Oh, Pedro, What Might Have Been
Since being traded, the Dodgers have been haunted by the loss of Pedro Martinez
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Since being traded, the Dodgers have been haunted by the loss of Pedro Martinez. Oh, what could have been.
Oh, Pedro, what might have been.
On Friday, it was vintage Martinez at Dodger Stadium. Pedro went into the 7th inning on this start. He was impressive.
Fans on the field level were trying to recall the circumstances under which Martinez left the Dodgers back in 1994.
Both Pedro and his older brother Ramon, who would go on to throw a no hitter for the Dodgers, were on the roster. Pedro required surgery on his non-pitching shoulder in 1993. The operation was performed by respected Dr. Frank Jobe, the man who invented and perfected the "Tommy John" surgery. Dr. Jobe’s opinion was and still is held in high regard at Dodger Stadium. He pronounced Pedro as being prone to injury.
Meanwhile the Dodgers needed a second baseman. They had Jody Reed, who couldn’t decide whether to sign a three year $8 million offer from the Dodgers. The Expos made talented second baseman Delino DeShields available, and the swap was made. Pedro went on to greatness in Montreal and Boston, and DeShields was mediocre in L.A.
The Dodgers have been haunted by this deal ever since. It is one of their most controversial trades ever, with the exception perhaps of the Mike Piazza trade.
Jody Reed turned down the Dodgers’ offer and signed a one-year, $300,000 deal with the Brewers.
Fortunately, the Dodgers found a way to win Friday and all this will make wonderful cocktail conversation on the plane to Philadelphia.
