Good Morning Mets Fans!

Shea was his studio.

The glove of Ramon Castro--his canvas.

The fastball, slider and changeup--the colors on his palette.

His arm, hands and fingers--his brushes.

These were the artist's tools, and he painted a masterpiece.

His name is Johan Santana.

For the millions of Mets fans who watched him craft his uber-work, there was a satisfaction, a joy, a knowledge that you were witnessing something very special, perhaps even historic.

A game for the ages that you will discuss with your kids, and their kids, and your buddies at the bar and the office, and Mets fans everywhere. You know, without question, that this was really what the season and our love for the Mets is all about.

You know and you are happy. It was game 161, and the season was on the line. You saw him pitch a complete game shutout on 3 days rest against a hot hitting team hell bent on sending the Mets to their ultimate demise. But today Johan stood against them like the gladiator, the warrior, the master of the ship at the head of the battle--"bring it on, bring them on, show me what you are made of, and I will show you what I've got--may the best man win."

You saw him lower his ERA to a major league best 2.53, and up his record to 16-7. You know there are a half dozen victories missing from that total, but it doesn't matter, not today.

You know he came here for this moment in time--this game--this time of the season where the immortals shine brightest and perform acts that seperate them from mere baseball Gods.

You know, and so do his GM, manager and teammates.

"Obviously, for the hype and stuff that he came with, and the price and all that type of stuff, to come in and demand and say, 'This is why you got me,'" Manuel said. "He went out and did it. He went out and backed it up."

"You definitely envisioned a day like today when you make a deal, when you sign for a player like that," Minaya said. "But I'll be honest with you, I never envisioned this day with three days' rest. I never envisioned this day with the pressure that the whole event has. I envisioned him pitching big games with four days' rest, but I never envisioned him pitching big games with three days' rest -- the way he pitched."

"It's the best pitching performance I've ever seen in person, under the circumstances," said Mets third baseman David Wright.

"Using the word 'best' is hard, but I have to put it at the top," said Minaya.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel simply said, "Wow, wow, wow." He added, "If I have to describe that, I'd say it was gangsta."

"Did I think he'd throw a complete game shutout?" asked Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado with a smile. "No, but I hoped he would."

"That's the greatest performance I've ever seen on a baseball field," left fielder Daniel Murphy said. "This was a game that we had to have, and he dominated from start to finish. That's something that I'll remember forever."

"It's the best thing I've ever seen, given the situation," Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez praised.

"I think we should all buy him dinner tonight," Ryan Church said.

"We knew we had the best pitcher on the mound," Jose Reyes agreed. "Santana, he was unbelievable today."

"I told him good job," Ramon Castro said. "We needed that. He was outstanding. Unbelievable. I don't have any other words to say about it."

Johan himself knew what he had to do--he was a man on a mission.

"There's no tomorrow," Santana said. "I've got to do it today. That's the way you take care of business. I knew the situation we were in was a tough situation and there might be no tomorrow. That's why I was up to the challenge and ready to roll."

This win capped an incredible run for the Mets ace. Santana's record since July 4th is a stunning 9-0 with a 2.09 ERA in 17 starts. He's even better at home. At Shea, Santana is 6-0 with a 1.47 ERA in his last nine starts, including Saturday's masterpiece.

So yes Mets fans, there is a tomorrow. Ollie Perez, also going on 3 days rest, has the task--win, win and win. He's been very good against the Marlins this year, but not great in his last few outings.

It's time for the other fighters to get up out of the bunker and charge the hill--hit hard, run fast, and score. Punch them in the gut early and do not let up the attack until the very end. Will yourself and your teammates to new heights of excellence and win at all costs--give everything you have--leave it all on the field.

The Brewers counter with CC Sabathia going on 3 days rest for the 3rd consecutive start.

It just doesn't get much better than this...the final day at Shea...or is it?

Enjoy your coffee!

Scoreboard
Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Florida (83-77)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
N.Y. Mets (89-72) «	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	x	2	6	0

Player of the Game

New York

J. Santana	IP	9.0
	H	3
	ER	0
	BB	3
	K	9