This offseason, we’re looking at the Mets’ history with free agency. We’ve highlighted four pitchers so far, one of which is heading for Cooperstown and another who’s already there. Next is another pitcher who also has a Hall plaque who was one of the greatest pitchers of his era before arriving in New York.

It’s not about what he did, it’s about what came after him.

Pedro Martínez was, in many ways, a precursor, to Max Scherzer: a three-time Cy Young winner and Hall of Fame-bound pitcher on the back end of his career who portends future significant acquisitions.

Martínez was 33 and coming off a curse-breaking World Series title with the Boston Red Sox. The best days, at times historically great, were clearly in his past. But Mets fans were definitely granted glimpses of vintage Pedro, especially in 2005 — which turned out to be his only great season in New York.

The most significant effect of the signing was that it rejuvenated a fan base that had seen three dreadful seasons in a row and created an influx of talent that followed him, most notably Carlos Beltrán later that offseason. It’s a guarantee that without Pedro, there would be no Beltrán.

The first major deal for general manager Omar Minaya, at four years and $53 million, brought instant credibility for an organization devoid of such credit. And Martínez’s presence on the mound created a buzz around his starts, especially at Shea Stadium.

Even though he had yet to reach his mid-30s, Martínez — with a slight frame that belied his overpowering stuff — had logged 200 or more regular season innings in six of the past eight years (not counting his multiple playoff appearances). Yet he was able to throw 217 more in 2005, the name number he tallied in ’04.

In another All-Star season, Martínez had a league-leading 0.95 WHIP — the sixth time he led his league in that category and the fifth time he led the majors. Martínez won 15 games with a 2.82 ERA and 208 strikeouts. He tossed four complete games, the most for him since 2000, and topped all Mets in WAR. At 7.0, that number ranks tenth all-time in franchise history for pitchers.

His outing on September 16 at Shea Stadium may have been his best of the year, one in which Pedro fanned struck out 10 Atlanta Braves to highlight a complete-game shutout.

As the Mets improved their roster for 2006, acquiring Carlos Delgado in a trade with the Marlins, Martínez wasn’t able to maintain the zip on his fastball as the year progressed. The disparity between his heater and his curveball lessened and making him less effective than in his heyday.

He was again an All-Star but he soon was not the same Pedro from even a year ago. Injuries, to his right calf and his shoulder, were the main culprit. By the end of May, he had 88 strikeouts and a 2.50 ERA. After that, his ERA was 7.10. As the Mets cruised to the NL East crown, his presence in the rotation as October would have still been invaluable, especially if he was healthy. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. Martínez’s shoulder kept him out the postseason. It would be almost a year until he returned to the mound.

He made five starts at the tail end of the 2007 season and pitched to a 2.57 ERA, giving hope he could sustain this level the following year. But a strained hamstring in April put him out for over two months. He would finish out his Mets career with a 5.61 ERA over 20 starts before joining the Phillies for 2009.

Pedro Martínez initiated a new era for the Mets. Even if it wasn’t the pitcher who dominated with the Expos or Red Sox, his charisma brought about a certain excitement, not to mention other players who wanted to be part of the fun. Some signings wind up being more about the player’s appeal than the player’s performance. And that was certainly the case here. 

The post Mets Best Free-Agent Signing No. 4: Pedro Martínez appeared first on Metsmerized.

That’s the question Pedro asked himself after last night’s loss, his second straight lousy effort and third in his last five starts. Pedro Martinez is at a crossroads in his career. He can no longer pretend to be the pitcher he once was. Those days are sadly gone. But, many great pitchers before him have been able to resurrect their careers with guile, guts and know-how. If anybody can do it, certainly Pedro can.

Last night, Pedro sounded like an old prized fighter who was up against a younger and stronger boxer. He sounded as if he was on the ropes and only a couple of rounds away from a technical knockout. He sounded defeated.

"I’m not doing my job, and that’s something to worry about. I’m not helping myself in any given situation out there, and it’s time for me to start getting better, not getting worse."

"It seems like I’m getting worse periodically. So I’m going to have to make some adjustments and correct some of the stuff I’m doing. Spend a lot of time in the video room checking out what’s going on. Right now I feel like I’m caught in between."

"At this time in my career, it feels worse because you should be able to make better adjustments and do things in a better way. Have a better plan."

If Pedro doesn’t find that plan soon, the Mets may be planning for a long off-season. They already have one weak link in Oliver Perez, they can ill afford to have two-fifths of the rotation mired in uncertainty. Not if they have any hopes of clinching a division title and advancing through the post season.

Pedro doesn’t have to be his vintage self to help this team. He just needs to go out there and give the Mets a chance to win. I hope he finds his way.

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He is slated to start on Monday unless he feels sluggish tomorrow after todays bullpen session.

Pedro said "If my arm doesn’t fall off, I will pitch on Monday." he also said "I miss my teammates, I can’t stand to be one more day without my team."

He had a very impressive bullpen session that featured an assortment of curve-balls, change-ups, and a fastball that was clocked in the low 90’s on the radar gun.

Wilie Randolph, Rick Peterson and Omar Minaya were all very pleased with the results, and after a short meeting, the decision was made to start Pedro on Monday.

There was one more thing that Pedro said during his interview. He said that if his change-up was as good as it was today, he can get anybody in the game out!

I don’t know about you guys, but this Mets fan is absolutely stoked!!

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It started out with so much hope and promise after Mike Pelfrey won the job coming out of Spring Training, but after quickly falling to 0-6, a poorly executed game of musical chairs began.

The Mets have lacked a true ace all season long. A true stopper, if you will. It’s prevented the Mets from having a winning streak of more than four games, all season long. Give credit to this team for enduring this situation and yet still finding themselves atop the NL East.

They say that patience is a virtue. Well, the Mets’ patience is about to be rewarded in grand fashion.

The long awaited return of Pedro Martinez is now as close as one of his high and inside pitches, buzzing past your ear. The Mets have done what they had to do, to make it this far. They’ve held down the fort with guys like Chan Ho Park, Jason Vargas, Mike Pelfrey, Jorge Sosa and Brian Lawrence.

Now it’s time for the ace of this team to resume his rightful place at the head of a Mets rotation that has lacked consistency and showmanship.

Pedro Martinez has worked hard to get to this point, and he did it with hardly any setbacks. He showed up to his first rehab game ready to play, and since then he has continued to improve and most importantly, refine his extensive assortment of devastating pitches. He is what we call a perfectionist. Rather than mowing down minor league hitters at an alarming rate, he chose to hone his pitches and throw them with pinpoint accuracy instead.

During his last rehab start, Pedro had his best performance yet. He threw 88 pitches in a six inning outing that had him proclaiming,"I’m ready to help the Mets."

During the sixth inning of that game, with runners on second and third, and only one out, his manager walked to the mound ready to pull him out of the game, but Pedro wouldn’t have any of that. He was then asked to walk the cleanup hitter and set up the double play. Pedro shook off that suggestion and said, ‘this is my test" and convinced his manager to let him handle things the "Pedro way."

The inning ended just like so many other innings have, when Pedro was in danger in the past. He struck out the next batter on three pitches and ended the inning and his outing with a weak popup for the final out. Simply put, it was vintage Pedro.

He has not allowed an earned run in his last two rehab starts, and even though he feels he belongs, Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya want him to do it one more time before joining the big league team.

He is expected to throw up to 100 pitches in his final and biggest challenge yet.

Expect him to continue blowing away each and every obstacle, just as he has throughout his long and extraordinary career.

That’s the Pedro Way.

The post Martinez Is Doing It The Pedro Way appeared first on Metsmerized.

"I feel better about my stamina and my endurance on the mound," he said. "And toward the end, I felt better than at the first of the game. That tells me I just need more work."

Martinez said he can now put behind him the fear of how his arm would hold up.

"All that hard work, now I know it was worth it," he said.

He threw 50 of 67 pitches for strikes and was particularly sharp in the last three innings, when 24 of his 28 pitches were strikes.

I can’t wait to see him take the mound once again at Shea.

I can already see and hear the thunderous ovation he will get, and the even louder ovation he gets after pitching 6 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts!

Hey, so I have an overactive imagination, get off my back…

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