Bye Bye Pedro

[WilliamPitt]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/041214

[MikeG]

1. He was slipping. You won't miss him.

And another guy for Anna Benson's stable.

[nickgutierrez]

2. Four years?

Four guaranteed years? For Pedro Martinez?

Giant blunder, and the type of thing that is the reason the Mets are the Mets.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. good move by the Mets

if they get two good years out of him, its worth it. I don't think Pedro's done.

And anyway, he's going to the National League, which will cut his ERA down a whole run by itself.

Good move, says I.

[GOPisEvil]

4. The Mets are idiots.

They sign another aging veteran for more money than he deserves. Shades of Bobby Bonilla, Vince Coleman, Mo Vaughn, et al...

4 years, $50M for a 33 year old pitcher who can't go beyond 7 innings or 100 pitches? Not smart.

[RUDUing2]

5. the Cards and Sox both seem to have no desire to go back to the WS...

idiots..Cards have so far let Woody Williams, Mike Matheny, Tony Womack go to other teams and apparently are doing their best to lose Renteiria...idiots.

[7th Generation VTer]

6. Mistakes all around

Pedro will miss Boston after 2 games in Shea, and after standing in to face young pitchers eager to head-hunt a reputed head-hunter.

I love Pedro but I think it's a mistake for the Mets to have signed him for 4 years. The Sox offered guaranteed 3 years and a 4th-year option, but if they'd attempted to make a deal before the season I thin they could have gotten away with 2 years-3rd year option. Even at half the pitcher he was before, he's still good and we're gonna miss him... but the price was too high.

The Sox are going have a really substandard rotation next season. Schilling's already scratched for Early April; Wells (why in god's name did they sign HIM? gak) will break down. That's already 2/5 of the rotation unreliable.

Well, at least they won it once in my lifetime. Let the rebuilding begin.

And at least Pedro didn't wind up in the Bronx! I'll be thankful for small favors.

[FlyByNight]

7. I'll be forever grateful for Pedro's efforts in the WS...

but he's been in noticeable decline the past couple years.

About Wells, I'm completely baffled. Forty-plus, out of shape and a bad back.

[joeybee12]

8. Yeah, I agree--I think the Sox made a decent offer to Pedro, considering

he really doesn't have much left in him. But I don't understand Wells. I hope they prove me wrong.

[ThorsHammer]

9. Just think if Little had pulled him

He would have probably been remembered in that postseason as putting in a gutsy effort, rather than as the pitcher who lost the game. I don't know why the Mets would spend that much for him, especially at this stage in his career. Some sports radio guy was saying that he wouldn't let them take an MRI either. Wells is about the same.

[joeybee12]

10. I think Little wanted to pull him, but Pedro whined and wanted to stay

in...Pedro's a headcase who thinks he's still a great pitcher. He'll have moments of greatness for a couple years still, but he's far from dependable anymore.

[7th Generation VTer]

12. I still think it was Grady who choked

Pedro pitched a fanTAStic game through 7 innings. That last K (Soriano) took a lot out of him; then Grady chickened out and didn't go to the 'pen when it was time, then abdicated his responibility as a manager by asking Pedro if he could get it done, when EVERYONE else in the known universe knew he was toast.

As long as we're dissecting ancient history... did Pesky really "hold the ball"? ;)

[Smirking_Chimp]

11. Theo didn't want to give Pedro more than Schillo.

Pedro felt he was there longer and deserved to be no 1. He's mad at the Sox front office, not the fans. Omar Minaya won him over personally by doing business man to man, instead of lawyers to agents. Same thing Theo did with Schillo, Thanksgiving dinners are the new trend in signing free agents.