Johan Santana's "big game"

Tonight, Johan Santana faces newly acquired Phillie, Joe Blanton in the first of a three game series at Shea Stadium. Since it's the second half, against the Phillies, and both teams tied for first, it's already being outlined that this is the biggest start of Santana's Mets career.

It seems to me that if he doesn't take a no-hitter into the seventh and finish with a three hit, complete game, it will be deemed a failure by the media, and to many fans.

Joel Sherman wrote this:

That leaves Santana as the starter the Mets must have work deep into every game as a bullpen saver for all the uncertainty that threatens around him in the rotation. His renown has been as a second-half stalwart and the Mets badly need that guy. Tonight Santana faces Joe Blanton in his Phillie debut, a starter obtained merely to fit this qualification: Be better than Adam Eaton. Blanton does not have the pedigree of an ace and Philadelphia is not expecting that. But the Mets certainly are expecting Santana to be an ace. They certainly are expecting him at home -- at Shea -- to outpitch Blanton, lug the ball pretty darn close to the finish line, if not the finish line itself. It is still just July, but this is why Santana was obtained. So, yes, tonight is a big start for him. big game for the Mets.

Sure, it'd be great if he does all those things. And that's taking into account the offense isn't anemic, like when he usually pitches.

If Santana falters, say giving up four runs in six innings, he'll be blasted for "failing" his team, the franchise, the fans.

Can't we just wait and see how he does, see how he comes out and performs in front of his home crowd, against the teams bitter rivals as they're both perched in first place. Let's see how tonight goes before we pass judgement on whether or not he was "right" for the Mets.