50 replies to this topic

[Reverend]

In case anyone missed it, I would suggest--even urge--that you watch Pedro's interview with Don and Remy during the Fenway anniversary game.

I found the video embedded here.

Amidst a pretty tough stretch here, it seems that some people are wondering why they bother, why they ever bothered.

And then there he is. Pedro.

[Hendu's Gait]

Alexander the Great, Buddha, a significant other, a class clown, and one's favorite teacher all rolled into one person.

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

Thanks for posting that. Damn, I miss him. The story about knocking down Jeter and Soriano is classic Pedro. We'll never see another player like him.

[someoneanywhere]

I wish that man was my daddy.

Edited by someoneanywhere, 21 April 2012 - 02:09 PM.

[Foulkey Reese]

No words for how happy it makes me that he got to win it all in 2004.

[mr_smith02]

Wow...he is still awesome!

[smastroyin]

I saw Pedro arriving at the park. They limo services must have been running out of cars to send to Fenway, because he had a plain clothes driver in like a 2003 Trailblazer or something. The guys at the gate were mostly younger guys. An older guy/supervisor was there as well and the driver says "hey let me in I got your boy here." The younger guys didn't recognize Pedro in the car and they turn to the older guy "hey is this guy ok" The older guy looks in and says "uh. yeah. he's ok." In the process of this happening a dude who is waiting on the sidewalk on Pedro's side of the car shouts "holy shit it's fucking Pedro" in a perfect Boston accent and within seconds everyone in earshot is running over. By then the gate had opened but Pedro (who was on the phone) took off his sunglasses and waved at everyone crowding around. Stupid story but pretty awesome.

Thanks for finding the video, Rev.

[BoSox Rule]

He was on Intentional Talk with Millar admitted to hitting Jeter and Soriano on purpose. I think he said (according to Millar) "You hurt one of my guys I hurt two of yours" or something along those lines.

I fucking love him and this team could probably use him.

[joyofsox]

In his comments, he is always way more honest and emotional and direct and vulnerable than any other athlete I have ever heard speak.

I love that man.

...

Why has no one ever worked on a biography of Pedro? What a book that would be.

[Eric Van]

I will admit to choking up and, OK, crying, when Pedro appeared in the 100th anniversary celebration. (The funny thing is, at the time I didn't consciously thing of my Dad -- who passed away on 10/4/04, and loved Pedro as much as anyone -- but obviously that had something to do with it). That he was still Pedro, with his incredible enthusiasm and love of life, just moved me unutterably.

And then I realized that, for all that I usually name Dewey and Looie as my two favorite Sox of all time, my favorite player is actually Pedro. (It just seems more fair to have as your favorites two guys who deserve to be in the HOF but may never get in, versus a guy who will go in on the first ballot.)

And listening to that interview I was struck, not for the first time, at how brilliant the guy is, on multiple levels. No matter what your physical gifts are, you don't get to be the best ever at your position* without the brains to go along. Pedro and Roger were both fierce competitors, but Pedro had an understanding of the psychology of competition -- both his own and his opponents -- that separated him from everyone else.

*And that's an understatement. I'm not aware of any performance in the last 50 years of American sports that even approaches Pedro of 1999 and 2000, in terms of statistical dominance.

[mandro ramtinez]

Why has no one ever worked on a biography of Pedro? What a book that would be.

I would know every story from his years with the Sox by heart but I know I would revel in reading them again when his biography finally arrives someday. He was such a charismatic, dominant player and he seemed to completely embrace his role as the eventual Sox deliverer fully aware of how much pain he would have to endure to earn 2004. I almost definitely will never meet him, but I undoubtedly love Pedro.

[jose melendez]

Has he ever expressed interest n coaching? I don't imagine, but listening to him talk, it seems like he could be a hell of a pitching coach.

[tonyarmasjr]

Why has no one ever worked on a biography of Pedro? What a book that would be.

Who could do the man and his career justice?

[LogansDad]

That interview was the best thing I have seen on NESN since the Sox started playing this year. I, too, got weepy when Pedro came out for the 100th, and was pretty much swooning the whole time he was in the booth.

He is truly the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[Yaz4Ever]

I wish they hadn't turned the double play so we could have heard more.

[darnedsox]

Yea, great vid. I too miss Petey bad-his BALLS as much as his strikes. It has been a weepy week for this old guy, Levon, the parade of stars....memories that flowed. No swipe at anyone on the bench or in the pen or whatever, but I silently assured myself Pedro woulda put one in Swish's ribs.

[singaporesoxfan]

Why has no one ever worked on a biography of Pedro? What a book that would be.

Biography, schmiography. He deserves a whole basilica in Boston.

[reggiecleveland]

I still consider him flooring Matsui a key turning point in the 04 ALCS.

[PrometheusWakefield]

Even in 2012, when I saw this thread at the top of the forum I hoped it was going to be a rumor that he was planning his great return to Boston.

[pokey_reese]

Even in 2012, when I saw this thread at the top of the forum I hoped it was going to be a rumor that he was planning his great return to Boston.

He probably wouldn't be our worst pitcher even now, and he would absolutely give me a reason to tune in to every game.

Failing that, can we make him a regular in the booth somehow? When does Remy retire?

[Oil Can Dan]

I still consider him flooring Matsui a key turning point in the 04 ALCS.

Bingo. I'd love to see Matsui's stats before and after that pitch. SSS and all, but Matsui was not the same batter from that point on, and he had been absolutely killing the Sox to that point.

Pedro - what's left to say? It's all been said before, but I still love re-reading it again and again. He was must-see-tv each and every start. I don't think I'll be as excited about another player ever again. I feel so fortunate to have been able to see him pitch for our Sox, and Dan Duquette will always hold a special place in my heart for acquiring him, and then signing him to that $75M contract immediately thereafter.

[tims4wins]

Bingo. I'd love to see Matsui's stats before and after that pitch. SSS and all, but Matsui was not the same batter from that point on, and he had been absolutely killing the Sox to that point.

12-22 before the knock down, 2-12 after (both hits in game 7 with Yankees down by 7 runs)

Edited by tims4wins, 23 April 2012 - 12:40 PM.

[CaptainLaddie]

Bingo. I'd love to see Matsui's stats before and after that pitch. SSS and all, but Matsui was not the same batter from that point on, and he had been absolutely killing the Sox to that point.

Pedro - what's left to say? It's all been said before, but I still love re-reading it again and again. He was must-see-tv each and every start. I don't think I'll be as excited about another player ever again. I feel so fortunate to have been able to see him pitch for our Sox, and Dan Duquette will always hold a special place in my heart for acquiring him, and then signing him to that $75M contract immediately thereafter.

Before, 12-22, 10 RBI, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR
After, 2-12, no XBH or RBI.

[Montana Fan]

Respect, Focus, Integrity...Fun. Those are the words he chose when talking about his career. That's the way I remember him, well that and an armful of BB's hitting the catcher's mitt about 18" off the ground.

[Rasputin]

I still consider him flooring Matsui a key turning point in the 04 ALCS.

Fuck yes.

I would love a biography of him. Duende: The Pedro Martinez Story

[pedros hairstylist]

I'd say he's my all time favorite Boston sports figure...we were lucky to have him.

[trekfan55]

Before, 12-22, 10 RBI, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR
After, 2-12, no XBH or RBI.

The ALCS MVP Trophy was already being engraved by the time Game 4 started. Pedro was not vintage Pedro in 2004 but that move made a difference.

He is the best we have had the pleasure to see, no doubts about it.

Now, does anyone have access to him and can convince him to be a color guy for NESN? Or a pitching coach?

[DLew On Roids]

Ready to feel old?

Spoiler

He's been gone longer than he was here.

[Alternate34]

Thank you for that.

Pedro is my favorite player. I grew up with him. I could try to be cool and pick a non star or someone who spent longer with the team, but Pedro was just too Pedro. He was dominant and he wore his heart on his sleeve. You can't count on the honesty of a player in their own presentation, but if he isn't honest, he does a damn good job at seeming honest and sincere. Bullshit maybe, but the beautiful kind of bullshit.

[NJ Fan]

"I was the ace. I felt the responsibility to protect everyone on my team."

Edit: Thanks so much for sharing that clip.

Edited by NJ Fan, 23 April 2012 - 10:45 PM.

[reggiecleveland]

On the 99 all star game. "I pitched like that pretty much every game."

[Van Everyman]

Watching this now. I love him admitting that he never should have been so open about not wanting to leave Boston when he was negotiating his contract. Classic Pedro.

[Robert Plant]

Pedro was arguably the best pitcher ever. I went to University in Montreal from 92-95 and moved back to Boston in 96 where I lived for the next 6 years. I got to follow Pedro in the prime of his career. Some of those early games in Montreal were truly breathtaking. His energy on the mound was almost supernatural. By far my best baseball memories other than the 2004 championship, are watching Pedro pitch in 1994 for the Expos.

Edited by Robert Plant, 23 April 2012 - 11:30 PM.

[loshjott]

The Power of Pedro

Until last year [1999] Curt Schilling and Sandy Koufax had been the only pitchers in history to whiff 300 batters in a season while striking out more than five times as many batters as they walked. Schilling's strikeout-to-walk ratio was 5.5:1 in '97; Koufax's was 5.38:1 in 1965 and 5.28:1 in '63. In 1999 Martinez went where no man had ever gone before—8.46:1. His totals of 313 strikeouts and 37 walks seem implausible by any manner of achievement other than by joystick.

313 strikeouts and 37 walks..... I can't even type that, it's so absurd.

[Seabass177]

If I'm having a bad day, I'll go to Pedro's B-Ref page and poke around for a few minutes. It always makes me feel better. That is fucking nuts.

[Max Power]

The Power of Pedro



313 strikeouts and 37 walks..... I can't even type that, it's so absurd.

And 9 hit by pitches. That was my favorite part.

[gammoseditor]

And 9 hit by pitches. That was my favorite part.

I'd love to see career leaders in BB/HBP. I did a quick lookup of a few names. Pedro is at 5.39. Randy Johnson, Justin Verlander, and Roy Halladay were all in the mid to high 7's. Clemens is nearly 10.

[Al Zarilla]

Almost a full page of waxing nostalgic over a retired hero.Time for this year's team to right the ship. (Of course, I loved Pedro the pitcher and the character too).

[terrisus]

Almost a full page of waxing nostalgic over a retired hero.Time for this year's team to right the ship. (Of course, I loved Pedro the pitcher and the character too).

Frankly, I don't think the time of year or success of the current team matters much when it comes to discussing Pedro.
If a reason to discuss Pedro comes up, especially with new comments and such to discuss as opposed to just a random topic about him, there is going to be much reminiscing.

Pedro was, without a doubt, the most amazing player I have had the opportunity to watch in the 20 years that I've been following the Red Sox and Baseball in general.
I'm not sure we will ever see another player quite like him, and we were all lucky to have the opportunity to see him. Years from now, he's the one we'll be telling people stories about, and they'll think we're making it all up, since it all sounds too unbelievable to be true.

[Max Power]

Here are the top 20 for all pitchers that threw 2000 career innings. It's an odd mix of dead ball pitchers and guys from the 90s and 2000s.


Joe McGinnity 113 606 5.362831858
Pedro Martinez 141 760 5.390070922
Don Drysdale 154 855 5.551948052
Doc White 120 670 5.583333333
Jeff Pfeffer 105 592 5.638095238
Eddie Plank 190 1072 5.642105263
Jack Chesbro 90 552 6.133333333
Jim Bunning 160 1000 6.25
Frank Lary 97 616 6.350515464
Tim Wakefield 186 1205 6.478494624
Kevin Brown 139 901 6.482014388
Pedro Astacio 111 726 6.540540541
Roy Oswalt 76 500 6.578947368
Walter Johnson 205 1363 6.648780488
Harry Howell 83 561 6.759036145
Don Cardwell 98 671 6.846938776
Chief Bender 102 712 6.980392157
Tully Sparks 77 544 7.064935065
Aaron Sele 112 798 7.125
Greg Maddux 137 999 7.291970803

[terrisus]

Here are the top 20 for all pitchers that threw 2000 career innings. It's an odd mix of dead ball pitchers and guys from the 90s and 2000s.

Just taking a quick look, seems like that only includes 1901 and on (and so excluding McGinnity's 26 and 40 HBPs in 1899 and 1900)

[Max Power]

You're right. I might have left it to 1901 and later on the baseball-reference.com career finder.

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

I saw Pedro arriving at the park. They limo services must have been running out of cars to send to Fenway, because he had a plain clothes driver in like a 2003 Trailblazer or something. The guys at the gate were mostly younger guys. An older guy/supervisor was there as well and the driver says "hey let me in I got your boy here." The younger guys didn't recognize Pedro in the car and they turn to the older guy "hey is this guy ok" The older guy looks in and says "uh. yeah. he's ok." In the process of this happening a dude who is waiting on the sidewalk on Pedro's side of the car shouts "holy shit it's fucking Pedro" in a perfect Boston accent and within seconds everyone in earshot is running over. By then the gate had opened but Pedro (who was on the phone) took off his sunglasses and waved at everyone crowding around. Stupid story but pretty awesome.

Thanks for finding the video, Rev.

I guess that's a "Pedro move", because he did something very similar to me back in 2002.

I was fairly friendly with Bob Rodgers (former NESN pre/post game host) and he had gotten me and a few buddies into the last game of the season against Tampa Bay for free. Ramirez had just clinched the batting title, which was cool. In the middle of the 8th, Rodgers called my cell phone and invited me and my buddies up to watch the postgame show and meet the production team/Jim Corsi/any player that came up to do an interview. We stuck around for a little bit, left the studio and got lost trying to find our way from the studio to the innards of Fenway. We ended up back at the field and got a chance to sneak onto the field for a few seconds before anyone noticed. The stadium was empty, the grass looked so green...It was fucking awesome.

Anyway, most of the fans had dispersed by the time we were outside the stadium. Me and my buddies were standing at a set of lights waiting to cross the street when a black Mercedes pulled up next to us. About 5 feet away was Pedro, sitting in the passenger seat while some normal dressed guy sat in the driver seat. Of course we turned into little children and could only manage a "PEEDRROOO!!!" as the light turned green. He looked over and stuck a fist out the window and gave us a "Go Sox!" before driving away.

I miss Pedro.

Edited by Kenny F'ing Powers, 25 April 2012 - 01:25 PM.

[Seels]

Just got around to watching that myself.

Question is now, when do they retire the number? I mean, they're definitely doing it, right? Do they wait until 2015 (his first year of hall of fame eligibility)?

[bakahump]

I still remember Pedro....his arm in a sling, coming in from the Bullpen in Cleveland in 99. Th Crowd quit. they literally quit. Just gave up. Groans you could hear on TV emitting from them.

He then proceeded to Strike out mystify and terrify a Cleveland Lineup that included God, Jesus, The 4 horseman of the apocalypse and 3 out of 4 beatles.

At least thats how I choose to remember it.

[Seels]

Pedro and Don talk about leading the game off by hitting two NYY batters (and Pedro specifically says Soriano and Jeter)....when did this happen? I see 3 games he hit two NYY batters, April 13 and July 19 2002, and May 28 2000, but none of these games have the first two guys hit.

[HriniakPosterChild]

Pedro and Don talk about leading the game off by hitting two NYY batters (and Pedro specifically says Soriano and Jeter)....when did this happen? I see 3 games he hit two NYY batters, April 13 and July 19 2002, and May 28 2000, but none of these games have the first two guys hit.

July 7, 2003.

Pedro denied throwing at Soriano and Jeter intentionally: ''No, are you crazy? The guys are right on top of the plate. You just have to pitch them inside. It's the only place you're going to get Soriano out, is inside. He reaches outside over the plate. ... If I was going to hit them, I would hit them with just one pitch. I don't think I'll miss.'' ... Steinbrenner cried after the game and denounced Pedro (although Soriano and Jeter both swung at the pitches that hit them), but failed to condemn his own pitcher (Clemens) who threw pitch near Millar's head the day before. I guess that's "being aggressive" ... The four-game series attracted 220,026, the largest four-game attendance in the 28 years since Yankee Stadium has been remodeled. ... Monday's game was a perfect example of why, despite what Joe Morgan will tell you, W-L records don't mean much: Rivera got credit for the victory. ... Check out the latest issue of The New Yorker (July 14/21) for an 8-page article on Bill James and what he's doing for the Sox.

See http://www.1918redso...chive/0703A.htm

Play by Play data shows that Soriano struck out in his first AB, so he must have swung at the pitch that hit him. He was replaced in the field in the next inning.

Clemens had hit Millar in the head on July 5. Trot, the next batter, homered on the next pitch. God, that was great.

Edited by HriniakPosterChild, 25 April 2012 - 01:18 PM.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Pedro and Don talk about leading the game off by hitting two NYY batters (and Pedro specifically says Soriano and Jeter)....when did this happen? I see 3 games he hit two NYY batters, April 13 and July 19 2002, and May 28 2000, but none of these games have the first two guys hit.

I can't remember the date, but I'm almost positive that Jeter was ruled to have swung at the pitch that hit him, thus no HBP was recorded.

EDIT: Beaten.

Box Score.

Soriano was ruled to have struck out, not Jeter.

[Ramon AC]

http://www.baseball-...200307070.shtml

Soriano swung at the pitch that hit him.

edit: waaaay too slow.

Edited by Ramon AC, 25 April 2012 - 01:19 PM.

[Seels]

Oh, of course it was one of the games during my deployment. Gahhh