Now that I have finally started to come down from my high over the Giants being the greatest team in the land, I can firmly give my opinions about the Johan Santana trade, and where it stands in New York Mets history. Keep in mind this is a history full of miserable trades, stupid free agent singings, and in my lifetime, many disappointments. In other words, the Mets made this trade, so they better win the World Series.

First off, not only did we trade for Santana, we got him for legit highway robbery. Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey will never be anymore than mid rotation guys, and only time can tell with Deolis Guerra. OF Carlos Gomez, though fast and vastly talented, was dispensable based on the fact that Fernando Martinez is still waiting in the wings. The fact that we didn’t have to give up the super talented Martinez is still beyond me. For weeks it seems like that was the deal on the table that the Twins wouldn’t take, and then all of a sudden we get the trade done and Martinez is still a Met. Way to go Omar for pulling that one out your you-know-where.

The other main issue, and the most important issue, is that the trade puts us to the top of the class in not only the National League East, but the whole National League. For a team and fan base still bitter about the 2006 NLCS disappointment, and the 2007 late season stink bomb, this is the best news we have heard out the Mets front office since the Reagan Administration. Living down here in the South Jersey wilderness I’m pretty sure I heard an extremely loud GULP coming from somewhere towards the direction of the city of Philadelphia. Yeah the Phillies have the best infield in baseball, but their infield won’t do them any good when the mighty Santana continues to sit them down in order, one-by-one. You heard it here first; game over in the National League, as the Mets have no excuse to not win that elusive pennant this season.

Many Mets fans and Mets historians believe that this might turn out to be the biggest trade in New York Mets history. Now I think we might be getting a head of ourselves here, as there definitely needs to be a championship won before lofty claims like that can be made. The Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez trades in the mid 1980’s that set the veteran cornerstones for the 1986 squad still remain the biggest and most lopsided trades in team history. We got a future Hall of Famer in Carter, and a man who is still one of the faces of this organization in Hernandez. The short and long term effects of this deal can still be felt today, and they are by far the biggest trades in Mets history.

The series of deals leading up to the 2000 National League Pennant can be considered here also. Mike Piazza, Mike Hampton, Derek Bell, and Mike Bordick were all solid players that were acquired via trade. All of them had a significant hand in that 2000 pennant run. Mike Piazza was the face of the team for almost ten seasons, and will surely be the next Met to have his number hang from left field. Mike Hampton was the NLCS MVP. The 2000 Mets were a great overachieving squad, which will never be forgotten because of those players.

Basically Santana and the 2008 New York Mets still have a ton to prove, and the only way they can prove it to me is on the field.

Speaking of overachieving…I think there are congratulations in order to our football brothers in arms, the New York Football Giants. Unless you have been living in Omar Minaya’s cell phone for the past week, you most surely know that my beloved New York Giants defeated the previously undefeated New England Patriots (18-1) 17-14 in what may go down as the greatest Super Bowl ever played. This also put a blemish on the hated city of Boston, and their miracle run of sport success this decade. Here’s to the New York Giants, for bringing the top of the sports mountain back to New York. And thank you for capping the best week in New York sports history.

That’s all I got. Later. JD