, David Cone, Frank Viola and Al Leiter never tossed a no-hitter while in a Mets uniform.
It is the third no-hit game of the 2012 season. Chicago White Sox pitcher Philip Humber tossed a perfect game against the Seattle Mariners in April while Los Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver threw a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins in May.
It is worth noting that Santana walked five batters in his no-hitter and threw 134 pitches. Last Saturday, it only took 96 pitches (none of them resulting in a walk) to dispatch of the Padres. Still, a no-hitter is a no-hitter and I wish I had been there to see it.
UPDATE: This no-hitter wasn’t without controversy. In the top of the sixth, ex-Met Carlos Beltran hit what appeared to a double down the left field line. However, third base umpire Adrian Johnson called it foul. The replay showed the ball hit the chalk. Cardinals manger Mike Matheny and third base coach Jose Oquendo protested but to no avail. MLB instant replay only applies to homerun calls. The call stood and so did the no-hitter.
UPDATE II: Mets leftfielder Mike Baxter made a spectacular catch to preserve the no-hitter. Unfortunately, Baxter will pay a steep price for making Mets history. Baxter has injured his left shoulder and broken several ribs. He will miss at least six weeks of action.
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More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
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rsanchez1| 6.1.12 @ 10:24PM
Jonathon Crawford also threw a no-hitter for the Florida Gators against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in the NCAA Gainesville Regional, and I was there to see it. It was great college pitching.
Now the only team left in the Majors without a no-hitter are the Padres, but in an era with multiple no-hitters, and even multiple perfect games, in a season, the time will probably come soon for the Padres.
One thing's for sure: this is a great year for baseball fans. We get two no-hitters and a perfect game, but the offense isn't taking a break either with Hamilton getting four homers in a game. We get pitching and hitting.
Ruckweiler| 6.1.12 @ 10:38PM
With all the star pitchers that the Mets have had from Seaver on down it is remarkable that this is the first no-hitter. Seems as if no-hitters have been numerous this season. Wonder if this is the most so far at this point in history.
Aaron Goldstein| 6.2.12 @ 5:01PM
In 1917, there were five no-hitters thrown at this point in the season. The first of which was thrown by Chicago White Sox ace Eddie Cicotte against the St. Louis Browns. Cicotte, of course, later became one of the eight Black Sox banned for life following the 1919 World Series.
During the first week of May, there were three no-hitters alone. On back to back days, the Browns got their revenge against the Chisox with Ernie Koob and Bob Groom tossing no-nos.
There would be one more no-hitter thrown that season. Babe Ruth started the game for the Boston Red Sox against the Washington Senators. He walked the leadoff hitter and after arguing with the umpire got ejected from the game. Ernie Shore came on in relief, promptly picked off the runner at first and retired the next 26 batters for the sixth no-hitter of the 1917 season.
Paul McGrath| 6.1.12 @ 11:10PM
I've never been to a World Series game and I've never been to a playoff game and I've never been to an All-Star game. But I saw a no-hitter by God.
Steve Busby, KC, against Detroit--my beloved Tigers--1973. All of us kids had just got, or were in the process of getting, our driver's licenses. And every chance we got we borrowed the family car if we could to go to Detroit to watch the Tigers for a dollar or maybe two dollars or maybe three, if you wanted to sit right down there.
We were sitting in the upper deck, third base side. Busby was warming up in the bullpen, which for the Royals was in foul territory along the first base line. I asked my buddy--Paul, another Paul, like me--to give me his binoculars before the game started and he did and I watched Busby warming up out there and I said, "This guy is going to be tough."
He was.
It was actually a crummy experience.
Aaron Goldstein| 6.2.12 @ 5:04PM
Milwaukee Brewers fans probably felt very much the same way as you did when Busby no-hit the Brew Crew at County Stadium the following year. Busby won a career high 22 games for the Royals in 1974.
Of course, Busby would tear his rotator cuff in 1976 and largely would miss out on the Royals' glory years. He threw his last big league pitch at the age of 30.
These days Busby does radio and TV commentary for the Texas Rangers.
Kingofthenet| 6.2.12 @ 2:38PM
More often than not the Mets will break your heart, but than they go and do something like this....or 1986
Occam's Tool| 6.2.12 @ 3:08PM
There have been multiple no-hitters that I can recall thrown by Cub pitchers in my lifetime: 2 by Ken Holtzman, (the second best Jewish pitcher in history), and assorted others, including Zambrano. 5 in my lifetime, 13 in all.
I was born in 1962. I'd exchange all the no-hitters the Cubs have thrown in their existence for the Mets' World Series Record since my birth, and so would every other damn Cub fan.
Aaron Goldstein| 6.2.12 @ 5:17PM
The other two Cub no-hitters came in 1972. Burt Hooton tossed one against the Phillies on the second day of the season.
Then came Milt Pappas that September. Pappas came within an out of recording a perfect game but home plate umpire Bruce Froemming called ball three and four on two close pitches to pinch hitter Larry Stahl which sent Pappas into a rage. Pappas then retired pinch hitter Garry Jestadt on an infield pop up to get the no-hitter.
Almost forty years later, Pappas and Froemming at odds with each other. They will not be mistaken for Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce anytime soon.
Occam's Tool| 6.2.12 @ 3:13PM
The Mets have won 2 World Series since I have been born and appeared in 4, not winning since 1986---not incredibly impressive, but much more so than the Cubs. Hell, the Royals have appeared in and won more World Series than the Cubs in my lifetime. If I recall correctly ---and I do, I painfully do---the Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908. They have appeared in a lot more World Series than the Mets, but none since 1945. I was born in 1962, and will be 50 in August. I can safely say that the Cubs will not be in the World Series again before I turn 51. Don't get me started on Bartman.
Kingofthenet| 6.2.12 @ 8:47PM
Boston had a long stretch, what with the 'Curse' and all, so there is ALWAYS Hope...Obama/Biden 2012
Ruckweiler| 6.3.12 @ 10:44PM
As George Will would say "the Cubs are in the 104th year of their rebuilding program". Go Cardinals!
JimH| 6.4.12 @ 8:49AM
Bad news for freedom loving Mets fans, I see that Bill Maher has bought a minority stake in the club. After the team owner’s association with Madoff you would think that they would be more particular about with whom they dealt. I did not see if MLB approval was granted or needed.