Pedro Martinez’s Biggest Start as a Met

Since coming to the Metros in 2005, Martinez has taken the hill in a few big spots. But, more often than not, he’s been sidelined for the biggest of the big. In 2005, Martinez led the team in ERA and posted 15 wins for a team that finished in third place. A year later, a strained calf muscle kept Pedro off the postseason roster as New York won the division and got within a game of the World Series. Last year, as the Mets watched their lead evaporate over the final 17 torturous games, Pedro’s 3-1 record in September couldn’t help avert disaster.

So, we don’t think it’s outlandish to claim this is the biggest start of Pedro’s Mets career. After this season, Martinez will likely never don the Mets blue-and-orange again. Looking back on the four-year $54M contract years from now, most Mets fans will likely poo-poo the move claiming his frequent absence from the rotation and 30-some-odd wins make it clear the signing was a failed experiment. And, in many ways, they’d be absolutely right.

However, Pedro also had an intangible impact on this franchise. His signing signified something more at the time. It was a statement that the Mets were getting serious about winning again. It signaled a clear end to the Art Howe era and a refusal to accept a woefully below .500 baseball team in Queens for any longer. For many Mets fans, it meant a recent to get back into this team.

Regardless of how history judges Pedro’s Mets career, one thing’s for sure. Fans can have short-term memories. In the case of Mets backers, their memories extend only to last September and a swoon that most of us can’t soon enough forget. Number 45 can go a long ways toward helping those memories continue to fade with a big-time performance tonight. If he does, it will be the biggest win he’s had in a Mets uniform.