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Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:03 am EDT
Depressed Martinez willing to step out of Mets' rotation
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The New York Mets aren't going to need any help from Pedro Martinez to make it to October, and they should be glad for that, not just because of his 5.50 ERA, but because he sounds like a man who needs to somehow be rejuvenated, both physically and spiritually, wrote New York Daily News baseball writer John Harper.
In fact, he is in such a state of depression about a season that has gone wrong in every way, including the death of his father, that he basically volunteered Saturday night to step out of the starting rotation in the playoffs, if there are playoffs. For someone as proud as Pedro, it was shockingly revealing of how far he has fallen. Not that he was awful Saturday night in a 4-2 loss to the Braves, but he took another first-inning pounding that set the tone for the game, and had to use all of his guile to survive six innings. Most significantly, it was Martinez himself who then raised the issue of perhaps pitching out of the bullpen in the playoffs.
"In a short series you've gotta go with the hot hand," he said. "I'll do anything to help the team. Starting or relieving, I'll do anything I can to help."
Though it may turn out the Mets won't have a better option for a Game 4 starter, Martinez's offer was a classy gesture, one that should make Jerry Manuel's job easier if it comes to that.
Source: New York Daily News
Depressed Martinez willing to step out of Mets' rotation
Getty Images
The New York Mets aren't going to need any help from Pedro Martinez to make it to October, and they should be glad for that, not just because of his 5.50 ERA, but because he sounds like a man who needs to somehow be rejuvenated, both physically and spiritually, wrote New York Daily News baseball writer John Harper.
In fact, he is in such a state of depression about a season that has gone wrong in every way, including the death of his father, that he basically volunteered Saturday night to step out of the starting rotation in the playoffs, if there are playoffs. For someone as proud as Pedro, it was shockingly revealing of how far he has fallen. Not that he was awful Saturday night in a 4-2 loss to the Braves, but he took another first-inning pounding that set the tone for the game, and had to use all of his guile to survive six innings. Most significantly, it was Martinez himself who then raised the issue of perhaps pitching out of the bullpen in the playoffs.
"In a short series you've gotta go with the hot hand," he said. "I'll do anything to help the team. Starting or relieving, I'll do anything I can to help."
Though it may turn out the Mets won't have a better option for a Game 4 starter, Martinez's offer was a classy gesture, one that should make Jerry Manuel's job easier if it comes to that.
Source: New York Daily News
