The Appeal of Pedro Martinez

From yesterday's MetsBlog:

…i actually think i would prefer Livan Hernandez as the team’s fifth starter, at this point, over pedro… because, i don’t expect my fifth starter to win a Cy Young… i want him to accumulate innings and help save my bullpen, and livan does that… pedro, god love him, does not… plus, he’s pedro, and i believe the team will benefit by keeping his dominant personality out of the clubhouse this time around…

First off, I've heard this meme a number of times recently - the Mets will be better off without Pedro's "dominant personality" clogging up the clubhouse. I don't really get it. For three years Pedro's personality and presence were lauded by everyone covering the Mets. He was a "spark" in the dugout, a "true competitor." Now he's a nuisance. Where is it coming from?

Now I'm not saying I necessarily want Pedro back either, though he's looked good at the WBC so far. But Livan Hernandez is not a very good pitcher. Sure he eats innings, but that's about it. His line for last year isn't even much better than Pedro's, except for IP:

PEDRO 5-6, 109 IP, 127 H, 87 K, 5.61 ERA, 1.57 WHIP

LIVAN 13-11, 180 IP, 257 H, 67K, 6.05 ERA, 1.67 WHIP

I'd say Pedro compares rather favorably here, particularly in hits allowed, especially if Citi Field turns out to be as cavernous as people are saying.

I also wonder if Livan hasn't earned his reputation as a workhorse simply by pitching for so many dreadful teams who had no choice but to keep running him out there.

To me the numbers indicate a pretty good risk-reward ratio in favor of Pedro, if he bumps up the IP considerably. And while Matthew Cerrone says "I don't expect my fifth starter to win a Cy Young," wouldn't it be nice if he gave you more than 180 decidedly mediocre innings?