Church Excited About Santana; UW, UM Hoops Fall

CHURCH EXCITED TO HAVE SANTANA

RYAN CHURCH, the last newcomer to the New York Mets before yesterday’s announcement of the club’s trade for star lefthander Johan Santana, expressed delight at the acquisition.

“I'm just glad that he's on our team,” Church wrote in a Wednesday e-mail. “He really is the cream of the crop when talking about starting pitchers. He now joins an already solid pitching staff, and I can't wait to play behind all of these guys!“

Earlier, in an interview televised on Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show, Church made clear just how very optimistic he is about his new Mets team.

“They want to get an ace like Johan Santana,” Church said on January 11. “If they do, the sky’s the limit.”

“The limit” in baseball is winning the World Series. That is a goal Church's former team, the Washington Nationals, could only dream of for the far distant future.

“I know now that I have a chance year in and year out to win a championship,” Church said. “That’s why I said I was ecstatic and I still am.”

He also commented on a variety of other topics--

Playing right field instead of left field as he did in Washington--“I think I’m capable of playing all three (positions). It’ll be a different angle from where the ball comes off the bat but other than that it won’t be a problem. It won’t take long—a day or two of fly balls.”

The outfield at Shea Stadium—“It’s smaller than DC stadium, pretty much any stadium is. I won’t have to worry about playing so deep.”

Hitting at Shea—“It’s considered a neutral or a little bit a pitchers park but in years past, especially last year, I’ve hit well there.”

How many of his 43 doubles last season might have been home runs at Shea? – “At least 10.” Church hit 15 home runs in 2007.

Besides his doubles and home runs will his RBI total go up as well? –“The potential for hitting in a lineup like that with guys on base, I haven’t had that since I’ve been in the big leagues. In the minor leagues I had guys around me but not in the big leagues. You get better pitches to hit and more opportunities. I’m shooting for 85-90.” He had 70 RBI in 2007.

Is his batting average likely to rise also? “With more guys on base there’ll be more opportunities for sac flies and stuff like that. Definitely the average can go up.” Church batted .272 last season.

Omar Minaya, the Met General Manager, knew Ryan from when they both were with Montreal. Was knowing Omar a factor in the trade?—“They had two positions they had to shore up for next year and Omar, knowing me and Brian Schneider, he went and got us. So I think it played a role.”

Does it make a difference playing for a guy who wants you like Minaya? -- “It’s a confidence booster going in there knowing the guy that runs the team has a lot of confidence in me. He’s already shown that. Trading for me showed that here the NY Mets, a team that contends for the World Series year in and year out, wants me. That alone really brightened my day.”

Washington GM Jim Bowden did not seem to be a Church fan. Did that bother you? --“You can’t worry about it. You can’t let it bother you when they’re sticking it to you. It’s your job, your career. I kept my mouth shut and when I had an opportunity to do something to show them I tried to seize the moment and do it. There’s a lot of business stuff that goes along with baseball. You just have to keep your mouth shut and go out there and play hard.”

The New York sports writers have a reputation for being hyper critical. What do you think? – “I’ll respect them as long as they respect me. (Criticism) comes with the territory. There’s gonna be people writing stuff about you that you might not like. The best thing is not to read it, just go out and play. Don’t pay any attention.”

Regarding criticism from bloggers immediately after the trade — “I have a lot of things to prove to people. I’ll be happy to get in there and strap it up and get them behind me."

Does he like New York? — “I’m looking forward to it but you know me. I’m not a guy for hanging out with a lot of people. I don’t think you’ll see me living it up. I’ll go home, go to bed, get up and go to the yard.”

Is baseball still a thrill after four years? – “It’s a thrill every day. I love the game and I’m still a kid at heart.”

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JOEL

College Hoops

SEATTLE-- The California Golden Bears nipped Washington Saturday 79-75 to dump the Huskies to 3-6 in the PAC-10. JOEL SMITH (pictured above) scored five points in 15 minutes in his sixth man role.

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GEOFF & JASON

College Hoops

BISMARCK, N.D.-- Visiting Wayne State nipped University of Mary 73-65 Saturday. The most startling statistic however was that point guard GEOFF WEST was held scoreless in 25 minutes of action. It was the first time in a regular season game West has not scored. His average is 9.8 points per game. The Marauders fall to 3-10 in Northern Sun conference play, 6-16 overall.