Don't write off Pedro just yet
Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2009 2:47 PM
Pedro Martinez is using the World Baseball Classic as a “Dominican Idol” to prove he is healthy, and that he can still pitch. It just might work.
Martinez threw three outstanding innings in relief in the Domincan Republic's opening WBC game against the Netherlands. He fired 40 pitches, 32 of them strikes, allowed only one hit, and faced the minimum nine batters. Be certain that general managers and scouts throughout the majors took note. Pedro still wants to pitch, and if, for the rest of his team's stay in the WBC, he repeats the form of his opening effort, he'll likely have some offers to choose from.
I don’t know Pedro’s current medicals, but I do know that in 2005, the Mets signed him knowing that years three and four (2007-08) of the deal were a huge risk. Their gamble was wise as Pedro was outstanding in the first two years, and injected the Mets with a massive dose of credibility. And the gamble was correct as Pedro’s last two years were injury-plagued.
Pedro should know his body, and he says so far he feels fine. He can’t be oblivious to the fact that he won New York over in 2005-06 while “held together by wire” in the words told to me by a team trainer. A young Marlins' lineup was mesmerized by Pedro’s offspeed stuff in his first start of 2008 -- until his hamstring blew out.
More likely, Pedro is similar to most players of this era. They crave the stage, the bright lights and the cheers. They don’t seem to mind performing at a lesser level, as long as they still get to come out through the curtain. Then there is pride, and Pedro has no shortage of that. He told the world this week that he would not likely accept an incentive-laden contract like Tom Glavine signed with Atlanta.
Pedro does not want a team to “disrespect” him. He says his fishing boat would be his destiny if no acceptable offers come his way. He might want to hold up on hitting the seas. If what we saw from him against the Netherlands, is what he is still capable of, there's work on land not sea waiting for him. Perhaps Cincinnati could use Pedro as a mentor for its young pitching hopefuls?
FOUR MORE SWINGS:
1. HERE’S THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM...with the WBC. A MLB general manager quoted in Baseball America said, “We have tried to discourage pitchers (from playing) as much as we can. But MLB wants this to succeed. The Major League Baseball Players Association has worked very hard with MLB to make this work, and has exerted pressure on the players. But we’re trying to build a pitching staff that wins in September and October, and (the WBC) may lead to some issues that determine the winning and losing of the pennant.”
At least we know there is finally one issue on which the MLBPA will cooperate with MLB. The WBC is a good idea. Having witnessed Olympic baseball in 2000, I am sold on the international concept. But it has no chance if MLB and the MLBPA support the concept, and the teams, even passively, resist.
2. WHILE SAN FRANCISCO...was gripped by the Manny Ramirez tease, Barry Bonds’ trial was postponed until well into 2010. So Barry had his agent put forth the news that he wants to play. Think Barry has paid any attention to this winter to l’affaire Manny or to Bobby Abreu? Think Barry would play for a Tom-Glavine-like deal or an Abreu-like deal? Some dreams never die.
3. SPEAKING OF SAN FRANCISCO...could the Giants, just two years after Barry Zito, once again win the award for offering the winter’s worst contract. Edgar Renteria signed for two years at $18.5 million while Orlando Cabrera agreed to a one-year $4 milllion deal with Oakland. His two-time manager dumped Renteria over the winter. But the Giants’ scouts went to see him in the fall, and were convinced that his weight loss will bring back the old Renteria. Their rationale: Renteria for two years was a better gamble than Rafael Furcal for four years. Perhaps. But isn’t Cabrera a far better deal than Renteria? He’s been a better player the last few years, and is still playing Gold Glove defense. There is concern over his clashes with his former manager Ozzie Guillen, but note Cabrera has played in the playoffs four of the last five years. Oakland stole the show from their Bay Area neighbors with Cabrera's signing.
4. THE MOST UNHERALDED PITCHING STAFF...in baseball is in Minnesota. When I assessed the NL last week, I picked the Marlins in my Final Four based on their rotation depth. Minnesota is the Florida of the AL, only with a more advanced fivesome.
Here’s another in an unending series of facts that highlight the excellence of the Minnesota player development system: Of the five starters, only the most prominent, Francisco Liriano, came from another organization. Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins, and Nick Blackburn are all Twins' draft choices.
Last year, the Twins lost a one-game playoff to the White Sox for the AL Central crown. No wonder they feel confident that their team with a minor tweaking (signing Joe Crede) can improve.
