A Note
By Sandy Koufax and Pedro Martinez have now pitched virtually the same number of innings–2324 for Sandy, 2311 for Pedro. Koufax was 165-87 with an ERA+ of 131. (A league average ERA+ in a neutral park is 100.) Pedro is 183-76 with an ERA+ of 167.
Koufax was of course great, dominant, a deserving first-ballot Hall of Famer. Martinez is much better. He may not get the Mets to .500 this year, but watch him when he comes to your town.
(I should also concede that, in retrospect, I may have been wrong when I was furious that Dan Duquette traded Delino DeShields to acquire him.)