The Mets have a pretty glaring hole in that number five starter slot. Pedro Martinez is still available for the taking. Mets GM Omar Minaya loves Pedro. Mets fans love Pedro. The front office has a history (usually) of being very cognizant of what the fans want. So that equation should equal Pedro back in Queens, right?
That this hasn't happened yet, or if it doesn't happen after Tim Redding struggles in Pittsburgh on Thursday, is probably a good indicator that Pedro isn't physically right. Because if he was, given Minaya's infatuation with the player and his tendency to jump at an available commodity that he cherishes, Pedro would be in the Mets rotation, $5 million a year or otherwise.
Ollie Perez struggled mightily (maybe not a strong enough word) before landing on the DL, and a setback in his rehab means he's still weeks away from returning. They gave Jon Niese a shot early in May, but after a nice outing against the Pirates, he was ripped by the Braves and sent back down. Redding pitched well in his first try in LA, but has been vintage Redding over his past two starts (8.2 IP, 13 ER, 2 L) and more of the same should be expected. Plus there's the curious case of Livan Hernandez, who has shockingly been pretty damn good in five of his last six (3.03 ERA, 4-2 team record) . The Mets shouldn't be banking on that to continue.
So why not Pedro? He couldn't be worse that Ollie or Redding or Niese, right? Teammates all love the guy so he wouldn't be causing any dreaded chemistry problems. That $5 million price tag isn't $5 million anymore now that we're almost a third of the way home. Plenty of Mets fans are begging to see him pitch again - including this one, who, for mostly sentimental reasons, wishes Pedro could get a crack at a postseason with the Mets, since his signing was a huge driving force behind the Mets becoming relevant again.
The risk of signing him doesn't appear to be that high, so we'll take a guess that it's either the shoulder or the toe or the hammy or something that is probably still jacked up (or if it isn't now, is on the verge of disintegrating). Or maybe Omar has a trade in the works for more of a frontline starter (Peavy? Oswalt? Other?).
But if someone does sign him, hopefully it's not the Phillies. Don't wanna have to root against the guy.
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While I'd love to see a healthy Pedro pitch well for the Mets, the problem isn't that the Mets need a #5 guy. Livan IS their #5 pitcher. The problem is the #3/4 slot. Perez was slated as the #3/4 guy, and he was typical Ollie. From day one, Livan was replacing an injured Redding and a disappointing Freddy Garcia as the fifth starter in that rotation. So the question becomes, can Pedro step in as a middle of the rotation starter. And I don't think at this point in his career he can do that. I'm all for making him the #5 guy, but that means that either Livan has to keep pitching at a high level (unlikely), or Livan needs to be replaced with a solid middle of the rotation arm. Yes, I'd love to see a big name come aboard (Peavy, Halladay,Oswalt, etc.), but I think it's a smaller name that can complete this rotation, someone who can come in and post a high 3's, low 4's ERA. Someone as unexciting as a Doug Davis or Dave Bush. Not that they're the answer, but I think that's someone you can slot in after Johan, Pelfrey, and Maine as a #4, with Livan in his place at #5.
As a Met fan since 1969, I feel exactly the same. Pedro was a great Met as a teammate and leader and performer too. I hope he is OK and that he returns to the Mets. And I agree, the theouhgt of Pedro as a Phillie is depressing, even though I rooted for the Phillies to win last year after the Mets were gone.
you rooted for Philly, Dude take your medication.........
Please move OUT of NEW YORK ........
U R SICK....
Get over it. He's done. Toast. Washed up. Finished. Time to spend time with the family.
If Pedro was worth ANYTHING, he'd have already been scooped up by the Yankees at some ridiculously over market value deal. The fact that the Empire didn't make a bid means that everybody in the game -- EVEN the Brothers Steinbrenner -- know that Pedro is washed up.
Why would the Yankees sign Pedro? They have Sabathia, Wang, Chamberlain, Burnett, Pettitte, and Hughes fighting for five rotation spots already. Plus, they have Ian Kennedy coming off the DL at some point and Kei Igawa pitching very well in Scranton. I think you need to reconsider your hypothesis.
I think Pedro is being offered much less than he's asking, as he himself has said. That's pretty simple.
you had me until you mentioned Kei Igawa...
can't see the Phils pursuing Pedro, unless he was willing to take less because he wanted to stick it to the Mets for some reason..plus with Moyer around he wouldnt be the oldest guy on the staff
Yeah, I knew the Igawa mention would turn somebody off. He's quite the pariah! And upon further inspection, he's allowing wayyyyyyy too many homers to be effective (even with a decent K/BB ratio).
Dude, isn't there some place for you Philly Fans to get together ??
YOU GUYS ARE LIKE J-( BUTTER)Roll, Parasites......