Pedro

He actually had a 1.40 ERA over his final 22 starts of the regular season. We never really got into this because it was in Pedro's farewell thread, but I believe he'll be just as hot next season and most definitely will top his overall 2004 numbers (2.61 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 10.5 K/9). This kid has been held in the pen and as a spot starter far too long... He had an 11.4 K/9 in 2002 and went something like 9-1 with a sub-3 ERA as a 2nd half starter for the Twins in 2003. Last season, he finally got a consistent spot in the rotation and he blossomed. There is no possible way to "figure out" that kind of arm action he has when he's mixing his 4-seamers and circle change-ups... ********. No way. Anyone who comes across him for the next four or five years (at least) will wish they hadn't. The scary part is that Santana OVERALL in 2004 was in some ways more or just as dominant as Pedro was in 1999. Not 2000, not yet.

No.

Dirt Dog promises that Schilling will break his silence in saturday's Boston Globe, but what I'd like to know is: When the hell has he ever stopped running his mouth? Pedro is going off on Schilling right now because he is being asked about Schilling's comments to WEEI for a "different set of rules".

Here's a pretty nice "Thanks Pedro" reply from BGrif21125 from SOSH:

Yeah, and the results were all pretty much the same. It isn't like Pedro didn't beat up on the likes of the weaker offensive teams. Who would you have him face? As for their match-up, here are the lines: Pedro: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 K Johan: 8 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 12 K

DATE GAME IP H ER BB K 06/09/04 NYM 7.0 6 1 0 10 06/15/04 @MON 8.0 3 2 0 7 06/20/04 @MIL 8.0 4 2 2 12 06/25/04 MIL 7.0 4 1 0 10 07/01/04 CHW 8.0 3 2 2 12 07/06/04 KCR 9.0 3 0 2 13 07/11/04 DET 8.0 2 2 2 11 07/17/04 @KCR 8.0 1 1 4 9 07/22/04 TAM 7.0 3 1 3 10 07/27/04 CHW 6.0 2 1 2 6 08/01/04 BOS 8.0 2 2 1 12 08/07/04 OAK 6.1 7 3 1 10 08/12/04 @SEA 7.0 7 1 2 7 08/18/04 NYY 7.0 5 2 1 6 08/23/04 @TEX 8.0 4 1 1 11 08/28/04 @ANA 7.0 4 1 1 6 09/03/04 KCR 7.0 1 0 1 11 09/08/04 @BAL 7.0 5 0 0 9 09/14/04 CHW 7.0 2 0 1 7 09/19/04 BAL 8.0 7 0 0 14 09/24/04 @CLE 6.0 2 1 4 6 09/29/04 @NYY 5.0 3 1 1 5 Starts 22 Record 18-2 Innings Pitched 159.1 Earned Runs 25 Hits 80 Walks 31 Strikeouts 204 ERA 1.41 WHIP 0.70 BAA .147 K per 9 11.53 K to BB 6.58 H per 9 4.52 He's only going to turn 26 this spring training and he's already Pedro-like, whether you want to believe it or not. Not even Pedro was able to have 21 or 22 consecutive quality starts.

If you're one of those fans who knew Pedro was awesome but kind of took it for granted while he was in his prime and are now regretting it a bit, I'd turn you over to Minnesota Twins lefty Johan Santana for literally, probably the closest thing you'll ever see to what Pedro used to be. He may not throw 97 mph, but he's currently got the best change-up in baseball with a wicked slider to go with. No doubt everybody knows who he is, but I'd recommend watching a little closer if you own a Directv, he's going to be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history. No joke.

I'd like to see a starting pitcher in the history of the game... who struck out 189 batters over a span of 15 consecutive regular-season starts as Pedro did from August '99 to May '00. You won't find one, because nobody ever had nastier stuff. Ever.

How about this surreal little run Pedro put on starting in late '99 into the 2000 season: (All are consecutive regular season starts) DATE OPP IP H ER BB K 08/19/99 OAK 7.0 7 3 0 11 08/24/99 @MIN 8.0 4 0 1 15 08/30/99 KCR 6.0 4 1 1 11 09/04/99 @SEA 8.0 2 0 3 15 09/10/99 @NYY 9.0 1 1 0 17 09/15/99 @CLE 7.0 8 2 1 14 09/21/99 TOR 9.0 3 0 2 12 09/27/99 BAL 8.0 6 2 0 12 04/04/00 @SEA 7.0 2 0 2 11 04/09/00 @ANA 7.1 5 1 1 12 04/15/00 OAK 7.0 5 2 1 9 04/25/00 @TEX 7.0 5 2 1 8 04/30/00 @CLE 7.0 5 0 3 10 05/06/00 TAM 9.0 6 1 1 17 05/12/00 @BAL 9.0 2 0 0 15 15 GS, 115.1 IP, 1.17 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 17 BB, 189 K's, 11.12 K/BB, 14.75 K/9

We were robbed... I never had so much fun in my life watching baseball than when I got to see Pedro in his prime. Totally overpowering and in command of each pitch. I would pay huge amounts of money for full recording of some of those old games... I mean I have the 17 strikeout vs. MFY, the '99 ALDS, the Pedro/Rocket duel... I just want some of those "regular" old starts where he struck out 15 against Seattle on a Tuesday night at Fenway.

If Pedro only had 1999-2000 in a Red Sox uniform, he already would've been half way to the Red Sox record for double-digit strikeout games that it took Clemens 13 seasons to accumulate. Just stupid. (Of course, he does hold the record now.)

Before the lovefest is over, I can't let this go unnoticed. They just showed Tim Kirkjian's piece on Pedro going to the Mets on ESPNews and showed a boatload of punchados dating back from 1998-2000... when you haven't watched the old stuff in awhile you kind of forget how cool he used to look when he'd smoke somebody. They'll most likely show it again throughout the night, watch it and you'll remember what I'm talking about. The arm angles he came at hitters with are just filthy... a real sicko to be sure. Any chance of this guy calling the Yankees his daddies?

Official Sox site already has.

Can you imagine if Pedro had been pitching in the NL during his prime? Holy s***. He had a 1.74 ERA in the AMERICAN LEAGUE where the average pitcher that particular year was around 4.92. Oh by the way, Pedro passed his physical today. Yup, the shoulder was so bad and the Sox were so tired of his "antics" that they threw 40.5 million dollars at him.

Sorry to dissapoint, but it is a pretty fair bet that Pedro will dominate the NL for at least the first couple seasons he's in a Mets uniform.

Great numbers. I actually believe Pedro's K/9 was 13.20 in 1999 and it was Randy Johnson who had the 13.41 in 2001, but rather than trying to nitpick I'm using that to say that I believe Pedro's mark and season is far more impressive given that he did it in the AL and Johnson the NL. In '99, Pedro struck out 313 batters in just 213.1 IP with 19 double-digit strikeout games and tied the major league record (N. Ryan) for games with 15 or more strikeouts (6) in a single-season. Relative to the league average, Pedro's K/9 that season was the most impressive ever. As mentioned, the strikeout-to-walk ratios during '99-'00... I think something like 313 to 37 in 1999 (8.45) and 284 to 32 in 2000 (8.88). Or the 0.74 WHIP in 2000 - another single-season record. Just silly. I'm going to miss this guy so much. And while we are thanking him for great memories, let's not forget his 12-strikeout CG shutout of the Mariners in his Fenway debut in 1998. You may not win as many games playing for the Metropolitans, but I look forward to see you grind that career ERA back down to the 2.5 range it was before the 2004 season.

I'm still fuming about the umpiring. Pedro should've been at 85 pitches TOPS after that 6th inning. If he has the kind of STUFF he brought tonight and stays off the DL, he will be a late runner in the Cy Young race, guaranteed. Nobody can compete with a healthy Pedro throwing 95 MPH. After for Ortiz, I love seeing him get everyone fired up, but he just cost himself FIVE games, minimum. Game over.

Man, when is the last time anybody remembers Pedro having this much zip on his fastball? 95 mph and rising like that... unhittable.

Live up to what? He hardly says anything. Vlad will be owning a seat on the bench if Pedro has something of control tonight unlike the last time he faced Anaheim.

Why the hell WOULDN'T the Sox offer him a contract??? He's a proven winner and still has the stuff to win 15-20 games per year. He is a clubhouse leader (who else would've had a gigantic bobblehead doll made for them?) and is critical to the team's chances for playoff glory. I'm not saying throw him 17M/year for 4 years, but the Sox would be absolutely crazy if they don't offer him a contract. I'm not really worried about Pedro's outburst from earlier this season. Right around the time of the Giants series (I believe) he apologized for those comments and admitted he was just frustrated. The guy has been putting on a show in Boston for years, and it won't change. Besides, if the Sox don't offer, Pedro WILL be wearing pinstripes next season, no questions asked. Pedro is going to dominate the second half... I'm tired of this 3.67 ERA s***. Pedro's SportsCentury is also on ESPN tonight at 7.

Or just awfully comfortable with his sexuality.

If they want to give him respect, they'd retire his number immediately while he's still active and change those silly (and STUPID) rules the Red Sox hold for number retirement. Pedro doesn't need to play in Boston for 10 years to deserve number retirement, he doesn't have to retire and then wait for Hall of Fame entrance before it happens. The man will probably be dead by then. *sarcasm*

That is a pretty good analysis noon, however... Manny had only missed one game before Sunday and is leading the American League in HR, SLG, OBP, OPS and 2nd in RBI and 4th in BA. He can have a day off all he wants. As for Pedro... 97-98? He hasn't thrown that in this century. Pedro hasn't thrown a 98 mph fastball since the All-Star Game '99. I just watched an old tape of Pedro throwing a shutout from 2000 and he didn't throw harder than 95 mph, and worked at 89-93 for most of the game. The velocity issue is so huge that most people forget he's always been a PITCHER... they say "he's more of a pitcher now"... ********, I say. He's just simply losing his stuff and control as he's getting older. Especiallly his change-up. That's why his K per 9 has been dropping.

I don't think they'll offer him a contract.

THAT'S QUITE ENOUGH! Signed, Pedro