NY Boston Fan

Much has been made that last night may have been Pedro's last start as a member of the Boston Red Sox. I'll probably want to write my feelings on Pedro beyond this year, but for now I am hoping that it was at least his last appearance of this year, because if we see him again, it will be in game 7.

Game 3 will be remembered for the baserunning mistakes, and as they were pretty unbelievable, they should be remembered. But I hope that it doesn't overshadow Pedro's brilliance for the last 4 2/3 innings.

No Cardinal starter has lasted beyond 4 2/3 innings, but for the last 4 2/3 innings, Pedro was perfect, starting with the infamous groundball that Suppan goofed on. It was vintage Pedro.

He can't consistently top 95 anymore, and he does it with the grounder as often as with the strikeout, but he made great hitters look bad, and bad hitters look terrible last night. This game, should Pedro and the Sox part ways, should be remembered up with his most clutch performances and his most memorable performances, like:

• his #1 legacy, 6 no-hit innings in the 1999 ALDS clincher, despite an injury, on the road;
• beating Clemens in his next start, at home. Although I still remember this game mostly for the Sox peppering the green monster with line drives;
• his "near perfect game" against the D-Rays, when he showed a Braveheart like ability to get mad, and then get even;
• striking out 17 Yankees in September 1999, at Yankee Stadium. To me, this was Pedro's peak, and I would be happy to argue with anyone that 1999 Pedro was the greatest single season by a pitcher in history.

Whether this was Pedro's last game or not, it was a pleasure to watch, and brought back some great memories of what it felt like when Pedro was on the mound, in a groove, and you knew that the other team could do nothing about it.