[njpsufan]

You are correct, Delgado was acquired in a trade. However Reyes and Wright were both starters in 2004, the year before Martinez and Beltran were signed. And Beltran did not do much his first year in NY. However Delgado arrives in 2006 and gives Beltran the protection he needs and, pow, the Mutts go to the NLCS. And what did Pedro do that year??? Go 9-8 and wind up on the DL. Don't tell me he turned the team ard cause its obvious he did not.

[EmpireWF]

It wasn't just about stats, him signing with the team turned the franchise around. Before then, they were the laughing stock of New York and considered anything but a team on the upswing.

[njpsufan]

I see what you are trying to say, but having worked in NY for 18 years we both know that NYC is Yanks first, Mutts distant 2nd. Yes it was big news when Pedro signed, but there was a lot of amazement that they gave him a deal so long... remember the Sox only offered 3 yrs. Everyone thought, and still do, that his body would wear out. Certainly the signing was more about PR, i.e. we are serious about winning. But to me it was the Beltran deal a month later that really made people sit up and look at the Mutts. If you honestly look at the Pedro deal, you can not say with a straight face that the Mutts have gotten fair value. 1st year.. good. 2nd year....avg and trip to the DL when they needed him the most. 3rd yr.... DL for almost the whole year. I am sorry but he is done and this deal, while I agree it was a great PR move, ranks as a bust, esp if he goes back on the DL this year.

[EmpireWF]

You're looking at it strictly from a pitching standpoint. I'm just saying, signing Pedro was so much more than just him on the mound.

[njpsufan]

True, you are looking at a guy to come in and be the guy to either carry you on his back when need or be a big clubhouse leader. From the pitching side, he has not done it. He goes 9-8 in year 2 and ends up on the DL, leaving them hanging in the playoffs. If he was healthy they would have beaten the Cards I believe. Plus he has never been known as a clubhouse leader, ever. All those years in Boston... he was known as a clubhouse clown, a fun guy to be around, a guy to break the tension, but never once will you find someone in the Boston front office mention how he was a leader or a guy who worked with the young guys. that has never been his style. He missed most of last year... how could he be a leader if he was gone until Sept?? I get it that you think he still is a good pitcher and brings other things to the table.... I just disagree. If he was that much a leader and a valuable pitcher then the Sox would have made every effort to keep him... but they didn't, even though he did so much for them. That should tell you how much they thought about him.