Pedro To The Mets

[Crash Course]

The recent reports (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1945561) have Pedro Martinez signing with the New York Mets for 4 years at $56 million.

As a Yankee fan, this is a great story, if it comes true.

Pedro leaves the Sox, does not come to the Yankees, and the Mets have to deal with the Mango Tree Sitter sideshow. How many times does something happen with three results - all of them good?

Pitching in Shea should help Pedro some - I think the in the last 34 year years, the Park Factor for Shea hit (or passed) 100 only 4 times. It's a pitcher's park. Plus, there's no DH in the NL.

But, if the Mets are looking for Pedro to pitch the full year without a trip to the DL, or, if they are expecting over 200 IP out of him, they're nuts. Outside of 2004, the last time Pedro reached 200+ IP was 2000. And, the last time outside of last year that he was able to make 33+ starts was 1998. Clearly, last year, being the walk year for him, Petey pushed it - and, it showed in his numbers. The 2004 season was his worst full one in the last 9 years.

Good for the Sox not going for that 4th year. The likelihood of Pedro having any value at age 36 is dicey. He may have some value, yes, but, $14 million dollars worth? Naaaaah.........Now, of course, the Sox need to go out and get another SP for their rotation - unless they're happy with Schilling, David Wells, Arroyo, Wakefield and TBD.

Another factor in the Pedro Mets signing is Mikey Piazza. It was just two weeks ago (http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/showpost.php?p=16973932&postcount=7) that I mentioned in the NDF that Piazza and Pedro do not like each other. Piazza on his way out of NY now?

Of course, this signing is pending some sort of exam, without doubt. Let us just say that I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[RascalJones]

Word is the Sox are entering the Matt Clement derby, all but taking the Indians OUT of it.

[Crash Course]

Clement has played this market perfect. Everyone wants him now. He can take his pick. Back to Petey, boy, did Gammons take out the fangs on him today, or what? (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=1946349) Quote:

Remember, in 17 starts on normal (4 days') rest, his [Pedro's] 2004 earned run average was 4.995, or 5.00; his three outstanding postseason starts were on seven, eight and seven days' rest, while his weaker start was on a fifth day of rest. And, remember, he didn't pitch on four days' rest from June 13 to July 27 and was given 10 days off at the All-Star break. From 1997 through 2002, Martinez had by far the best strikeout-walk ratio in the game but in 2003-2004 he ranked ninth. He led all major league pitchers in lowest OPS year after year, but in '04 he was ninth in the American League, right behind Freddy Garcia and Jake Westbrook. When Red Sox fans howl about their rivalry with the Yankees, remember, in the past two years, the Red Sox were 24-16 against the Yanks when Pedro didn't start, 3-9 when he did.

[Joseph]

how very CHB'y of Gammons

[KCBOOMER]

Gammons unloaded on him. Though Pedro has thrown away any chance for future rings he may have made a decision that will benfit his career and wallet. Pitching in Shea and against pitchers should help his shoulder hold up. And we can can all use an extra $13M can't we??

On the other hand by mid-summer he may wish he was never born if the local media turns on him.

[RichG]

While I'm sure the stats given are accurate, it sounds to me more like a jilted lover pointing out the faults.

If Pedro passes his physical I think the deal will benefit the Mets for the short term and there's probably enough time for Boston to get a decent replacement on the mound or other position (Beltran) with some newfound budget money.

[captain_napalm]

FWIW, I'll be taking in a few Mets games this summer. Pedro may not be PEDRO anymore, but I still enjoy watching him pitch.

[Crash Course]

Another factor in the Pedro Mets signing is Mikey Piazza. It was just two weeks ago (http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/showpost.php?p=16973932&postcount=7) that I mentioned in the NDF that Piazza and Pedro do not like each other.

The local press is already beating the drum on this one: http://www.app.com/app/story/0,21625,1143006,00.html

The feud started in 1995 when Ramon Martinez -- Pedro's older brother -- criticized the catching skills of Piazza when both were with the Dodgers.

Three years later, in March 1998, Ramon Martinez hit two Mets during a spring training game and was accused of doing so purposely by manager Bobby Valentine. Ramon Martinez angrily denied the charge.

Piazza was traded to the Mets a few months later. During an interleague game against the Red Sox, Pedro Martinez sought vengeance for Valentine's comments about his brother by hitting Piazza on the left hand with a fastball, causing him to miss two games.

Asked why he hit Piazza, Martinez responded with a profanity-laced tirade.

"I just think it's pretty funny that all the money in the world can't buy you class," Piazza said in response. "I don't think there is any excuse for language like that in the paper. He should invest in etiquette lessons. It's ridiculous."

[Joseph]

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sportsNews/view.bg?articleid=85496

Q: Who do you think they're going to re-sign?

A: I have no idea, but they'll be stupid not to do Varitek. Varitek is the next one gone. Theo's going to have the biggest problem with him.

Q: You think he'll be gone?

A: (Laughs) I hope he is gone.

Q: Why?

A: I hope 'Tek is on my team.

Q: Mike Piazza won't be happy to hear that.

A: I do want Piazza, too. Piazza is a good hitter. We can move him to first or somewhere. I would like every good player that is out there to be on my team. I want 'Tek. 'Tek is a good player, a good catcher.

[Crash Course]

Piazza's agent has already stated earlier that this year, 2005, Piazza will only catch and the 1B thing is out.

[Jim Rice]

That interview was classic. Chuck-full of hilarious lines. Here's one of my favorites:

"I've pitched pretty much like Schilling the last few years, if you're going to talk about durability."

Only if "few" is very loosely defined as "two". For '03-'04, Pedro did pitch more innings than Schilling (403.2 to 394.2). Of course, it took him six extra starts to throw those extra nine innings, but let's give it to him anyway.

For '02-'04, Schilling threw 654 IP to Pedro's 603 (in the same number of games)
For '01-'04, Schilling threw 910.2 IP to Pedro's 719.2.
For '00-'04, Schilling threw 1121 IP to Pedro's 936.2.
For '99-'04, Schilling threw 1301.1 IP to Pedro's 1150.
For '98-'04, Schilling threw 1570 IP to Pedro's 1383.2.
For '97-'04, Schilling threw 1824.1 to Pedro's 1625.

Schilling has compiled four seasons with more innings than Pedro's highest single-season total of 241.1. Pedro hasn't thrown as many innings as Schilling did at age 37 (226.2) since he was 26-years old.

Here's another:

"Money's not my issue, but respect is, and that's what Boston lacked to show by not showing interest."

I guess the owner and CEO of the team flying to a foreign country to offer you $40 million is now "not showing interest." I wonder what they would have done if they were actually interested?

And finally:

"Theo got really arrogant on Fernando and I didn't appreciate it."

Which might as well have been, "Hello Kettle, this is Pot, and allow me to say you're looking awfully black."

[Crash Course]

With Mango now in NY, I fully expect a storm of slams between him and Red Light over the next several months.

Too bad that the AL East gets the NL Central this year in interleague and not the NL East.

[Crash Course]

From: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1948637

He [Pedro] said Red Sox manager Terry Francona played a small role in managing the team, taking his cues from the team's front office.

"Francona is subject to what they decide," Martinez said. "Francona had no say, like he didn't have any say in managing the team. He was manipulated from upstairs."

Asked for evidence to back that assertion, he said, "I was in the clubhouse, that's how I know."


Knowing how much Schilling loves Terry, how long till Curt fires back on this one?

[KCBOOMER]

Some guys just down know how to shut up. Pedro is really showing no class. He showed no class going to a mediocre ballclub strictly for money and now he wants to bad mouth the club he won a championship with just because they wouldn't over pay him.

[Crash Course]

Expecting class from Pedro would be like expecting Barry Bonds to tell the truth about using performance enhancing drugs.

[Crash Course]

Well, this didn't take long, did it?

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=59479

``He came and went as he pleased. That was something very different for me and something I'd never seen before,'' Schilling said. ``I had to be kind of walked along by the hand with how I dealt with that because I wasn't sure how I was supposed to. There were times during the year when I wondered where he was.

``He left the game the first start of the season in the middle of the game,'' continued Schilling, referring to Martinez' departure on Opening Day in Baltimore. ``What does that say about the respect he has for his teammates? He wasn't there for Game 6 of (the American League Championship Series). I don't remember what his explanation was.''

``It's obvious: The barometer he uses for respect is money,'' said Schilling, who earned a base salary of $12 million last season to Martinez' $17.5 million. ``It obviously bothered him because, question after question, his answers were that he wouldn't be behind me or be under, whatever that means. I'm guessing it relates to salary.''


I loved this part: " Speaking on conference call arranged by his publicist, Schilling said......."

"Publicist?" Red Light, what a media whore.

Bonds and Giambi are probably saying "Keep talking guys, keep talking!"

[RedSeat]

He showed no class going to a mediocre ballclub strictly for money...
I agree that Pedro is better served to just shut up, but I have a problem with this statement. The Mets offered him about $14M more to do the same job. I can't begrudge him for accepting that. And yes, he's already earned tens of millions of dollars in his career, but I'm not comfortable telling anyone else how much is too much.

[Crash Course]

$14 million does buy a lot bus rides away from that Mango Tree..........can't say I blame him either. This was his last chance at a big contract; plus, and this is just a guess, I would imagine that Pedro is the source of income for a lot of people back in the DR. IIRC, he's built a lot of stuff down there. Maybe he went for the dough thinking he could do even more back there? It's possible.

[rc3000]

IIRC, he's built a lot of stuff down there. Maybe he went for the dough thinking he could do even more back there? It's possible.

I am an optimist about people and I do believe this was a factor. As Red Seat said I wish he would just shut up.

[Crash Course]

Doubtful that a uniform change is going to stop Pedro from letting stupid things fly out of his mouth.

[captain_napalm]

Well, this is just plain bizarre...

From today's NY Daily News
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/263738p-225837c.html

"At his introductory press conference last week, Martinez laughed off the Dominican dwarf's role as a good-luck charm during Boston's curse-breaking World Series run, saying, "That was just a trick."

Then he really set off his little buddy by scooping up a midget who showed up to blast de la Rosa as a "palm-sized pipsqueak."

Too funny! :D

[Crash Course]

Well, now Piazza will not be catching Pedro, it seems: http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1115101812212150.xml