Pedro Shows Sometimes Heart Beats Logic
By Mike Silva ~ October 17th, 2009. Filed under: 2009 Playoffs.
It wasn’t completely vintage Pedro Martinez from 1999, but it wasn’t far off as he racked up 7 shutout innings last night. If Pedro were a decade younger we might never have seen Chan Ho Park in the eighth inning. What a shame the Phillies bullpen, predictably, ruined a night that would have put them in the driver’s seat and put another dagger in Mets fans hearts in 2009.
I mentioned earlier in the week that Pedro Martinez was signed knowing the final two years of the deal were heavy risks due to age and health. Pedro gave the Mets a fantastic year and a half, renewed interest in the team at the box office, and changed a losing culture. Of course, when he got injured, the culture seemed to take a turn for the worse, but that is a tired discussion that we don’t need to analyze today. What the Mets never got to see is vintage Pedro Martinez in the playoffs. Imagine Pedro, instead of Steve Trachsel, starting Game 3 of the NLCS in 2006? Perhaps we don’t ever get to a Game 7.
These are the kind of postseason games that baseball-reference, fangraphs, or SABR can’t explain. How can a guy that went unsigned and only pitched significant baseball against the Dutch shut down the Dodgers offense? They might not be the Phillies, but they still were fourth in the NL in runs scored. These are the games where great pitchers find a way to maximize whatever talent remains. Pedro threw all sorts of off speed stuff to keep LA chasing. Logic says he can’t get it done anymore, but his heart thinks he may have another few wins left. Craft and intelligence, not power, is what drives Pedro Martinez. That is why someone like an aging Randy Johnson would get clobbered in games like this, while Pedro finds a way to get it done. How many simulations would have Pedro Martinez shutting down the Dodgers for 7 innings? I bet the percentage chance was in the tenths of a point.
Pedro Martinez wouldn’t have saved the 2009 Mets. I am not sure anyone could have done that, but it almost seems unfair that he gets a chance to pitch for another ring before sundown comes to his career in a uniform other than orange and blue. Do I think he could do this again? I still have my doubts. I am not sure Charlie Manuel could trust Martinez against an American League lineup in the World Series. However, that is what logic dictates and, once again, sometimes heart, desire, courage, intelligence and will trump whatever facts are thrown out there.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:19 am
“How can a guy that went unsigned and only pitched significant baseball against the Dutch shut down the Dodgers offense?”
Did you ever think that Pedro’s salary demand might have had something to do with his going unsigned until after the ASG?
October 17th, 2009 at 9:22 am
I’m sure glad the Mets didn’t waste a whole million dollars on Pedro this year. I would much rather have spent the money that they did on Ollie Perez. I enjoy seeing him do NOTHING!
Who wants to see Pedro’s jerry-curl go 7 scoreless innings when we can see Big Dumb Pelf jam his hand half way down his throat.
Do I have to mention Maine, Livan, et al?
October 17th, 2009 at 9:31 am
J.E
You may be right, but all signs indicate that he would have signed with the Mets for less. Who knows, I am not criticizing teams for overlooking him, but rather, pointing out how a HOF, intelligent, pitcher can still muster up a game plan and win with diminished talent when logic states otherwise – but you may be right about the $
October 17th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Mike, that is why it is unfair to take shots at those who favor advanced stats. I was all for the Mets signing Pedro in early July — as was James K at AA, for that matter. We reasoned that a healthy Pedro at $2M was worth the risk for a team that still had an outside chance at competing for a playoff spot. Of course, within a week it became a moot point as the Mets went into a complete freefall.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:01 am
I think signing Pedro at $2 mill was worth it in April, by July the team was going nowhere. Might have drawn a few more fans, but otherwise worthless for both sides. I wonder if they look at him this offseason (my guess is no) if he wants to pitch.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:11 am
To my knowledge, Mike, there was no indication that Pedro would have signed for $2M or even $3M in March/April.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Here ya go JE, why speculate when we have actual information at our fingertips available in mere seconds? From April 11:
“Pedro is apparently sticking to his $5MM asking price and incentive-based deals do not appeal to him.”
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/04/pedro-still-plans-to-play-in-09.html
October 17th, 2009 at 11:44 am
As soon as both reyes and delgado went down this season was at best .500 and then beltran and johan being obviously injured for a few starts it quickly deteriorated to way below .500. Pedro woulda been nice, but absolutely unnecessary.
That being said i was rootin for him last night.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Pedro said he tried to come back to the Mets. I do believe he asked for $5 mill early on, but it was apparent he wasn’t going to get it.
Personally, I don’t always believe what I read with respect to contract negotiations because the media is used by agents to negotiate.
October 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I’ll remember that the next time you make a post about an offseason signing rumor.
October 17th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Rumors are never gospel, its just something to talk and debate about. Nothing more – it’s entertainment and based on MLBTR, its what the fans like.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Thanks, James K! Mike does post an interesting question, though, which is already being discussed on the related BTF thread: what is a reasonable price for his services for next season?
October 17th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Here is the bigger question: Can Pedro give you a full season? Remember, he sat around till July, that does have an impact on his health. If the answer is no, than I would pass, or at least wait to see what the team needs are. Don’t be surprised if Pedro thinks this is the best thing as well. Pitching half a season and picking where he wants to play.
October 18th, 2009 at 12:46 am
“That is why someone like an aging Randy Johnson would get clobbered in games like this, while Pedro finds a way to get it done. ”
Mike, sorry, this kinda bothers me. Pedro is only 37. When Johnson was 37 he was still winning Cy Youngs, dominating the 2001 playoffs and world series.
At the age of 40, Johnson pitched a perfect game, posted a 2.60 ERA, and a WHIP of point .900 while winning 16 games for a team that lost 111
More importantly, he only walked 44 batters in 245 innings, (while still striking out 290)
Over the next several years he developed a splitter, and managed to be an effective starter right up until age 45.
Not taking anything away from Pedro, but your inference that Randy Johnson was/is not an intelligent pitcher and couldn’t get by on heart and brains does a great disservice to his legacy.
October 18th, 2009 at 7:55 am
I meant more about the stuff “aging” than calender years. Pedro’s health makes him a heck of a lot older at 37 body wise than RJ. Of course, some always speculate whether RJ used supplements – which we can’t factor because we don’t know. Fair point, but when pitchers like RJ go downhill they tend to have ugly end of careers.
October 18th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
“I meant more about the stuff “aging” than calender years.”
RJ’s stuff started aging after age 40. Yet from age 41 onwards, RJ went 57-38 with a 4.23 ERA and a 104 ERA+ (In otherwords better than league average)
“Of course, some always speculate whether RJ used supplements – which we can’t factor because we don’t know. ”
So why bring it up ? You have no point, so throw out a baseless hint of an accusation ?
“Fair point, but when pitchers like RJ go downhill they tend to have ugly end of careers.”
I’ve already shown conclusively that RJ did NOT have an ugly end to his career. So again, you have no point.
You made a bad comparison and a weak point that had no basis in fact or reason. Other than that, nice post.