I've always liked Pedro. He clearly loves the game, and has turned in his biggest performances in the biggest games. In sports talk, he steps up when his team needs him.

At age 38, the velocity is gone from his fastball. On a cold night it takes up an inning or two to get up to high 80's.

But amazingly, he is still a nasty pitcher. He has incredible command of four pitches still, and uses so many different speeds that his 89 MPH fastball still pops.

Tonight will be the biggest game of the twilight of his career. In Yankee stadium against the biggest hitting, highest paid lineup on the planet, with his team facing elimination.

Pedro has made a career of stepping up in big games, and he has a real opportunity to add to his HOF credentials tonight.

I like Pedro. I first gained respect for him when he threw down Don Zimmer in the 2003 ALCS. I know Zimmerman was in his 70's, but he had it coming. You dont just charge the mound and expect the pitcher not to defend himself. Anyway, back to Martinez...he was originally asking for a 5 million/1 year contract. At his age (37) with his history of injuries, thats simply wasnt going to happen. He eventually settled for a 1 million dollar contract with the Phillies. Another player that is way past his prime, he can still bring it when he wants to, as he showed in the World Baseball Classic. I wish him the best this season when he comes back, and hope he does make the Hall.

Amazing stretch of numbers during the steroid-infested, fraudulent DH-land known as the American league. . .but he's been a shell of himself the past three seasons. . .he quit on the Mets- but quitting on the Mets is a requirement for being a Met in the first place. But in his prime, his numbers were eye-popping. Seemed to have a mean streak necessary for a tough pitcher as well. . .

I'm rating this because the Phillies recently signed his 37-year old arse. . .which shows how bad the back-end of their starting rotation is. . .Pedro might use this as a last-chance opportunity or he'll finally show he's over the hill. This is a low-risk move for the Phils- who paid little to get him. . .

He's used up.  This has been painfully apparent for nearly three seasons now.  He should just pack it in and retire gracefully, because if he continues in his present state, he's just going to embarrass himself and tarnish what was an impressive career.  However, seeing how thin pitching talent is these days, some dimwitted GM at a franchise with money to burn might sign him for 2009.  And seeing how greedy the present-day player is, it won't be surprising if Martinez accepts a multi-million dollar contract, if offered, even though he knows he has nothing left.

I love Pedro.  He is my favorite pitcher of all-time.

In the modern baseball era, only Sandy Koufax has a lower lifetime ERA than Pedro, and Koufax's career was shorter than that of Pedro already. That in itself is pretty astonishing. What other contemporary pitcher can boast two seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA? Has more strikeouts than innings pitched (not even Roger Clemens or Curt Schilling can claim that), despite being a much smaller guy than either. The numbers don't do justice to the magic of seeing him pitch. Nobody I've seen makes hitters look so silly. Plus, he threw Don Zimmer on his ass.

Great pitcher but can have problems with his sometimes temperamental behavior. The Mets hope that once he comes back this year he can stay healthy. Stamina has never been a strong point of his...

I think a strong case can be made for Martinez being the top pitcher of his era.

He forces wins when his team is flat, he is as ferocious a competitor as there is, and his numbers speak for themselves.

Understand, I'm not saying he is the top pitcher of his era (there's a lot of competition) but he's high in the running.

This guy is not only one of the best in baseball but one of the greatest all time! He's posted over 200 career wins with an era below 3 for his career. Hitters are batting less than .200 off him lifetime and he's got over a .700 winning percentage- the highest in major league history. Formerly a lights out power pitcher who routinely hit 96, 97 on the radar gun with a complimentary curve, change and splitter he was virtually unhitable some seasons. He now pitches with moxy and guile never once throwing a pitch the same speed and moving the ball in and out leaving the batters off balance he's really not missed a step. Yeah, he doesn't have the strength to power into the 9th anymore but this guy is huge in big games and will prove to be one of the main reasons why the Mets take home the World Series this year! Vote Pedro!

Pedro, Come home! We miss you! You know you belong with us, SPANKING the Yanks, not playing as a Met. Don't just stand there. Do something. Ask to come home. Love, your old friends in Boston

One of the most selfish arrogant players in the game today. I'm surprised the Mets even wanted him, his overpriced contract, his attitude, and his clown-like hairdo. He's a has been. Look to Roger Clemens for a true class act pitcher, look the opposite way and see Pedro Martinez.

Bye, Petey! We'll miss you. A great player, completely unafraid to throw at a Yankee player. Nice takedown on Zimmer.

Overrated

Still a quality guy and moving over to the NL should help. Obviously he got the ball over the plate too much in 04 giving up 26 HRs (25 combined the 3 previous seasons) nearly 200 hits (less than 150 each of the last 3 seasons) 3.90 ERA was not a good year no matter who you are. Still, can't argue with 227 Ks.

An overrated crybaby! All this little sissy does is throw at people after they get hits off of him. Then he backpedals when they charge the mound.

Sure he's a great pitcher who has just about the biggest salary in baseball with all bragging rights. He is pitching well for 33 years old. He is a jerk, though. He made a speech stating how much better he thought he was compared to Kurt Schilling. Maybe Pedro is as good as Schilling in pitching, but Schilling is considered a better leader than Pedro.

Inarguably the best pitcher in the major league today. At 33, he has accomplished a lot and has established himself as one of the best, if not the best, pitchers of all time.

Amazing pitcher!

first of all jaymcb, i dont care about what you thin of him personally. ill assume your a yankee fan. anywya this guy is a 5 out 5. one of the best pitchers in the game,one off the best era,ks and just about in evrey good pitching catagorey. sure he may beturning a bit older but he still has the 90s fastball and is now a smart pitcher

Good pitcher but terrible person.

The best pitcher in the game hands down!

I've been a big Pedro fan for years. He's great, argueably the best in baseball. I've been upset with him lately however because he's been crying about the Boston organization. They're paying him millions to pitch. What they say to the media or what the media says to the public is out of his control. If he's not happy he can leave during free agency; no need to bring the team down.

Pedro's a finesse pitcher. He throws heat, sure, but when he's winning, it's because he's hitting his spots. I give more stars to the workhorses of the league (i.e. Clemens, Johnson, Mussina, etc.), who are somehow able tally up the W's year after year. Pedro's soft (and I won't mention how much he whines). Contrary to what he might believe, he's not worth the money he's making this year.

Excuse my assumption, but coming from a TRUE RED SOX FAN is the word. Even that low down prettyboy JETER thinks that he is the best! PEDRO IS A ROLE MODEL! BOSTON NEEDS YOU, PEDRO!

As far as being a pitcher goes, Pete martin is top notch. He has masterful control and has a brilliant feel for a game and knows the right pitch to throw each time he hurls the ball. Intense competitor who has the will to win at any time. That being all said, I would never want to have him on a team that I owned, worked for or rooted for. He is a whiny little b&*ch of a player who cares about nothing other than himself. No regard for the fans of his team, his teammates or the opposing players. I hope these qualities follow him to Cooperstown and that true baseball fans, even those biased ones in Boston, will remember his black marks on the game.Justice would come when he plays an inter-league game (he will never be in a World Series) and has to hit. Have some flame thrower ride one high towards Pedro and lets see how badly he soils his panties. 2 other quick points. The day when the Yanks beat the Red Sox in Game 3 of the 2003 ALCS, Pedro threw at the head of Garcia because he wanted to get thrown out of the game. He was getting shelled and was trying to take the coward's way out. And secondly in that game, when Manny Ramirez charged the mound after Clemens threw a high ball over the plate - who was the last Red Soc player off the bench? It was Pedro. Instead of having his E.T. -like long digits wrapped around a baseball to throw at somebody, he had those fingers jammed up his hole and sauntered out onto the field last.

My grandma just LOVES him. And I figure if a man can turn on a 70-something year old, Hey! He must be doing something right!

Dominates in every category but can't stay consistently healty. Virtually everything he throws is wicked, with a weird circle changeup and mid 90's fastball. He also has a nasty slider, and backdoor slider. It looks like a fastball and breaks very late, a true slider. He's kind of a smartelic in real life and tends to pitch inside, a little to inside at times. Despite being on a team that hits .295, he gets virtually no run support, resulting in a lot of no decisions, and his health keeps him from getting enough of everthing to win a CY. Possibly the best pitcher of all time, but I saw him get smashed against the Orioles earlier this year.

i don't understand how pedro is not atop the list. players will learn to hit zito's curveball in time, but pedro has 3 A+ pitches. best pitcher of all time.

red sox suk

highest all-time winning percentage!

a little over rated.....hes one of the best pitchers in the game right now, but the quality of pitchers on the whole is pretty weak.

He's easily the best starter in the game. He deserved the Cy Young last year, but they screwed up most of the awards...

If Pedro wasn´t there, Boston wouldn´t exist. Everytime he throws a ball, the batter seems to be outplayed. Simply, the best pitcher right now in the MLB.

Pedro is the most incredible pitcher I have ever seen. There's nothing more exciting then when he is one pitch away from striking out the side in Fenway. The atmosphere in the park is indescribable. He is one of the few reasons that I think I will still watch my beloved Sox next year when they stink it up.

Pedro is the best pitcher in the game, and has been for the last 5 or six years, with Randy Johnson a close second. He is simply awesome, and the fact that Zito got Cy over him this year is absolutely ridiculous.

Did anyone ever see that Pedro commercial? Damn straight, this guy is flat out pimpin....

The best pitcher in baseball--bar none. No it's not Maddux or Johnson--it's Pedro. The best thing to come out of Boston since Babe Ruth and Aerosmith. Armed with an arsenal of off-speed pitches plus a blazing fastball, he is the power pitcher of his generation. And if you don't believe me, just ask the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Pedro is the most dominant pitcher in baseball. And to all those Indian fans out there who think he is a head hunter because he threw at Alomar, I have only one thing to say to u: THERE IS NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!!!

BEST PITCHER IN THE WORLD!!!!!

head hunter

Clearly the most dominant pitcher in the game today. !

To give him anything less than the highest rating would be insane. Especially in light of homerun derby that is baseball these days, his numbers are astounding.

Pedro is the most dominating pitcher in baseball. He had proven this last year, if he had not gotten injured, he would have gotten over 35 victories. His strikeout to walk ration is great - especially for how many srikeouts he has.

Great Pitcher. Pedro was the best pitcher in baseball during the 1999 Season. It is difficult for anyone to get a hit on Pedro, especially in big games like the playoffs. As good as Nomar Garciaparra is, he takes a backseat to Pedro for team MVP.

Absolutely, 100% unhittable. It's funny because when he began his career he was viewed as a head-hunter even being charged by a batter who he had hit to end his quest for a perfect game. Now, he is recognized as the best pitcher in the Majors. Despite his small frame, he throws extremely hard and has wicked stuff. Let's see if he can carry the Red Sox to the post-season again this year.

meant more to his team than any one player on any other team

The most dominating pitcher in baseball for the last two years and the undeniably the best right now and for years to come.

Pedro Martinez is the best player in baseball.

Pedro is one of the most dominating pitchers of all time.

Dominating