TBB Idea #2: Sign Pedro Martinez
So what is possible? What is there to do to with a team trying to reach the .500 mark and rebuild at the same time? Keep the young players, or trade them away? Sign free agents, or let the current Buccos fight to the top? As I seem to be the only blogger not only strongly fighting for management to do something this offseason, but actually giving out some ideas, I would like to run by my second thought for Pittsburgh's upcoming winter post-season:
Sign a 214 career game winner with 3,117 strikeouts, 2,782 IP, 2.91 ERA, and a WPCT of .684. Why the hell not, folks? Sign Pedro Martinez. And now to help secure my own fan base...
1. Seriously, why not. Pedro will not only be in the Bucs price range, but he stated several times he'd like to stay on the east coast. I am not sure how Martinez feels about playing for a non-contender, but being in the spotlight... what player doesn't want that?
2. He's 37. With age comes a strong, veteran resume to aid a young, struggling staff. Age also brings a surplus of health issues, which the New York media has covered for over the past three years. Here's his last three seasons with the Mets, riddled by injuries:
2005: 9-8, 4.48 ERA, 23 GS, 137 K
2006: 3-1, 2.45 ERA, 5 GS, 32 K
2007: 5-6, 5.61 ERA, 20 GS, 87 K
But in just four seasons removed...
2004: 15-8, 2.82 ERA, 32 GS, 208 K
In no way am I saying that Martinez will ever post numbers like these again, it is merely to show that he can still be a leader, rack up the Ks, hit his fastball at 90-91 MPH, dominate batters with his circle change, and hold his place as a Major League pitcher. God help us, the Buccos need one.
3. Joe Kerrigan. Newly signed coach Kerrigan worked with Martinez in his Boston days, helping him to win Cy Youngs and become one of the top pitchers in baseball's "Steriods" era. That 1999 season with 23 wins, 2.07 ERA, and 313 K? Martinez got it done, but Kerrigan was greatly aiding in the effort.
4. In days where families (Andy LaRoche and Adam LaRoche, Shelley Duncan and Chris Duncan) reign over baseball, one has to wonder what affect does a family member have on a free agent signing? Well, as Beaver County Times reported, Martinez's "son" and "baby boy" is none other than middle reliever Denny Bautista, cousin to the future Hall of Famer. Whether or not this does anything to sway Pedro to the 'Burgh, it is good to know he already has family set up in the Steel City. Look at it like this, Bautista is just one of several Bucs who could get some aid from the veteran ace.
Seriously folks, if Neal Huntington and Frank Coonelly want fans coming out to the ball park this year, if they want merchandise to be sold and sales to rise for the first time in a decade, they need to sign someone like Pedro Martinez. I think a healthy Martinez is the best option for Pittsburgh on the free agent market, twenty-times better than rumored Paul Byrd. Even with that said, Pedro's name would bring in fans and the dollar-bills for the next offseason.
Baseball management is a game within itself, and sometimes, moves like acquiring Pedro Martinez have much more behind them. I will continue to fight for an active Pirates offseason, and just remember the ideas I put down may never happen or even be considered, but at least I am thinking.
Whose our daddy? We hope for the 2009 season ours will be Mr. Pedro Martinez. Oh, and since it is my 17th birthday today, I expect a ton of user feedback! Hehe.
OK Burgh--JAL here
I think Lowe would be a good signing. As for Pedro, I see good and bad.
If he would sign an incentives contract that would be fine but if not I would rather see the Bucs sign a veteran pitcher with less injury problems.
Yes, Kerrigan worked with him but that was 10 years ago--a lifetime in a pitcher's life.
Remember Matt Morris--lifetime ERA under 4 but ERAs of 6 and 9 with Pirates. In order to positive on young pitchers you have to lead by performance. I do not even know if Pedro is a pitcher who works with younger ones.
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Thanks JAL. Yes, yes, and more yes... kinda. Pedro Martinez obviously has a resume 10 billion x better than Morris, but I understand your ERA discussion. In terms of working with younger pitchers, I got one name for you: John Maine.
"Pedro's healthy..." - NY Daily News
"A healthier arm in Martinez..." - NY Post
"... his body feels healthy enough to pitch..." - MLB.com
"... ready to begin a healthy winter rehab..." - NY Times
Health. They say he has got it, but we all know it's never certain with 37 year-olds. I think Pedro is the best pitching and economic option. No guy with a 5+ ERA is going to be ranking in the cheese this offseason.
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I found your blog, Jesse! Awesome.
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Staying young is Pittsburgh's best option all around. Pedro is crap. He might as well retire now. Pittsburgh would be wasting their money by signing him. Having a veteran presence on a team is overrated. Look at the Tampa Bay Rays. They were mostly 1st round picks and they won the AL.
Paul Byrd, although I dislike him, would be a better fit than martinez. Paul Byrd is a decent all around pitcher who can keep them in games. Pittsburgh should work on their bullpen and offense most this offseason.
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Little Burgh Blue,
I left you a longer comment on PBC Blog.
Groat2Maz2Strangeglove
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I have serious doubts that this deal could happen, but it is more realistic than signing Lowe, and a far better option than Paul Byrd.
Deargodabovelittlebabyjesusemohamudbudda please do not send the Pirates the disaster that is Paul Byrd and his 86 mile per hour "fastball" (I mean straight pitch). A veteran pitcher is needed and he will need to be a high character guy--but he also needs the ability to not get drilled every other outing. Byrd will keep contenders in games with his competitivness, but without any real stuff, and with a weak team behind him Byrd would put up numbers more like this: 8-14, 4.50 era, 165 ip, 110k/52w.
We dont need that.
In fact, we have been searching for pitching for 2 decades now, lets try something completely different. Get some guys who can hit, who give you a puncher's chance in every game, and let the pitching staff compete among theirselves...oh we had that going lst year until we traded everyone away for Tabata (I have hope), our new quad A RF and the horrible Andy LaRoche.
Get someone to play 3rd for the love of god!!
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