Santana was out of line, maybe not for the first time

• Matt Suoja

Matt Suoja

Talk about it

I am sick and tired of professional sports in Minnesota.

Sure I watch all the teams, but I have to. I enjoy sports and yelling at the TV screen.

It just seems like many of the great players who play here leave. Our state is cursed … maybe by bad owners.

We couldn’t hold on to Randy Moss (he did have some personal problems), Kevin Garnett or Johan Santana. These just aren’t your average star players either. They may be the best at their position now, or when they were in their prime.

We lose them because this is a small market, plus the team didn’t surround them with other stars for an extended period of time.

Some would say the Twins did surround Santana with stars, but ones with a lack of experience and with shyness for the big stage.

This topic has been discussed many times before, but it seems more relevant now than ever for the Twins.

Every time I watch them I can’t help but wonder how good they would be with Santana. Not only would he have his own veteran prowess on the mound, but he could also teach the youthful pitching staff.

I think the staff would be much better with him, than without him.

Of course there’s a flip side to that coin.

Is Santana a selfish player?

He did complain a bit about some general managerial decisions in Minnesota, which I thought he was correct about, but I don’t think he should have stated his opinion.

He was also “out in left field” when he ignored a bunt sign when batting for the Mets last week and swung away, a hit which tied the game for the Mets (they eventually won the game). What a dangerous play that is, especially by a pitcher who’s hitting.

More than likely that chance he took would have never worked out and maybe it would have cost the Mets the game.

Is it possible that the Twins made the right decision in trading Santana for the crap they got for him?

I guess I will never judge a team on a trade until I, and we, know the facts.

Matt Suoja is a reporter with the Lake County News Chronicle. E-mails can be sent to msuoja@lcnewschronicle.com. Call him at 834-2141.