I wouldn't exhale just yet, but perhaps the heart palpitations will ease after months of wearying, anxious speculation now that Pedro's back in town, mowing 'em down with typical Pedro verve.
Yeah, it's only March and yeah, it was only the Orioles, but in a first spring outing, retiring 8 of 10 batters in 3 shutout, shout-about innings during which he gave up only one hit. And of course, a few questions about the once-indominable toe answered in succinct fashion. Discomfort but not the pain of the second half of last season. Diligence pays off, foam gel pads and all.
But what, that's not even the shocking part.
The shocking part was the infamously inconsistent Victor Zambrano finishing the game for Pedro with six shutout innings, four hits, four strikeouts, two walks, no wild pitches and no hit batsmen.
Or maybe this should just make us question the quality of the opponent this time around. Pedro's next start might well come against the Cardinals on Friday, a considerably more formidable foe.
Also bringing comfort was the disjointed outing by Mrs Benson allowed six runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings. His throwing error with two outs in the third let one run score.
However, the grimace of optimism was present in the Orioles' dugout.
"I thought this was [Benson's] best outing," manager Sam Perlozzo said, straining his vocabulary for positive misdirection.
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Rumours are still afloat that Heilman might head to the bullpen, giving Bannister the nod as the fifth starter instead.
*****
Steve Trachsel's deliberative, hours-killing pitching style will be on the mound this afternoon for the Mets against the Dodgers tonight.
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