As the Mets celebrate their first no-hitter in team history, Johan Santana's teammates and manager were thrilled for the southpaw. Here's what they had to say following his historic performance in Flushing.
Third baseman David Wright: That was awesome. Short of Tom Seaver, I can't think of a better person to pitch the first one. Just the type of guy he is, the type of person he is and just what he's been through the last year or so, to come back and have that performance, that was incredible and I was glad I was able to be a part of that.
I'm thrilled I could be a part of it. As I've mentioned, it couldn't happen to a better guy and just an amazing story. The way that he's come back from this injury and I can let you know first-hand, I was there with him in Florida, throughout some of his rehab last year, and just the work that he put in, the time he put in to get himself back to this point. I thought his last start was special. This start I guess was once every 51 years.
Manager Terry Collins: To do what he had to do, to have the surgery done and have people say, 'Well he's not coming back, his career is over, if he comes back he'll be a sub-par guy, just be another guy who had surgery who is being paid a lot of money so he'll continue to pitch.' What's got him to this level is what he showed you tonight. He trusts himself, he trusts his ability, he never gives up and gets in and said I'm going to come back to this. It led to this. It's an amazing story.
Pitcher Miguel Batista: You look at the facts. He's the best pitcher we got. You look at facts, he's the best we have and the best we've seen in years. I've been in four different decades of baseball and together with Pedro (Martinez), he's up there. Him, (Roy) Halladay, those are the guys you expect to see them every night to go out there and see it happen. It's amazing. It's one of those things that happened that will take you a couple of days to actually digest what really is going on."
Pitcher R.A. Dickey: Just so proud of him. He pushed past probably a pitch envelope, that my first concern was he was getting up there in pitches. It takes a strong guy to keep going out there like he did. It's hard to put it into words. I'm just proud of him.
(The shoulder surgery) makes it more impressive simply because a lot of people out there didn't even think he was going to be ready for Opening Day. A lot of people out there didn't think he was going to be able to get back to his form that he was in. For him to be able to do it is incredibly impressive and not to mention that's his second consecutive complete-game shutout. Couldn't be more proud of him."
Catcher Josh Thole: You'll never forget this. I've asked to have my catcher's gear authenticated. This doesn't happen every day. Being a young guy, it's a little giddy, but exciting to say the least.
Outfielder Mike Baxter: It's an honor to be able to make a play for Johan. Ultimately it's his night, he was incredible tonight and he just start to finish had it all working. What a a great night for him and the Mets.
Third baseman David Wright: That was awesome. Short of Tom Seaver, I can't think of a better person to pitch the first one. Just the type of guy he is, the type of person he is and just what he's been through the last year or so, to come back and have that performance, that was incredible and I was glad I was able to be a part of that.
I'm thrilled I could be a part of it. As I've mentioned, it couldn't happen to a better guy and just an amazing story. The way that he's come back from this injury and I can let you know first-hand, I was there with him in Florida, throughout some of his rehab last year, and just the work that he put in, the time he put in to get himself back to this point. I thought his last start was special. This start I guess was once every 51 years.
Manager Terry Collins: To do what he had to do, to have the surgery done and have people say, 'Well he's not coming back, his career is over, if he comes back he'll be a sub-par guy, just be another guy who had surgery who is being paid a lot of money so he'll continue to pitch.' What's got him to this level is what he showed you tonight. He trusts himself, he trusts his ability, he never gives up and gets in and said I'm going to come back to this. It led to this. It's an amazing story.
Pitcher Miguel Batista: You look at the facts. He's the best pitcher we got. You look at facts, he's the best we have and the best we've seen in years. I've been in four different decades of baseball and together with Pedro (Martinez), he's up there. Him, (Roy) Halladay, those are the guys you expect to see them every night to go out there and see it happen. It's amazing. It's one of those things that happened that will take you a couple of days to actually digest what really is going on."
Pitcher R.A. Dickey: Just so proud of him. He pushed past probably a pitch envelope, that my first concern was he was getting up there in pitches. It takes a strong guy to keep going out there like he did. It's hard to put it into words. I'm just proud of him.
(The shoulder surgery) makes it more impressive simply because a lot of people out there didn't even think he was going to be ready for Opening Day. A lot of people out there didn't think he was going to be able to get back to his form that he was in. For him to be able to do it is incredibly impressive and not to mention that's his second consecutive complete-game shutout. Couldn't be more proud of him."
Catcher Josh Thole: You'll never forget this. I've asked to have my catcher's gear authenticated. This doesn't happen every day. Being a young guy, it's a little giddy, but exciting to say the least.
Outfielder Mike Baxter: It's an honor to be able to make a play for Johan. Ultimately it's his night, he was incredible tonight and he just start to finish had it all working. What a a great night for him and the Mets.
Matt Ehalt
ESPN New York contributor
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rubin
Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
Mark Simon
Mark Simon is ESPN Stats & Information's Baseball Research Specialist. One of several Mets historians working at ESPN, he joined the Worldwide Leader in 2002 after 6 1/2 years as a sports writer at the Trenton Times.
THE 49 GREATEST METS
Fifty years in the making, we give you our 49 most Amazin' Mets. Photos 
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5.20.13: Binghamton brings the lumber http://t.co/c9L9mQY4xV #NYM #Mets
about 4 hours ago
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Notebook: Rough night for Ike http://t.co/m6Uu7ymjGB #NYM #Mets
about 4 hours ago
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Tornadoes hit home for Hefner http://t.co/UJsx1BrQzH #NYM #Mets
about 5 hours ago
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Trying to show restraint, but this one is on #Mets postgame notes: Three NL starters are 0-5: Shaun Marcum, Jeremy Hefner and Josh Beckett.
about 7 hours ago
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Rapid Reaction: Reds 4, Mets 3 http://t.co/GUNH2DIzIP #NYM #Mets
about 7 hours ago
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Corrected: Princeton's Matt Bowman continues to roll for St. Lucie. No-decision tonight, but tossed 7 IP, 11 Ks, 2 ER at Dunedin (long day)
about 7 hours ago
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Final: #Reds 4, #Mets 3. Rapid Reaction coming shortly to blog: http://t.co/BUxLHdl7KY
about 7 hours ago
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Princeton product Matt Bowman continues to role for St. Lucie #Mets. No decision tonight, but tossed 7 IP, 11 Ks, 2 ER at Dunedin.
about 8 hours ago
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I'll just note Scott Boras is his agent. And he's very good.//RT @whyyounolikeeme: How much you think Choo commands this off-season? 5-$60M?
about 8 hours ago
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Mets will go to final inning trailing by a run. Good news: Aroldis Chapman has blown 2 straight saves. #Reds 4, #Mets 3, end 8.
about 8 hours ago
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So I can see the Mets actually spending in free agency, including for a Choo type, and still have payroll go down.
about 8 hours ago
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There will be arbitration raises. Really rough estimate: Mets would probably need to spend ~$50M in FA to have same $95M payroll in '14
about 8 hours ago
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$16 million of Jason Bay's $21M is technically deferred to 2014/15, before someone starts barking I mischaracterized it.
about 8 hours ago
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That said, I wouldn't hold by breath. But Santana ($31M), Bay ($21M), Francisco ($6.5M), Buck ($6M), Marcum ($4M) all expiring.
about 8 hours ago
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Biggest payroll commitments for next season: Wright $20M. Niese $5M So yes. // RT @mooseknuck11: Mets have enough $ for ellsbury AND choo?
about 8 hours ago
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Believe Mets record for most winless starts to begin a Mets career is untouchable: Bob Miller did not record a win in 20 starts in 1962.
about 8 hours ago
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Both won their second starts as Mets. // RT @JonOrBattleship: Hefner? Anthony Young?
about 8 hours ago
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Official Citi Field attendance: RT @MattEhalt: 23,038 came to watch Hawkins and Collins get run. #mets #reds
about 8 hours ago
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At risk of bringing wrath upon myself still merit in pitching better than guy you oppose./RT @ericviola_: People still look at pitcher wins?
about 8 hours ago
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Marcum 0 wins in 1st 5 starts. Most recent longer streaks to open Mets career: Schwinden (6, '11-12), Redding (6, '09) and Ishii (5, '05)
about 8 hours ago
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UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIN | 27-18 | 16-6 | 11-12 | W1 | |
| NYM | 17-25 | 9-13 | 8-12 | L1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIN | 27-18 | 16-6 | 11-12 | W1 | |
| NYM | 17-25 | 9-13 | 8-12 | L1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | 26-18 | 13-5 | 13-13 | W4 | |
| NYM | 17-25 | 9-13 | 8-12 | L1 |
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