The shell of Pedro Martinez.
Written by Joe Veno on August 13, 2009 – 1:23 PM -Do you know who I think is the best pitcher of all time? Yes, you guessed right. Well, you didn’t guess if you read this blog regularly. But whatever, the answer is Pedro. I take into account peak years a little more, obviously.
So last night, Pedro Martinez flashed a little brilliance–at times anyway. He “lit” up the radar gun, according to the highlights, hitting 92 and as high as 93 MPH. There are signs that point to league-average, rather than sub-par, or even horrendous. After all, that velocity is greater than expected.
But is dialing up at this age, with this kind of stuff, going to cost him? I can’t say for sure, because I didn’t get a chance to watch the game, only the highlights. And maybe the guns were pitcher-friendly last night. But it is possible that he threw a few of those pitches with a little extra “oomph” behind them.
Anyway, Pedro struck out five, in a typical “Shell of Pedro” outing, as he went only five innings. He only allowed one base-runner to reach via the free pass. So those two statistics are very good after a mere one start.
But from watching the highlights, it looked like some balls were being hit well off of Pedro. Maybe a little luck was involved. But then again, it was his first Major League start of the season, so we should cut him a little slack.
Moving forward, Pedro probably will give the Phillies a few quality starts if he stays healthy.
But…
A) Health is a huge question mark at this point in his life/career.
B) Those quality starts will probably be mixed in with some of these five inning, three runs, maybe four runs allowed games.
Pedro Martinez was great, and will be great either way. But it angers me when I see his adjusted ERA falling, as it does just about every time he takes the hill.
But it was definitely encouraging to see that velocity…
Tags: Pedro Martinez, Philadelphia PhilliesPosted in Philadelphia Phillies | 7 Comments »
August 13th, 2009 at 7:37 PM
I watched the game and think he did very well. Matter of fact, with all the movement on his pitches I got wondering, as I did way back when, how a batter can actually hit that shit.
But, alas, 5 innings is not doing his team any great service, and, as you mentioned, he probably will break down. Next time for the last time, I’d bet.
August 14th, 2009 at 2:42 PM
I agree with you, he’s one heck of a pitcher. If you remember him from the late 90’s, he could throw that ball wicked hard. I miss him, but then again the Red Sox have Beckett.
August 14th, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Beckett ain’t Pedro
But Beckett is awesome every other season, so I am fine with that.
August 14th, 2009 at 8:40 PM
That streak is busted. Next year, as you know, is his contract year, and if he expects the MFY to pony up $25m for his services he is going to have to show up.
August 15th, 2009 at 1:05 AM
I don’t even know if I want to resign him unless it’s like three years. I am not one to want to hand out long, expensive contracts to pitchers.
August 15th, 2009 at 10:31 AM
It will be a tough call, that’s for sure. I love Commander Kickass, and the team will always need him, but would he be willing to sign a contract to his 35th year for, at most, what the shortsighted and thriftless MFY gave Burnett?
In that sense, part of me wants Beckett to tank again in 2010, though I doubt that is going to happen.
August 15th, 2009 at 8:07 PM
I, too, believe Pedro’s is the GOAT of pitchers. To put up the ridiculous numbers he did, in the height of the juice era, is mind boggling.
I thought his quick tiring in the 5th signaled that he should have come back as a closer. His circle change still had that wicked late movement on it, even if its a few inches short of what it was back in the early aughts.