December 18, 2004

Pedro,: I love you like a brother, but STFU already.

posted by Prince Valium to baseball at 12:35 AM - 16 comments

Only time will tell if this is a good signing. Personally, as a Sox fan living in Atlanta, I can't wait for a Hudson-Martinez start down here.

posted by usfbull at 12:41 AM on December 18, 2004

Pedro is so emotional!!!! So if the Yankees were his "daddies" Are the Mets now his "step daddies"

posted by daddisamm at 04:57 AM on December 18, 2004

He's gonna die a lonely old man if he keeps torching everyone in the world like that.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:14 AM on December 18, 2004

So, this isn't worth a post in and of itself, but can somebody explain the midget to me? Or does this pretty much explain it all?

posted by rocketman at 08:11 AM on December 18, 2004

I was really hoping he'd take the high-road. The general concensus around here is no one is begrudging Pedro for moving on. In fact, if he just came out and said "I got a better offer -- longer term and more money -- I will always love the fans in Boston and I want to look to the future now and winning with the Mets, thank you" everything would be fine. He's throwing everyone under the bus (team, Theo, Nomar, Schilling) and that's what's irritating the fans and the media. They didn't fire Bill Morgan so much as changed the team-hospital affiliation and with that, they have to change in who the doctor is affiliated with. In the past, they used Caritas/St. Elizabeth's and this year, the affiliation switched to Beth Israel Deaconess. It's not a huge deal. If they switch from serving Coke products to Pepsi, I hope Pedro wouldn't be offended that they fired the Coca Cola guy. (Plus, and this has yet to be mentioned anywhere as a reason, but Morgan was nabbed for DUI at least once during his tenure as team doctor. Not exactly a career booster in a high-profile job.) The Manny trade block stuff is rumor. Nothing has come of it and nothing will. Theo has been on the radio saying Manny isn't going anywhere, and Francona was on WFAN and WEEI yesterday reiterating that point. In Friday's Boston Herald, Michael Silverman did an interview with Pedro and a lot of things became quite clear. I don't think Pedro liked Schilling, and further, in the interview, Pedro comes off as being a bit jealous maybe of Schilling. Another thing that struck me is Pedro wants Varitek to sign with the Mets. Hi Pedro, have you met Mike Piazza? His basic answer was to move Mike Piazza to first or "somewhere". Silverman didn't pussyfoot around questions and he came right back at Pedro in a couple instances. Plus, the format was straight Q-and-A so nothing could be misconstrued. We'll see how he fares in NY. If he thought the press scrutiny in Boston was bad, it will be much worse for someone like Pedro in NY. Willie Randolph already came out and said there are one set of rules for everyone, and Pedro's always had special treatment in Boston (extra time off around the ASG, arrive/leave early stuff). Plus, just wait for that first interleague game with the NYY this summer... see if he gets beaned. Schilling responded to Pedro today in the Herald and here's the article in the Globe.

posted by jerseygirl at 08:11 AM on December 18, 2004

As far as Schilling goes, has he ever let an opinion go unspoken? Has he ever told a reporter "No comment."? Somehow he manages to get under the skin of some of his teammates no matter where he plays.

posted by crank at 08:42 AM on December 18, 2004

Good stuff, jg. I was wondering about the Bill Morgan change. At least it's not like the Arthur Pappas change, where they kinda sorta had to change team doctors once John Valentin sued him. And it turned out Pappas was practicing under a Grenadan veterinary license. Good luck to Pedro. I always thought he was a really bright guy, but I guess he's just pretty smart. Part of me still thinks he's really bright and his pride is dinged because he knows the Sox are probably better off long-term without him. That sucks to write, but the truth is he's probably not going to be worth what the Mets are paying him in year 3 or 4. If he is (adjusting for the league change), the Sox clearly lost out. But if he isn't and the Sox have $14 million free and clear to spend on something other than a guy sitting home, they were right to let him go.

posted by yerfatma at 09:17 AM on December 18, 2004

I wish he'd kept his mouth shut. Honestly, if you're so wrapped up in yourself that you can't tell that Schilling is a better pitcher and worth more than you are, you really, really need to get over yourself. That said, I still wish him all the best, I just hope he gets in touch with the real world before he retires- it'll make him happier.

posted by tieguy at 10:16 AM on December 20, 2004

you can't tell that Schilling is a better pitcher and worth more than you are, you really, really need to get over yourself. Is Schilling the "better pitcher"? Over what time period?

posted by yerfatma at 10:36 AM on December 20, 2004

Is Schilling the "better pitcher"? Over what time period? Now?

posted by blarp at 11:00 AM on December 20, 2004

Probably yes, if we're talking about last year forward, but the point Pedro was making in his Herald interview was that he's at least a class above Schilling over the course of their careers and 5-6 years younger. I'd rather the Sox have Schilling and money to spend right now, but Schilling is not "the better pitcher" in an unqualified sense.

posted by yerfatma at 11:59 AM on December 20, 2004

Just curious, it could be a good discussion. If the contracts were a wash (even money, terms, etc) and you could only have one, who do you pick if you are a GM right this second? Pedro or Schilling?

posted by jerseygirl at 12:24 PM on December 20, 2004

The Sox weren't paying Schilling for his career, or the past 5-6 years, nor should they be paying Martinez for that either. You're an athlete and so the relevant time period is either 'right now' or 'over the length of the proposed contract.' Over time, sure, Martinez has been the better pitcher- he put together some of the greatest seasons ever, by anyone. But anyone who thinks that last year Pedro was the better pitcher, or that Pedro should have been paid last year for having been a better pitcher in 1999, is out of their gourd. [Oh, and jg, unless I allowed my bile at his political endorsements to overwhelm my good sense, I think everyone picks Schilling, esp. if we're talking a 3-4 year contract instead of a 1 year contract.]

posted by tieguy at 12:32 PM on December 20, 2004

As far as Schilling goes, has he ever let an opinion go unspoken? Has he ever told a reporter "No comment."? Somehow he manages to get under the skin of some of his teammates no matter where he plays. Schilling may be outspoken, but this has NOTHING to do with him. It's all Pedro. He lives in his own world and has no grip with reality. He's lashing out because I'm sure his ego is bruised. He pitches fantastic for years, then Schilling comes along, says the reason he's coming is to break the curse and does it (wth the rest of the team of course) in one year. He has no problem letting Pedro be the number one starter, and yet by the end of the season Schilling is clearly number one. Then we have the bloody sock, and suddenly Schilling is the hero and Pedro is a distant second. Pedro maybe in a different class, but if you had to win one game most people would go with schilling. I know I would. And pedro can go 22 and 7 with a 2.00 era this year, it won't matter. How he pitches 2,3,4 years from now will tell if the sox made the right decision. (and though I HATE athletes and entertainers backing politicians, the fact that Schilling backed Bush when he knew it would go over in New England like a lead balloon only makes me respect him more.)

posted by justgary at 04:54 PM on December 20, 2004

Bwahahahha. Somehow I'd missed this, but apparently Pedro not only pissed on Schilling and Theo, but on the midget. Sorry, Nelson, your 15 minutes are up.

posted by tieguy at 05:13 PM on December 20, 2004

hah! No one was left without tire marks on them after Pedro left, it seems. That's sad.

posted by jerseygirl at 05:28 PM on December 20, 2004

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