With the impending extension agreement between Johan Santana and the Mets – and don’t let anyone fool you, it’s going to happen – Sox fans are jumping for joy at the idea that the guy who killed them week in and week out may never face our beloved squad ever again.

Some of the more embittered among you may remember the game of August 23, 2005. Freddy Garcia pitched what was, up to that point, the game of his life, holding the Twins to one hit and two walks on 94 pitches over eight innings. The Sox lost that game by a score of 1-0. You can guess who started for the Twins.
While it’s true Santana has dominated the Good Guys since day one, it’s important to note that has less to do with him having the Sox’ number and more to do with having everyone’s number. His splits against the AL Central:

• White Sox: 28 games, 22 starts, 13-6, 3.24 ERA, 172 K, 158.1 IP
• Indians: 30 games, 20 starts, 7-7, 3.42 ERA, 166K, 155.1 IP
• Tigers: 27 games, 21 starts, 11-5, 2.86 ERA, 147 K, 141.2 IP
• Royals: 29 games, 18 starts, 12-3, 3.60 ERA, 152 K, 140 IP

To look at the more complete picture, it’s not that the Sox are really any better off; in fact, if anyone should be rejoicing right now it should be Tigers fans. Santana’s departure alone will guarantee nothing except a slightly better chance of victory every fifth time they face the Twins – unless Ron Gardenhire takes it on himself to constantly reshuffle the rotation so this year’s ace faces the White Sox more than anyone else does.

That in and of itself is a long shot, considering that during the 2004, 2005, and 2006 seasons where Santana began his systematic destruction of the Central the Sox were actually contenders. In 2005 specifically, Santana faced the Sox five times and Indians four; in 2006, in which the Twins took the division, Santana started against each ALC team four times apiece; 2007, when the Sox stunk up the joint from May onwards, Santana started six games against both Detroit and Cleveland. The guy actually started four against the Sox as well, although the first two were in May and the last two were waaaaaay down the stretch, including the nail in the coffin:

7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K.

You may remember this as elimination day 2007.

Those Twins may be smart, but you can’t say they’re not also a little spiteful to boot.