Mets fans may be clamoring for the return of Pedro Martinez but management is not.  I agree with team brass, not because I love the candidates for the fifth starting slot, but does anyone believe he could hold up to the rigors of a full season when he has broken apart at the seams the last two plus?

 

If Pedro were the prideful athlete he would play this season for the major league minimum (and incentives) because he owes Omar Minaya, who brought him aboard and the fans for underachieving.

 

He has raked in over $146 million dollars in this career.  The Mets paid him over $50 million and has rewarded them with 17 wins in the last three seasons, or entire 1997 season with Montreal.  At this point money should be irrelevant (but is it ever?).

 

So the only motivation for Martinez has to be redemption.  A future Hall of Famer (214-99 and 3,117 K’s) his competitive spirit (hat size) is not conducive to exiting after back-to-back disasters (2006: 9-8 and missed post-season).

 

He was 3-1 in 2007 and 5-6 last year for the Mets.  Not exactly bang for the buck.  In fact, his only solid season was his first, 2005 (15-8). 

 

I am tired of hearing how he brought credibility to the Mets after many down years.

 

Goodwill was over after the ’06 season and he was paid handsomely to win ballgames and failed to deliver.  He wore out a path to the trainer’s room instead of the mound.  Then again, the back end of his contract was deemed doomed before the ink dried. 

 

Moreover, lets not get too excited over his performance at the WBC.  Although, the Netherlands pulled off a stunning upset of the lauded Dominican Republic team, he was not exactly retiring Murders’ Row down there.

 

However, I am surprised he could pitch three innings so early, but most scouts believed the talent level was AA brand (that makes the upset more astounding).  There were reports Pedro even flirted with 91 mph.

 

What made Martinez the most dominant pitcher in his time was an explosive tailing fastball (in the mid-90’s range) and a darting change-up that made sitting on heat impossible.  Coupled with his competitiveness, he was a work of art.

 

Fast forward to 2009 and he is attempting to reinvent himself.  A noble gesture for another aging athlete holding on too tight.  Besides making tons of dough, a player wants to exit the game on his terms. 

 

That is why Pedro hasn’t gone fishing fulltime.  But to expect the Mets to step up with a guaranteed contract at this juncture is delusional. 

 

Maybe the Mets will spring for a new rod and reel for Pedro as a going away present.  They certainly have bought him a shiny new vessel, or four, to tool around in already.  If he wants to prove his worth before the sunsets, let him do it on his dime.