Santana’s first. Panic?

With a no decision appearance in his first spring training game, Santana didn’t show the fans what he’s capable of - yet. He allowed a 3-run homer in two innings. But he also threw 30 pitches and 22 were in the strike zone. His fastball was around the 92-miles mark. Is he in shape? He says he felt great and thinks he’s still getting used to NL batters.

But it will not take long before the K’s start to show up in his stats. More importantly, his teammates were all lined up against the fence in the dugout to watch one of the key that will take the team far in the postseason. Not only were the teammates excited to watch Johan throw the ball. The fans stood up from their seats, clapped their hands, and chanted his name as he was taking the mound. AND when he was leaving the mound too!

But, he gave up three runs! Well, if you are an athlete, any athlete. You would know what is like to be at the beginning of your season. You would know what it takes for you to be at the top of your game. You would know how it feels to go out there and perform for the first time after few weeks of workouts. And you would definitely know if you still got it or not. Santana knows he’s got it. And he wants it, badly. He went out to the field after the game was over and threw sixteen more pitches before the press conference.

Now, a pitcher with Santana’s numbers should be on every National League batter’s mind already. But, a pitcher with Santana’s numbers, plus the way he wants to dominate the NL, and his work ethic - should be in every major league batter’ s nightmares!