Pedro Owns NYC

As luck would have it I was sitting at my desk Tuesday morning when a coworker gave me 4 tickets to that night's Mets game. Pedro Martinez was pitching. I was not going to turn those down. After half-heartedly asking my friend why he could not go he responded by saying if I want to play in tomorrow night's company softball game I have to work late tonight. I did understand because any chance I get to play ball at my age(30) I usually play. Even more luck came my way when I learned I was the second person he asked. Imagine that. Two people turning down Mets tickets to see Pedro pitch.

It was an amazing night. It was going to be my second time watching Pedro pitch this year. I saw him in Florida last month and he was great that night. As I work in mid town I decide to leave work at 5 and head right to the ballpark. My apartment is too far away to go home first and change my clothes. Besides I could not find anybody who wanted to see Pedro pitch. I was not able to reach many of the Mets fans I know. I take the 6 to Grand Central and hop on the 7 express train. I got to Shea by 5:45. My seats were very good. 7th row right field line. The crowd started to grow. The Dominican Republic flags were waving all over the place as this is becoming a normal occurance. Even in Florida there were DR flags waving all over the place.

It started about 6:40 when Pedro was long tossing in the outfield. The crowd was cheering his name. Then at 7:00 Pedro strides down the rightfield line. His jacket draped over his right shoulder. Rick Peterson is walking with him. There was no conversation between the two. Pedro look focused and confident. He looked like he was going to pitch great. As he walked past the crowd the cheering grew louder and louder. The crowd just goes wild for everything Pedro does. Whenever his name is announced the crowd goes wild. Pedro hits a foul ball the crowd goes wild. If Pedro would have picked his nose the crowd would have gone wild. Not since the days of Doc Gooden and David Cone in the Met glory days has a pitcher been this loved by Mets fans.

This is clearly Pedro's town now. Not Mike Piazza's or Carlos Beltran's. Not Randy Johnson's or Derek Jeter's. Pedro Martinez has been the best player in New York City this season. By far. What he means to this Mets team and their fans is remarkable. All we heard and read was that the Mets made a mistake giving Pedro 4 years. By year 4 he'll be on the disabled list and won't be effective. Everybody was saying that. Mike Francesa and Chris Russo both said it. Although they did say every time he steps to the mound it will be a huge event. We almost had the hugest one of all last night. Mets fans must not focus on what year 4 will bring. We can't worry about that. This is year 1 and Pedro is dominant.

About the third inning everybody knew Pedro had mowed down 7 batters in a row. I admit to thinking about the possibility. I starting to think about those who turned down tickets to possibly watch baseball history. I mean Houston hasn't hit all year long. Pedro looked to have great stuff. After the walk to Palmeiro to lead off the fourth there still was the no hitter. The crowd grew louder and louder with each passing batter. If anybody would get the Mets their first no hitter it would be Pedro. Pedro has been embraced by the Mets fans. Tom Glavine was never embraced this way. Evan after Glavine flirted with perfection last year. I remember watching that game and wanting Glavine to pitch the perfect game. Glavine has always been a class man. But part of me felt this just does not feel right. Tom Glavine shoud not be the one. Even though he is wearing a Mets uniform, he was a Braves ! pitcher. A pitcher who foiled the Mets on many occasions. Somehow I felt that Glavine can't be the Met pitcher who finally gets it done. Last night with Pedro that thought never crossed my mind.

After Chris Burke hit the home run to breakup the no hitter and shutout. The fans roared their appreciation for Pedro's performance. We all wanted to see him finish what he started. He had 95 pitches through 8 innings. I kept peeking towards the pen to see if Looper would start to throw. After Pedro hit for himself in the 8th inning I knew he would go all the way. Pedro struck out the side all looking to complete yet another dominating performance. His last 4 starts (Yankees, Marlins, D Backs, Astros) have been brilliant. 3 runs allowed in 32 innings. The crowd roared from 6:40 to well after the game was over. Leaving the stadium all you heard was Pedro chants. On the train all you heard was Pedro chants. Pedro!!! Pedro!!! Pedro!!!

Pedro was hot Tuesday night. The Mets fans were hot. It was a hot night in the city. A hot night in Pedro's city.