I'm glad neither team got him, or we would be hearing about Johan Santana, as much as we are hearing about Tom Brady. The Mets getting Santana---at a VERY steep, but worth, IMO---doesn't really affect us, so I am not really concerned about it. How does it not affect us? Assuming we even got that far, how would you like facing Santana 3 times in a 7 game NLCS? There's a chance the Cubs wouldn't face him in the regular season. And the playoffs? We should cross that bridge when we (or they) get there. Letting a pitcher---even the one of Santana's ability---to affect you mentally, then maybe you should find players who likes the challenge. Again, if the Cubs have a strong enough mental and physical team in 2008, then facing a guy like Santana SHOULD NOT affect the Cubs. You have to beat the best, to become the best. I don't even understand your logic. You'd rather strengthen a likely playoff opponent by giving them a pitcher that is often unhittable than hear about Santana on the Red Sox (or Yankees) on ESPN? If we have to face him on one of those teams in the World Series, THEN so be it. We'll cross THAT bridge when we get there. Even if we're lucky enough not to face him in the regular season, it all comes down to what happens in the playoffs. The fact is, this deal makes the Mets a very imposing roadblock if we want to get to the Series. So be it....I rather cross that bridge WE WHEN GET TO THE PLAYOFFS. I do agree it is a roadblock with Santana/Martinez at the front of the rotation, but making it to the World Series, is ever easy. And hopefully come playoff time, if against the Mets, Z/Lilly (or whoever is the #2 at the time) is as imposing as a Santana/Martinez. But right now, I'm not sweating it.