I mean, look at his numbers (ignoring wins and losses) and compare them to the rest of the league in 1999 and 2000. People knew he was great, but I don't quite think they realized how great:
I mean, he had a 1.74 ERA when the league ERA was 4.91 and the SECOND BEST ERA in the league was 3.70! That's insane!
He set major league records in 2000 for lowest batting average allowed (.167) and lowest WHIP (.737). No one even touched those numbers in the dead ball era, and he did it in one of the biggest offensive eras in history.
The only drawback is that he pitched just 213 and 217 innings in 1999 and 2000, respectively. But when you consider the eye popping rate numbers, the smaller strike zone, the lower mound, juiced up opponents (I'm assuming Pedro's clean, though you never really know), and the fact that he started half his games in Fenway Park, you gotta appreciate how great he was.
2007-12-21 15:46:18 · 7 answers · asked by koreaguy12 6 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Yeah I agree, even though I hated him when he was with the Sox and loved to discredit him, he was one of the most dominating pitchers ever. I also agree that he was likely in the approximately 30% of baseball players who used performance enhancing drugs.
2007-12-21 17:27:21 · answer #1 · answered by steve2theo21 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
He has the talent and the temperament of a winner. Even his comeback this year was better than anticipated. Hopefully he has the knowledge that pitchers get when they start loosing their great stuff. Maddux and Glavine are perfect examples. This is something Randy Johnson has yet to understand.
2007-12-21 16:27:52 · answer #2 · answered by Ed B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's definately one of the top five ever when he was in his prime. I strongly believe he didnt use steroids or HGH. He was not the type of guy to get caught up in the money making part. When ever they interviewed him after a game or whenever you could tell he played for the love of the game.
Great question!
2007-12-21 17:02:42 · answer #3 · answered by hp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he was general acknowledged as the game's best pitcher back then. However, he never made it to the World Series, and his international background probably hurt him in terms of endorsements/public awareness.
I'd say, then, he was a little underrated by the public as a whole, but appreciated by fans.
2007-12-22 11:03:22 · answer #4 · answered by wdx2bb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly... I can't say that I think the guy is clean... but yes, he was one of the all-time greats... since testing started to get a little more vigorous though, he's gotten injured and his production has completely DIED...
2007-12-21 15:50:35 · answer #5 · answered by Reduviidae 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think pedro in 99 and 00 might be the best seasons any baseball player ever had. hows that for underrated?
2007-12-21 15:56:28 · answer #6 · answered by negaduck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, very much so.
2007-12-22 04:25:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋