In an offseason that has been overshadowed with financial woes, the New York Mets and their fans finally have something to smile about. Johan Santana, the Mets only legitimate pitching ace, will return to the hill to open the season. Santana missed all of last season after having surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his pitching shoulder. He has not pitched in the Majors since September 2010. Santana gave fans lots of hope of a comeback last season when he tried to rehab in Florida, but in true Mets fashion it never happened. Hopefully, he is not trying to put all the team’s weight on his shoulders and come back too soon because the Mets cannot afford, LITERALLY, to lose a player of his value. “It means everything that we have done since I had my surgery, all the way to today, has been paid off,” Santana said. “We worked hard. And I’m very happy. I’m very happy that I have an opportunity to start the season from Day 1 with the team. That’s something that I really was looking forward to. I’m excited about it.” This is seem welcomed news from this chaotic franchise. It may even make fans watch a game every five games. It is going to be a long season for New York’s “other team”.
