I find it curious that so many fans are ready to send one of the greatest Red Sox pitchers off in a heap. Is it sour grapes? The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan says by signing with the New York Mets, Pedro is showing his true colors. Even ESPN's Peter Gammons has said good riddins'
Are you all big fans of David Wells?
Not I. I think he is a plague. The Red Sox are his eighth team. There is usually a reason a man moves from town to town.
I would say that he was out-of-shape, but he is in shape -- the shape of the earth.

He has been in numerous fights on and off the field. He has been in clubhouse squabbles with management and teammates. He has fallen off barstools and has bothered some with his couldn't-care-less attitude and loud heavy metal (nothing against heavy metal).

He's 10-10 with an ERA over 4 in Fenway Park, where he wants to "push the button" that blows the place up.

Yes, this is the latest Red Sox acquisition.

It's funny that no one has asked the players about Wells.

Here's the reality. Pitching wins championships! In 2004, Boston went out and addressed its needs. Now, so far, we have three pitchers - Wells, Tim Wakefield and Bronson Arroyo. This scares me. What about Schilling, you say?

Curt Schilling's condition is questionable. Will he ever recover from surgery? During the postseason, Boston's medical staff tried something completely new, untested. Did it have a adverse effect on his future? Yes, the procedure allowed Schilling to pitch, thus securing the first World Championship for the Sox in 86 years. But did it leave permanent damage? Who knows? Schilling is expected to miss at least opening day. Ouch.

Now let's take a look at Pedro. I wish Pedro had stayed. You may say that he is on the down side of his career. However, he was fourth in Cy Young votes in 2004, second in strikeouts and fifth in wins. He didn't miss a start and was sixth in innings pitched. He was also second in hits allowed for pitchers who had more than 200 innings.

And he's eight years younger than Wells.

I'm not surprised he is leaving. But to the New York Mets? This I do not understand.

According to the Mets' organization, Pedro was also offered a four-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. If this is indeed true, heading to St. Louis makes more sense.

St. Louis is a baseball town and the team can offer an abundance of run support. Heck, if they improve their pitching, the Cards will return to the World Series in 2005.

Look how Jeff Suppan and Chris Carpenter improved. How good could Martinez be with this team?

If injury is a question, St. Louis has a great medical staff, just ask Jason Isringhausen.

With the Cardinals, he could have been their best pitcher since Bob Gibson.

Why the Mets? Perhaps it is the Dominican population in New York. Pedro would be very welcome there.

Pedro relishes being a star. Shea needs a star. You think Boston's in competition with the Yankees. The Mets would do anything to be on the front pages of New York's newspapers. The Mets in a weird way probably think this action some sort of coup.

In an age when ballparks are made for hitters, Shea is comparitively huge. Pedro will not have the wins or the championships with the Mets, but he will have a better ERA and better strikeout numbers. There are only two guys currently in the National League that can touch him in Cy Young votes - Roger Clemens (who is expected to retire) and Randy Johnson (who's expected to go to the American League). Hmm. Pedro, watch out for Ben Sheets - truly an amazing pitcher for the woeful Brewers.

Then again it may come down to cash and who wouldn't want the cash. You all play Megabucks or Powerball, right?

Not everyone is against Pedro's pending move. Some including the New York Post's Mike Vaccaro says this acquisition is just a warmup for something bigger. I suspect that "something big" is a deal involving Manny, but thhat is only speculation.
The Post's Kevin Kernan also praises the Mets' move.

Good luck to you Pedro. I'm so very glad that I got to watch you these last seven years. Oh, and by the way, thanks. Thank you for the championship

This just in: According to the Boson Globe, the Boston Red Sox have signed SS Edgar Renteria to a four-year, $40 million deal.

I like Renteria, but I find the deal curious. I was under the impression that Boston did not want to sign a shortstop to a four year deal waiting instead for Hanley Ramirez. If that wasn't the case, why not sign Cabrera to a three-year deal? Confusing, isn't it?

Reader comments: What do you think about the Renteria signing?