AMID THE PAIN

With the amount of injuries going around the leagues this early in the season, and some left over from last season, two pitchers from New York have sparkled by coming back.

Johann Santana of the New York Mets, after a prolonged absence from the pitcher’s mound, shoulder surgery looming as a setback, proved that it doesn’t have to be. He has pitched spectacularly this season.

After 43.2 innings, Santana has given up just 37 hits, 14 earned runs, struck out 46 and walked only 14! His era is 2.89, which tells you he has not had the run support he needed to better his 1-2 record in 8 games!

All the media was saying how they wondered how close to his old-self he would be. That he would never be the old Santana, but that it would mean that the Mets were left holding this contract that once held hope, and now didn’t seem to meet the expectations.

Well, surprise, surprise, he is better than ever! Santana has incredible numbers, just no luck with run support.

Across the river in The Bronx, another guy has come back from retirement. Once again, after a hiatus that was self-imposed, Andy Pettitte picked the game of his career, after a so0-so start. Going out after the Cincinnati Reds, Pettitte pitched 8 shutout innings striking out 9, in his first win since July 8, 2010, ending a Yankee 3-game losing streak.

You can’t really count the first game he started and was just OK. There he was a little nervous, a little anxious and needed to get comfortable. He’s comfortable now, and all seems right once again in the Yankee world.

When you look at the Yankee pitching staff as it is now, Pettitte’s return was not only timely, it was the cavalry and U.S. Marines coming to the rescue, all wrapped into one!

38 years old is not all that old for a pitcher, some pitched into their 60’s, reference Satchel Paige, but the long layoff and his age makes this remarkable for almost a span of almost 2 years!

Their comebacks make baseball all the more exciting this season, especially for New York fans.