Pedro, Pedro, Pedro

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Pedro says he's done for the season, but for the best of reasons: he wants to let a rookie take his last start to "see what he can do, see if he can help the club next season".

It doesn't hurt that Pedro won his 20th (I guess he didn't want to give THAT start to the rookie), and that Boston is done for the year (I guess, maybe they still have a WC shot).

When asked, Pedro said he'd split the Cy Young between himself and Derek Lowe.

The "manager" said he'd wait and see, but that Pedro (who also doesn't want to "risk injury" (read: risk a bad outing and a loss) in his last start) would probably make the start.

Who's running that club?

[soxfan121]

The inmates are running the asylum. You had to ask?

On top of the above news, Pedro has also publicly "asked" for an extension to his current deal - which runs thru 2004. He has said that if the Red Sox do not extend him before next season, he'll become a free-agent when his current deal expires.

As for Pedro's being "done" for the year, that's disappointing, if only because I've got tickets to Saturday's game and would like to see him. But if he wants, let him shut it down. Nothing is gained from making him pitch, and everything can be lost. Makes no sense. Shut him down and get ready for next season.

[KCBOOMER]

Originally posted by soxfan121
On top of the above news, Pedro has also publicly "asked" for an extension to his current deal - which runs thru 2004. He has said that if the Red Sox do not extend him before next season, he'll become a free-agent when his current deal expires.

Sure be nice if this crap could be conducted privately or in the bona fide off season.

[JamesI]

Well, this seems silly for Pedro to want to take the rest of the season off. Of course, he'l only miss one start. If the management asked him so they could look at a rookie, ok, but that shouldn't be his decision.

[poorme]

this is why consider him to be less of a pitcher than his stats would suggest.

[b-ball-lunachik]

I've often said that Pedro annoys the hell out of me but I respect the hell out of him...and if he were on a team I rooted for, I'd probably love him...but I think I'm finally ready to change my mind on this one -- no thanks.

I wouldn't love this crap...he should settle this in private with his manager who should be making those decisions -- how is anyone going to respect Little if Pedro makes the decisions and announces them to the press? grrr....if the Red Sox had gotten into the postseason, he would have been ready to pitch -- injured shoulder and all...but now he thinks there's nothing to play for except to maybe pitch himself out of Cy Young contention? how about pitching for the fans who have come out to support you and your team all year in the last weekend of baseball they will see until April! ugh...grr... how about setting a good example for the rookie and pitching when told to pitch? ugh..

As for his contract negotiations, Pedro was just quoted a couple weeks ago saying that he'd give Clemens who was probably the best pitcher ever in his opinion, his spot at the top of the Boston rotation, etc...as if he was Mr. Boston. ugh, this guy sickens me...

I hope they pitch the rookie and no one shows up.

[Skip]

I must say my opinion of Pedro the person has gone down in the past year or so. He just seems to be a lot more about him than about them. It could just be that he's more honest than most, I suppose, but .... I don't think that's it.

(Edited to add the last 5 words)

[soxfan121]

Originally posted by Skip
I must say my opinion of Pedro the person has gone down in the past year or so. He just seems to be a lot more about him than about them. It could just be that he's more honest than most, I suppose, but .... I don't think that's it.

(Edited to add the last 5 words)

I think you've hit it Skip. He does care more about HIM than he does about THEM.

AND he's about the most honest guy with the press I've ever seen. He says the things that most players never would. It's refreshing if examined without context.

Pedro is a prima donna. He thinks he is 'god's gift' - and he's right. Michael Jordan acts the SAME way and is beloved by most. Only Jordan has never uttered an honest word in his life, he's concerned with his image. Pedro does NOT care what you, I, or anyone else thinks about Pedro. He really doesn't. He only cares about what he thinks about himself. That's not a bad thing - the most successful people in history have cared about their own greatness more than other's opinions about that greatness.

It's not right, it's not wrong, it's the way he is. It does not diminish his accomplishments anymore than Barry Bonds being a complete jerk diminishes his accomplishments.

[b-ball-lunachik]

Originally posted by Skip
I must say my opinion of Pedro the person has gone down in the past year or so. He just seems to be a lot more about him than about them. It could just be that he's more honest than most, I suppose, but .... I don't think that's it.

(Edited to add the last 5 words)

I don't think that's it either Skip -- there are a lot of guys that are more concerned for the team and about winning than their own personal stats and achievements....are there others like him? yes. Are there others who aren't honest about it? yes. He's only about Pedro and he's honest about it but that doesn't mean he should be revered for it in my book anyway. Maybe gives him a few extra points, but he's still selfish to me...thankfully I don't root for that team because that would drive me nuts.

[Fuzzy Bear]

First off, now that Pedro has won 20 and the Red Sox are out of contention, there is NO WAY THAT HE SHOULD PITCH AGAIN THIS YEAR!

This is a great pitcher with a big contract, who many of us thought suffered a career-ending injury earlier this year. Pedro's shoulder injury is chronic.

If Pedro insisted on pitching one more game and hurt himself, many here would be speaking out about how selfish he was. That's having it both ways, don't you think.

What should have happened is that Grady Little should have announced to the press after Pedro won 20 that he would not pitch again the rest of the year in order to rest his shoulder and to check out youngsters. This is an instance where the interests of the team and player coincide. If this was not evident to Little, it should have been evident to Sox management.

Anyway, Pedro deserves a break on this. His manager and front office dropped the ball on this one, IMO.

[b-ball-lunachik]

isn't pedro kind of kicking himself in the butt here? how does someone say my arm is too fragile to pitch one last game of the season since it means nothing and not worth risking injury, but re-negotiate my contract before it's up because I'm worth more money than I already agreed to sign for (even though my shoulder may tear any second)....seems to me he might have wanted to wait a couple weeks in between statements before he spoke out of both sides of his butt!

[Fuzzy Bear]

Originally posted by b-ball-lunachik
isn't pedro kind of kicking himself in the butt here? how does someone say my arm is too fragile to pitch one last game of the season since it means nothing and not worth risking injury, but re-negotiate my contract before it's up because I'm worth more money than I already agreed to sign for (even though my shoulder may tear any second)....seems to me he might have wanted to wait a couple weeks in between statements before he spoke out of both sides of his butt!

A player should not be put in this position. One of the manager's jobs is to help the player avoid such positions, while looking out for the interest of the team.

Any star pitcher with an injury history shouldn't pitch meaningless games once the team is eliminated. Pedro's 20th has meaning; it's a milestone that means something for the fans, as well as Pedro. Pedro's 21st is not that glamorous.

[calexpat]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
Sure be nice if this crap could be conducted privately or in the bona fide off season.

Exactly. To me, the question isn't about whether Pedro is nice or selfish or honest or not, it's about his manipulative use of the media to pressure the team. Since I'm always ready to put in a plug for Barry, I'd point out that this distinguishes Pedro's conduct from Barry's. Barry just says what he thinks--he doesn't play games like Pedro's doing here.

[Max Power]

Want the truth?
Pedro has bailed in order to extend/protect his streak.

It's now 4 years in a row that he has failed to make more than 30 starts in a season.............

[moose]

it just bugs me that pedro is "controversial" yet barry bonds is a "jerk" and a "[bleep]," when they exhibit the same levels of honesty and bluntness.

i think it's ridiculous. all he cared about, clearly, was 20 wins. if he hadn't won, he'd pitch again.