Pedro Martinez isn’t over the way 2006 ended, with a torn tendon in his left calf ending his season before the playoffs. The Mets reached Game 7 of the NLCS but fell short to the Cardinals in that series.
“Me, in particular, I felt like I have unfinished business,” Martinez said on Saturday at Old-Timers’ Day. “So today I was quick to ask two of the most talented pitchers that we have on the team, which is Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. I don’t normally ask for much. But this time I did. I said, ‘Can you get it done for me?’ I felt like it was unfinished business.”
Martinez spent four seasons with the Mets, and was a major part of the team’s resurgence after signing prior to the 2005 campaign despite injuries limiting him to 89 starts in his time in Queens.
“I’m extremely proud to have been a part of the Mets and wear the uniform and I’m just praying to God that they bring it back, because it’s about time,” the Hall of Famer said. “I don’t know if I put too much pressure on those guys, but I’m just praying to God they can do what I couldn’t do.”
Jose Reyes isn’t upset that Francisco Lindor has replaced him in the Mets’ record books. In fact, the team’s former shortstop is pleased about it.
“Records are made to be broken,” Reyes said. “I feel happy for him, the way he’s been playing this year. Last year, I know it was tough for him. But it was his first year [here]. Just to see him like he has this year, that’s the real Lindor. That’s good to see.”
Lindor passed Reyes for most RBIs by a shortstop in a single season. He now has 85, four more than the 81 Reyes produced in 2006.
“I watch the game every day. They look like the 2006 team,” Reyes said, referring to the Mets’ NL East champions. “The chemistry they have is unbelievable. Hopefully they can continue to be like that and stay healthy the rest of the year.”
Daniel Murphy didn’t think back to the 2015 NLCS or his time as a villain tormenting his former team. As he returned to Citi Field, he thought back to his rookie year, in 2009, the first season of the new stadium.
“This is the place that I grew up in,” he said. “I really like it here.”
Murphy led the Mets to the 2015 World Series, but wasn’t brought back, and signed with the NL East rival Nationals, where he frequently torched the Mets. But that didn’t stop him from returning to his old stomping grounds.
“Jay’s hard to say no to,” Murphy said, referring to Jay Horwitz, the team’s vice president of alumni relations and team historian. “To be able to come out here and see some of these great Mets — like Mike Piazza walking by — it’s great fun.”
Jay Hook, who won the first game in Mets history, threw out the ceremonial pitch to Piazza before the Mets-Rockies game. The 85-year-old prepared by going to physical therapy and playing catch.
“It’s a fun thing,” said Hook, who had 30 family members in attendance and took part in the Old-Timers’ Day ceremonies. “My wife and I got here a couple of days ago. It’s interesting to see New York again. It’s fun to be at the hotel with so many of the players.”