BDD is a feature of Boston.com. It is not produced by The Boston Globe Sports Dept.  More


BDD Home

Most Recent


Boston Dirt Dogs home



Rotoworld News for Boston Dirt Dogs:


38 Pitches

Baseball Almanac

Baseball America

Baseball Prospectus

Baseball-Reference.com

BLOHARDS Blog

Bradford Files

BoSox Club

Boston Sports Blog

El Guapo's Ghost

ESPN Red Sox Clubhouse

Gammons

Hit and Run

The Joy of Sox

MannyRamirez.com

MLB Players Association

RedSox.com

Red Sox Reality Check

RedSoxStats.com

The Remy Report

Retrosheet

Rotoworld.com

Sawxblog.com

Seth Mnookin Blog

Show Me the Money

Soxfan vs. Yanksfan

Sox Nation.Net

Sox Prospects

The Soxaholix

Sports Illustrated Sox Page

Surviving Grady

Touching All the Bases

Keeping Up with
Old Friends

Bronson Arroyo

Josh Bard

Mark Bellhorn

Orlando Cabrera

Scott Cassidy

Tony Clark

Roger Clemens

Wil Cordero

Rheal Cormier

Johnny Damon

Jorge De La Rosa

Brian Daubach

Andy Dominque

Adam Everett

Carl Everett

Cliff Floyd

Casey Fossum

Chad Fox

Nomar Garciaparra

Tony Graffanino

Shea Hillenbrand

Adam Hyzdu

Byung-Hyun Kim

Sunny Kim

Damian Jackson

Derek Lowe

Brandon Lyon

Matt Mantei

Pedro Martinez

Lou Merloni

Ramiro Mendoza

Cla Meredith

Doug Mientkiewicz

Kevin Millar

Bill Mueller

Matt Murton

Mike Myers

Trot Nixon

Jose Offerman

Jay Payton

Roberto Petagine

Hanley Ramirez

Edgar Renteria

Dave Roberts

Freddy Sanchez

Scott Sauerbeck

Jeff Suppan

Ugueth Urbina

Todd Walker

Scott Williamson

Other Characters

Barry Bonds

Jason Giambi

Randy Johnson

Carl Pavano

Mariano Rivera

Alex Rodriguez

20/20

Barks and Bites

Baseball and Football

Bob Lobel Chat

Catching the Bus

Cowboy Up!

The Critical Moment

Dirt Dogs History

Don't Blame Buckner

Edesdropping

Evil Empire

Grady's Defense, pt. 2

Hench's Hardball

The Lucchinos

Millar Time!

The Nation Speaks

Nine Eleven

Sale of the Century

Second Page

Theo Epstein Chat

Theoretically Speaking

Yankees Suck?

Yesterday's News

2002: Strike Out

2001: A Sox Odyssey


Most Beloved Since '67:
BDD All-Beloved Team


Most Beloved Since '67: BDD All-Beloved Team


go-redsox.com, a Japanese-language Red Sox blog
What is this?


Discussion Boards

Dirt Dogs
Sox Board

Playoff Bound in '07?

On the Front Burner

Off the Field / Fodder

Game-by-Game

Major League Matters


Sons of Sam Horn

The Remy Report

NYYfans.com


 ARCHIVES

Most recent news

July 2007

June 2007

May 2007

April 2007

March 2007

February 2007

January 2007

December 2006

November 2006

October 2006

September 2006

August 2006

July 2006

June 2006

May 2006

April 2006

March 2006

February 2006

January 2006

December 2005

November 2005

October 2005

September 2005

August 2005

July 2005

June 2005

May 2005

April 2005

March 2005

February 2005

January 2005

December 2004

November 2004

October 2004

September 2004

August 2004

July 2004

June 2004

May 2004

April 2004

March 2004

February 2004

January 2004

December 2003

November 2003

October 2003

September 2003

August 2003

July 2003

June 2003

May 2003

April 2003

March 2003

February 2003

January 2003

2002

2001


If You're Going to Fort Myers, Go Here First:

Spring Training Guide


A Look Back on the
2004 Regular Season

BDD XMLBDD My Yahoo

Please email for more information or questions.

Contents Copyright 2001-2006 Boston.com, except logos used in accordance with the Fair Use provision (section 107) of US Copyright Act.

Photographic images published with full rights from The Boston Globe and Associated Press unless otherwise indicated.



Boston Dirt Dogs Home

Boston Globe: Sox-Yanks pitching matchups > Sox do it again > Wake Comments were doctored > Robinson's legacy set in stone >  Thumbs

Boston Herald: 'Tek good in pinch > Heckuva first game > Cora corralled > Schilling offers a far-from-Curt response > Chamberlain to miss Sox

ProJo: Varitek's 9th inning homer fuels comeback > Ailing Cora could be put on the DL > Schilling insists: I won't play for Yankees > Wrapup

Hartford Courant: Farnsworth comes up big in Yankees win > ESPN settles with Reynolds > Phillies beat Astros > Tigers rally past Twins

It's Red Sox vs. YankeeZZZzzzzz: Rivalry's Buzz Takes a Beating
38Pitches: 'Umm, no.' | Wilbur: Space Shot | Yankee Swap
Video: Big Papi Explains Reason for Hitting Woes

Dec 20, 2004:

No. 1 at the Box Office Last Weekend

J_KISS2.jpg

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo / Matthew Dunn)

Breaking News: Pedro Will Be Badmouthing the Boston Red Sox Somewhere on the Planet Today.


New Larry Lucchino, Will Carroll, and Steve Phillips on WEEI

Gammons: Beltre, J.D. Drew were on Sox radar, plus Pavano, Pedro, pitching

2004:

Pedro Makes His Free Agent Pitch to the Bronx

"He did everything but sing along with Sinatra after the game."
- Gerry Callahan, Boston Herald

Did Martinez Hoodwink Nation with His Original 'Daddy' Comment?

"I can't do anything if we don't score runs." -- Pedro Marteamez

"If we score one, I can't give up any." -- Curt Schilling circa May 2004

"I've got to think a few Sox players were privately seething at Pedro for giving the
Yankee crowd fresh fodder with which to taunt them." – Gordon Edes chat Post Game 1

"It actually took the pressure off (starting Game 2), watching Schilling go out there... I appreciate that." -- Pedro Martinez

Pedro May Take Lucky Charmer on the Road

"...And his entourage has taken on Fellini-esque proportions -- his guests over the weekend was a 29-inch Dominican performer. I'm told that Pedro plans to take him on the road, too, as a good-luck charm. I'll find out this week if that's the case."-- Gordon Edes mailbag on boston.com

"I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy. I can't find a way to beat them at this point. You just have to give them credit and say, 'Hey, you guys beat me, not my team.' I wish they would [expletive] disappear and never come back. "-- Former Ace Pedro "Sonny" Martinez

Who should be the Game One starter in the playoffs?

"I don't know how people are going to have the guts to come and tell me they're going to push me back. But if they did it, I wouldn't argue. I'm only an employee here that does his job." -- Pedro Martinez

Stearns Tries to Outfox Schilling

9.23.04: Fox 25's Butch Stearns (BS) was back calling into WEEI's Big Show today. Butch started yapping about how he doesn't "make stuff up!" and said "I have a tape of several players saying what I said yesterday" which he will play on the FOX-25 News. He said this is a story because "it will affect whether or not Pedro re-signs in Boston." Butch is angry with people at WEEI (read: Dennis, Callahan, Meter) today and said they questioned his credibility. He said he received threatening messages at FOX-25 and added "If you're gonna call my line at least have the balls to leave a name and number!"


Curt Gets Stern with Butch

"Because you don't see us playing grab-ass on the field doesn't mean a thing." -- Curt Schilling

9.23.04: Fox 25's Butch Stearns (BS) was on WEEI's Big Show today. Butch started yapping about how he had some information that the relationship was not great between Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez adding "How do you think Pedro feels when he sees Schilling pitch a game like last night?" and "go look at the tapes (of past games) you never see Schilling and Pedro embrace after a win." (oops, see above from July)

"Next we have Curt in the car up next here on the Big Show (sans Ordway again when Curt calls, must kill him, Pete Sheppard, Steve Burton and Butch Stearns)"

Schilling: "How you doin' guys... (hey we got Schilling! How ya' doin' Curt?), hey listen I'm not going to be long but I'm gonna say one thing, I don't know who it was that just said something regarding Pedro and I... (that was Butch Stearns -- that was me Curt) Don't be stupid enough to think you can make something out of nothing. That's how dumb idiotic rumors get started by those who don't know the game. I have (well we're glad you calle...) I HAVE nothing but the utmost respect for Pedro. I think he's probably one of the best pitchers I've ever pitched with. He's a great guy. We get along awesome. Because you don't see us playing grab-ass on the field doesn't mean a thing. Don't say something stupid and something ignorant like that. (BS: Alright Curt, I understand, and I'll apologize for that, but can I ask you a question?) No. Here's my problem. If I don't call up you don't apologize for it, you don't retract it, and somebody calls and you make it a bigger deal than it is (BS: I'm not trying to make it...) It's a stupid idiotic comment to make. It's irresponsible. And you know what it's ignorant, because you don't know, obviously you just made it up (BS: I didn't make anything up) Sure you did. Sure you did. I've hugged Pedro on the field this year, after we've won a game, that's a stupid thing to say... isn't there some other controversy you can go to? Because you had some valid points, but don't make up stupid stuff."

BS: "Alright fair enough Curt. Can I ask you a question? (CS: shoo) What do you care to offer us about your relationship with Pedro? That's all."

CS: "But... how... I love him. Pedro's an awesome guy. And he's arguably one of the best pitchers I've ever pitched with. He's a fantastic human being."
BS: "Do you feel like you guys have pushed each other in a good way, for the good of the team?"

CS: "I don't know if we push each other, I've learned a ton from watching the guy pitch this year. A ton. (BS: Same or different than relationship with Randy as players?) No it's different because RJ and I lived right down the street from each other. We both have four kids. Our wives are very close. So there's a lot of different... it was different. As teammates and as friends, Pedro has my utmost respect and he's a guy I'd kill for, absolutely."
Steve Burton: "Hey Curt, in all fairness to Butch, I'm the one who brought up the subject and what I said was 'how do you think... Pedro's used to being the ace of the staff. Here you come in..."

CS: "No, no you didn't preface it with that, you just said 'how do you think Pedro feels when Schilling pitches well?'"

SB: "Right, and I think that's a fair question. I think..."

CS: "Wait, wait, wait, why is that a fair question? Because in that situation you'd be jealous? (SB: what's that?) Given a similar situation, you'd have problems with it?"

SB: "I think some people would, yes. I think that's a very fair question."

CS: "You're assuming Pedro is 'some people.' Pedro is not 'some people' Pedro's one of the five best people on the planet at what he does. People like that tick differently than people like you. You have to. The top five in the world at anything they do and they're going to be so vastly different people than you are, or that most normal people are. Yeah, they're human. They have emotions, but you know what? You get here doing things differently than most people do. I gotta go guys, I just wanted to make sure that people understood that that's not a top subject."

SB, BS, PS: "Curt? Curt? I think he had to go..."

"I did not make it up (report of Pedro and Curt having problems). I know who my sources are, and you know what? So do you. If you want to continue this conversation, I'll be at the park all weekend long." -- Butch Stearns, later on FOX-25 News


7.21.04

Pedro Gets Shelled

(he asked for it, literally)

Who is Miguel Tejada?: Well-rested Martinez is all smiles and giggles after loss, tips hat to O's, says he took one for the team.


7.16.04

"Why do I have to pitch against the Yankees all the time?" -- Pedro Martinez


6.30.04

Pedro Caught Clowning Around on YES While His Team is Taking a Vicious Beating in the Bronx

"I'm watching YES....I actually do not mind Jim Kaat... he was talking about Pedro clowning around with the fans in the middle of an ass whooping... he said that most managers would not allow that.. he said it is one thing to be loose, but it looks like you don't care about the team." - Scott Cooper, SoSH

Yankee fan emails us: "WTF is Pedro doing? Joking with the fans, flashing his tetas at them, smiling with an 11-3 deficit? Some leadership."


6.1.04:

"God wants me to beat the elements."

- Pedro on NESN whining about having to pitch in some drizzle this year


5.5.04

Pedro, Pedro, Pedro

Where's Pedro? "Pedro Martinez did not take part in the pregame stretch. He wasn't even at the park when the players headed onto the field at 5:05 p.m." - Heuschkel, Hartford Courant

Teammate questions his stuff. "More than one person from management and at least one person in uniform questioned his stuff... That Martinez would speak about the closing of the talks, even in the midst of a wonderful winning streak by the Red Sox, should shock no one. Since last winter, he has maintained that he would enter free agency if he did not have a long-term deal by the start of the regular season. Did anyone think that the media would not remember this and ask him about it?" - Silverman, Boston Herald

How about his comments a month ago Michael? "When my agent has a deal for me to sign, he'll tell me. Otherwise, I'm not worrying about it... And that's business, and that's why we pay agents and a nice 5% to just yap, yap with the owners and the GMs. So we're gonna let them take care of that and we'll take care of business in the field."
- Pedro Martinez on not talking or worrying about his next contract

Boston.com Paydro poll. "If you were the Red Sox, would you give Pedro Martinez a multiyear deal worth at least $15 million a year if insurance companies refuse to offer disability coverage for him?"

No way : 84.4%
Yes, his talent is worth the risk: 15.6%

Cutting room floor. "Most involved the Sox players interacting in the clubhouse or elsewhere off the field, though one took place during the climactic playoff game, when a fan made an uncharitable remark about Pedro Martinez. Doyle dropped the (Red Sox Movie) scene not because Lucchino objected to it but because he thought it played against the fan's true nature, "and that bothered me," he says (So New Yorkers know our "true nature" now, puhleeze).- Joseph Kahn, Boston Globe

And in case you don't know the drill by now... "Martinez, dismayed by the backlash against him after he cut off contract talks, does not plan to speak publicly again this season to the Boston media. He kept a promise to a number of reporters to share his feelings about the negotiations once they ended, and he felt blindsided by the reaction." - Bob Hohler, Boston Globe


5.2.04:

"He misfired with his fastball in a lot of instances,'' manager Terry Francona said. ``It just never allowed him to get in any kind of rhythm. Pretty obvious, it was a battle for him right form the get-go. He wasn't hitting his target.''

Francona said Martinez just had an off night, and that it was not related to the pitcher's decision to have no more talks during the season with the Red Sox about a new contract.


"I'm just really sad for the fans in New England who had high hopes that at this time I could say, truly, that I was going to stay in Boston, but now they're going to have to compete with the rest of the league. It's not going to be (a distraction) because I'm not going to allow it. It's over with and I'm just going to continue to play baseball like I would normally do. I was just wasting time, having something else on my mind. So now I get rid of one and concentrate on baseball and that's it. It's just business... I don't know - I'm going to have to wait and see, I gave them every single chance I could. That's from the bottom of my heart. The fans in Boston, I know they don't understand what's going on, but I really mean it from my heart - I gave them every opportunity, every discount I could give them to actually stay in Boston and they never took advantage of it. Didn't even give me an offer. They never gave me one number, never gave me anything. They said, `We're going to try with the insurance company, we're going to try whatever. Mr. Henry said he was going to talk to the insurance companies and stuff like that, and I waited longer, one more month after the season began. But no, sorry, didn't work out to this point and we're going to see what we can do next year.'' - Boston Herald,


5.1.04

"This is spot on and why some fans, unlike most here, are sick and tired of this "clown" opening his big trap time and time again. He talks to the media when its convenient to him. "Hey don't you dare ask me about my velocity being down, but wait til I have a couple of good starts and I'll bash management for not showing me the money". It grows tiresome and old and takes the focus off what has been a most encouraging start to the season. That said, the Sox have him over a barrel and he now has no choice but to prove to the baseball world that he's worth the millions he wants. A good situation for the Sox for sure." - Rocco Graziosa, longtime member, SoSH

---

"We've been talking to him for some time, we have a lot of respect for Pedro and we're going to show that respect by showing some respectful silence here." - Larry Lucchino

We respect our players. We tell our players the truth. We listen to our players. We protect our players. We negotiate with our players in good faith, and we make every effort not to discuss these negotiations in public. We want our players to succeed, and we do everything we can to help them win.

Sometimes, however, our commitment to building winning teams, every year, means that we will have disagreements with our players about the length and precise value of their next contracts. These disagreements are unfortunate but they are inevitable. They will be resolved in time. In the meantime, we continue to focus on our most important mission: winning." - Statement from Red Sox Sr. Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein 05/01/2004 4:13 PM ET

Why the New Panic Petey?

"Unlike a year ago when he regularly and publicly pushed the Red Sox to exercise the 2004 option on his contract -- they did so a week into the season, seven months before they were required to do so -- he has said little about his uncertain future this spring.

"To be perfectly honest, it doesn't matter to me," he said yesterday of his status

After sending signals in a press conference last fall that he understood he would have to accept a reduction in salary in a new deal, he has been reluctant to address the issue specifically this spring.

"When my agent has a deal for me to sign, he'll tell me," he said. "Otherwise, I'm not worrying about it." - Pedro was Mr. Cool Breeze on March 23rd.


4.25.04:

"We have a lot of respect for that team (Yankees). They're struggling right now. We're just playing good baseball. That's all. They beat us that other time, in Game 7. Well, that's fine. We respect them for that, too. But it's too early. It was a normal routine, normal for me, normal things from the fans. I don't have anything against them. I respect it." - Pedro Martinez, 4.25.04


4.04.04:

Tito Takes a Bullet on Taxigate

Sox brass Werner, Lucchino, Epstein miffed about Ace's early exit.

"I would like our guys to stick around, but I haven't conveyed that to the team necessarily good enough. and that's an oversight on my part, just to tell players "hey this is how I feel... I didn't call him today (to ask) about it because I didn't want to bother him on his day off... It was probably my fault for not making that (rule) well-know during spring training." - Francona, 4.5.04


4.04.04

Marteamez Takes Off EarlyPedro didn't join yawning teammates on the bench to "rally" club,
in fact, he left the park before the game was over instead.

(So much for lessons learned from the World Champion Patriots)


3.30.04:

Behind the plate, a section full of scouts scratched their heads. Martinez had touched 90 mph on just a couple of fastballs. He delivered them from an arm slot noticeably lower than the Pedro of old. "I could never give that guy a three-year contract," said one scout. "He's got two years left in him. Tops." - Stark: Sox, Jays go to head of AL East.


Pete Greeted Us with a Different Message

Agent was going to yap, yap. He was going to focus on the field.

"And that's business, and that's why we pay agents and a nice 5% to just yap, yap with the owners and the GMs. So we're gonna let them take care of that and we'll take care of business in the field."

2.24.04 - On going into the season without a contract:

PM: No that won't bother me, I'm actually aware that it's not up to me to get a new contract, I'm just gonna go and compete like I have to. Like a professional, for my year contract, that I have and if they don't want to sign me, that's fine, I'm pretty sure I'll probably get a job with somebody else. But if they do, I'll be more than happy to stay here.

There are no talks, none. And I'm not expecting it, I'm not looking forward to it. I'm just expecting to work this year and actually let them make the move. The ball is in their court.

I've always said that I would like to actually retire with the Boston hat, but if it's not that way, it's not going to be that way, there's nothing I can do.

I'm not really thinking about anybody else, I'm actually thinking about myself and working the way I have to. I can't really help the fact that they wanted to sign Schilling, and I'm really happy for Schill, he deserves it, he's a workhorse. And he'll give us a lot of help. I don't really have anything against it. God puts it in the way for whoever he belongs to and if it doesn't belong to me, it doesn't belong to me, I don't belong to Boston anymore, it's up to Boston. They know what they're doing. They're managing this team so they should know what they're doing.

This is my sixth year in Boston and I'm just looking forward to work my year and we'll see what happens afterwards. That doesn't mean that they're not going to try to sign me after the season or whatever. I don't know what they're gonna do actually, I'm just here to work and earn my money.

The way I look at my teammates and the way I've seen them work today for the first day, I think they're determined to take a chance at winning. I think they're determined to just work and not really worry about the outside problems. And that's business, and that's why we pay agents and a nice 5% to just yap, yap with the owners and the GMs. So we're gonna let them take care of that and we'll take care of business in the field.

I don't know (about it being wise to test the market if he's healthy and has a good year), I've never been in that position. I'll try to see what it's like, I'll try to see what it's like and you know what? I'll give Boston probably an opportunity to sign me if the season is over and they want to talk about it because I would love to finish in Boston, but if it doesn't work out, believe me I'm gonna just go to the market and see what happens, but I'm not looking forward to making it a big deal. I'm pretty sure somebody will give me an offer to be in one team. And that's what I want, I want a job.

Pedro's 2004 arrival press conference


2.23.04:

"I'm just gonna go and compete like I have to. Like a professional, for my year contract, that I have and if they don't want to sign me, that's fine, I'm pretty sure I'll probably get a job with somebody else. But if they do, I'll be more than happy to stay here."
- Pedro Martinez

On he and Schilling to push each other to higher levels: No. I don't expect anybody to push me. I expect to be healthy and push myself. I don't need anybody to push me. I would like to help him and I would like him help me when I need him, if I need any advice or something he can pick up, but I don't think I need an extra push.


2003:

Curt on Pedro

(and WEEI)

12.1.03: CS: "He sounded as excited as I am about this, um, we talked a little bit about this next season, and uh the next couple of years and I made sure that he understood that his future in Boston was very important to me during this whole process.

I think it's important that you understand one thing, you don't... I'll tell you right now I have a huge ego with a ball in my hand. And that's one of the reasons why Pedro is as good as he is. You don't get to be a three-time Cy Young award winner, one of the most dominating pitchers in the history of the game, without feeling pretty good about yourself.

Pedro's a fantastic guy, I've known Pedro a long time, never in depth, and not to the extent that I'm going to get to know him, but the fact of the matter is, I think we're both as excited as each other to see what happens here. Pedro is the number one man on this staff and people tried to make that into a story before it was even a done deal and it's not. I didn't have a problem being behind RJ, who's got his share of Cy Young awards, and I'm not going to be... you know my goal now is to go out and try to take the Cy Young from Pedro... or Derek... or Tim, or whoever that ends up being this year.

You get on the staff and you compete with each other in a friendly way. I want to pitch better than Pedro, but not because he pitches badly, but because he throws a gem and I throw a better gem. That's the way you push each other, and that's how you raise the bar. It's not about wanting to do better at someone's expense. And I made sure Pedro understood that again, his being here beyond this year was very, very important to me in all of this, as well as a couple of other guys on this team, and the Red Sox front office made it clear to me that this is a team that's gonna be put together to win it for the next four, five, six years and on."


Pedro Sick of "Pedro"

(and WEEI)

2.27.04: Boston Herald, Gerry Callahan: He said some people - he's not sure who - accused him of faking an illness last season to avoid pitching against the Yankees. He said that was bad, but this was worse. He said some people on the radio were making fun of him while he was in a Boston hospital last week caring for his sick, 5-year-old son. He said those people were accusing him of showing up late to spring training this year for no good reason.

"And my son's lying there in bed,'' he said. "How would you feel? The doctors were more upset than I was. They heard about it and they wanted to write a letter, but I said I didn't need that. I'm just tired of it. I'm tired of talking, I'm tired of being the guy everybody comes to. I'm tired of everything.''

When he says everything, he means it. Moments before he lashed back at his stealth critics, Martinez was engulfed in Sox fans, signing autographs and smiling for photographs for hundreds of giddy snowbirds for half an hour. At one point, the crowd broke into a chant of "Ped-ro! Ped-ro!'' It was a nice gesture, but he really doesn't want to hear it anymore.

"I'm tired of my name,'' he said. "Hey, Pedro, Pedro, Pedro. That's all I hear. Pedro, Pedro, Pedro. I want to change my name.'' - Pedro's the man

2003: "There were groans about special treatment when Martinez left the team a day early to head home to the Domincan Republic, getting a head start on the All-Star break. Those groans resurfaced when Martinez was given permission to go home between starts to light the flame for the start of the Pan Am Games in early August." – Steve Krasner, Providence Journal


Martinez Says He Told Grady He Was Good for One More Batter But Little Left Him In Too Long

"I told them I was tired after the 7th, and to get the lefty ready and Timlin, and even Wakefield... of course I said I could pitch to Matsui, any pitcher will say yes, but he hit me (on the shoulder and went back to dugout) but after that moment, it was his decision." - Pedro

But then he hedges with "if Little took me out after the 7th, the question would have been 'Why did you take him out?' He's not guilty. I was the one throwing the pitches. I couldn't execute. I failed. Grady wasn't guilty and I wasn't guilty. I tried my best."

"I wasn't in good shape because of the travel... they told me not to run, but I always run before my starts. I failed. You can say that it was destiny."

Martinez Talks Retirement

He wants to leave while he's young, doesn't want to be an old pitcher.

New Pedro Understands
Market Conditions

Summer love-in with with John Henry has paid off for Sox. "Red Sox sent a message to the free agent market, not with any player (Manny)... I have to understand that if I don't put up the same numbers that I did in '99 and 2000, and from '97 on, I'll probably get a little bit of decrease in salary, but it's still pretty good money in the market (ya think it's still "pretty good money" Pedro, how will you survive on less than $17.5 million a year?)

Martinez Backtracks on Comments Last Season

Says media misunderstood his contract demands.
Claims he didn't leave Saturday before break.


Friday, Nov. 7. 03

Pedro to Speak Out on Manny and His Own Future in Boston Today

The silent starter and former Red Sox ace will speak between 2:00-3:00pm from the Hotel Clarion in Santo Domingo. He is expected to talk about his future in Boston and the decision to put Manny Ramirez on waivers. It should be eventful.

10.13.03 Sean McAdam on Dale & Neumy on WEEI: "The Red Sox front office has privately acknowledged that Pedro threw at Garcia…"

On Pedro: Let the record show that it was Martinez who started all this... Whether you're a Red Sox fan or Yankees fan, it's obvious that Martinez was throwing at Garcia. Martinez' reputation has taken a solid hit in the aftermath of his pitch to Garcia, and only a couple of World Series victories will save him from a winter of criticism. – Steve Buckley, 10.13.03


Pedro is the One at Fault

"Which one would you rather have now, Sox fans? Roger Clemens -- who kept his composure and behaved like a professional Saturday night, winning the game for his team despite his obvious anger? Or Pedro, the baby who hits a guy after he blows a lead, then points at his head and at Yankee catcher Jorge Posada, threatening "you're next"?

Pedro said a few words yesterday and claimed that gesture was actually him telling Posada that he'll remember Posada's angry words. Sure. And he wasn't trying to hit Karim Garcia. And those young women hang out with Donald Trump because they really dig his hair.

Sox fans don't like to hear this, but Pedro was an embarrassment and a disgrace to baseball Saturday. He gets away with it because he's Pedro. And the Sox front office enables him, just as they do Manny Ramirez. Just as they did with Roger when he was here and Yaz when he was here and Ted when he was here." - Dan Shaugnessy, Boston Globe

"Yankee players vilified Martinez. "Guys in their bullpen were telling our guys that they can't stand it that when he starts getting beat. He throws at guys and everyone else gets hurt," said one Yankees star. And there wasn't, as the Boston Herald's Tony Massarotti pointed out, much support for Pedro in his own clubhouse, save that he "kept us in the game."
- Gammons on Game 3


9.2.03:

Part-Time Prima Donnas in Trouble with Theoedro

Pedro did not arrive at Fenway until noon on Saturday before his 1:15pm start. Was not in dugout today. Sox brass furious. Top to bottom.


8.31.03

Gammons: Martinez is No Longer a #1 Starter

ESPN's Peter Gammons on WEEI's Baseball Show with Bob Neumeier, Sean McAdam, and Steve Buckley

The Red Sox starting pitching is OK, but there isn't anybody that goes out and pitches eight innings and shuts the other team down, and they need a #1 starter, they don't have one here. Lowe comes the closest, but he can be inconsistent, but they don't have that guy who goes out and throws complete games and I think that's what's really strained the bullpen and they don't have a Mussina, or a Pettitte, they don't have people like that and that's what worried me most about them trying to win.

Where's the indication (that Pedro's a #1 starter)? Where's the 20 wins, and the 240 innings... he's a very good pitcher, but because of the injuries... he pitched as well as he could yesterday, he threw one pitch above 88, but the innings are not there, he's a very good pitcher, he pitches with a ton of heart, and a lot of things have happened to him, but the record wouldn't really indicate that. The last 17 starts against the Yankees, he's pitched very well, but the fact is he's won three of those 17 starts, and they don't have that big huge guy that throws all those innings. A number one starter in my mind is a guy that throws well over 200 innings. If you gave Pedro that compliment, I think that's one of the problems is that there's so much pressure on Pedro to be the guy who bails them out at different times, I don't it's really fair to him. If you had a guy who went out and threw 240 innings, and was out there every fifth day averaging about 7-1/3 innings a start, I think it would make Pedro that much greater a pitcher. He has to shoulder something right now that he really can't do.

(Why can't he perform at that level at such a relatively young age?) He doesn't let on much about his shoulder, he endures a lot more than he'll ever let on. He's so proud and so competitive, that he tries to do the mind over matter thing, he probably hasn't recovered from that flu he had, so physically, I'll grant that yesterday, but I think he's battled through an awful lot more than we know and he doesn't let on about it, but it's very clear, the three times that he's pitched 8 innings, in those three starts afterwards, he's 0-3 with a 10.79 ERA, tells you it's got to be more difficult for him to bounce back than we ever imagined.

I don't know in his mind what he thinks he should be getting. If he thinks he's going to be getting $17.5M after next year, he's not going to be here. They're not going to have Garciaparra, Ramirez, Martinez here after 2004, that's fairly well guaranteed. It's just a matter of which guy they get signed and how they go about doing it. As I said all along they'll go very hard after Nomar and try to get him wrapped up during the off-season.

"Privately, there are players in that clubhouse who have issues with Pedro off the field. They aren't very happy with him."- Sean McAdam


08.25.03

The Full Petey

(This is what he said, anything else is BS)

"The media and fans can (expletive) my f***ing (expletive). I'll make my $17.5 (million) next year and I'm outta here. They're criticizing me because I'm black and Dominican."

(Yeah right. Umm, and shouldn't we go out to dinner first Pete?)

"I can look myself in the mirror. I wasn't eavesdropping. I asked the Pedro about the criticism he received while being attacked by hosts and callers. I hope he isn't calling me a liar. I hope he just had second thoughts about what he said."
- Jon Miller, WBZ radio

Sox Brass Sick of P. Dirty. Take That to the Bank.

Going, Going, Gone

Pedro is All Done in Boston

(He will not be resigned by the Boston Red Sox. End of discussion.)

"You think I'm f***ing lying. I'm only f***ing human. Can't I get sick? I'm not f***ing fine. Can you see I'm not f***ing fine? I would have been in that f***ing game if I was fine.

(Conditions seem ripe for a no-hitter today)

I'll make my $17.5 (million) next year and I'm outta here.

(Don't kid yourself, he said it, and then some. Period.)

"Already, some teammates silently seethe about the star treatment afforded Martinez." - Sean McAdam

How Will Sox Spend the Extra Dough?


8.21.03:

Pedro MarTEAMez is Back, Blows Off Team Photo Again

Larry Lucchino: "It's not too much to ask him to show up. Someone will talk to him, either the manager, or the GM, or me. He has a history of this... in six years, he's made two pictures. It's a little bit troublesome... the whole organization was there, it would have been nice... they'll be some kind of discipline."


8.4.03

PEDRO MARTEAMEZ PAN SCAM GAME

SURPRISE SURPRISE

PEDRO, GRADY PUT
PAN AM GAMES AHEAD OF RED SOX ROTATION

POST-ALL STAR GAME STARTS SCHEDULED WITH SECOND DOMINICAN VACATION IN MIND

The 13 Game Schedule They Went With:
Pedro Starting on Eight-Days-Off Sunday After All-Star Break.
Third Start is Conveniently Thursday 7/31 at Texas, Next Start is Wednesday, 8/6 vs. Anaheim, Allowing Pedro to Go to Back to Dominican Again for Pan Am Games Parties.

The 14 Game Schedule They Didn't:
Pedro Starting on Thursday After All-Star Break:
Third Start Would Have Been Sunday 7/27 vs. Yankees (last game of series). Fourth Start Would Have Been Saturday Night in Baltimore,
Party Time in Santo Domingo.

Tim Kirkjian, ESPN: "He should have started the first day back from the All Star break, I don't get that one at all."

SOX KNEW PAN SCAM SCHEDULE THEN, BUT MADE ANNOUNCEMENT THE NIGHT BEFORE FLIGHT

Who Asked Who, When?

From panamgames2003.com, 8.1.03: "It is reported that baseball star Pedro Martínez has received special leave from his team, the Boston Red Sox, to take part in the ceremony. President Mejía will declare the Games open, and at long last the torch will be lit by Dominican baseball legend Juan Marichal."

Where's Pedro?

PART-TIME PARTIES AT PAN-AM GAMES,
NOT BACK IN BOSTON UNTIL MONDAY

"These games will be a party for all Dominicans''
- Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia

Frequently Fragile Flier Leaves On a Jet Plane

(Don't Know if the Dominator Will Ever Be Back Again)

Gammons on WEEI Big Show: "Pedro has not been sharp his last two games, his command had not been the same, he hasn't been dominant. Great pitchers do win 1-0 games occasionally, even in the American League and Tim Hudson's had three more leads blown for him than any pitcher in AL over the past two years, he wins those 1-0 games once in a while."

Hey Pete, How About the Baseball Games


7.1.1.03

The Yankee Flipper

Grady Gets the Message

Little Tosses and Turns, Then Flip Flops
Martinez Now Pitching Friday vs. Yankees at Fenway

''But if I go home tonight and think of something else,'' Little said with an
impish smile, ''I might have something different tomorrow.''

Translation: ''But if I go home tonight and there's another angry message from
Theo... I might have something different tomorrow.''

Wednesday: The Ongoing Babying of Martinez Continued:

Small thinking from Little: ''We need to win all our games, not just against the Yankees. In that series, I don't think it is as critical as winning every game. I think pitching him Sunday is too long to wait, yet at the same time I don't want him flying in from the Dominican Republic and pitching the first day back, either."

Thursday: Until A Phone Call and a Change of Heart:

"Pedro will be pitching against the two teams that we need to beat in our division, Toronto and New York. That makes a lot of sense, but a big factor is for Pedro himself.

...said Little, who only a day earlier that "Sunday is too long to wait" for Martinez to go too long between starts.

Part-Time Pedro's Not Hurt, Already Missed a Month,
But Needs More Rest.

"I think the extra time off will help. That period of time off will make him stronger for the duration of the season and he feels the same way."


6.15.03

Looks Who's (Not) Talking, Part 37

Shhhhhhhhh... but Pedro, who came into camp talking (about his extension) then talking for Manny, then not talking (after extension ink dry), then talking off the record only, then talking a little bit, then "never talking for the rest of his Red Sox career," then miming and mumbling re: his injury, then suddenly TALKING ABOUT SAMMY AND PEDRO'S PERSECUTION IN AMERICA, then talking after his mini-start, but then "back to normal, no more talking for the rest of the season"... was talking again last night:

"Let's put it this way: There can only be one Roger. That's the only one you're going to see. You're not going to see anyone else (like Clemens), so don't compare me to him. I don't belong in that category yet. I grew up watching Roger pitch. He was the talk of the town in the Dominican. People talked about Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan and Bret Saberhagen and Dwight Gooden. Those were the names you heard. Roger is the full package. He is what you want in a perfect pitcher. He's got the stuff, he's got the demeanor and he's got the body. He's got everything. I don't know. I want to answer that, but I don't think (I will win 300 games). If I do (pitch long enough), I don't know what kind of games are ahead of me. Amazing? It's incredible. Four thousand strikeouts. Three hundred wins. I was thinking they should rename the Cy Young Award the Cy Clemens. The Rocket Award.''
Mazz: Pedro's a real Rocket booster


6.10.03

"No Soup For You"

The Last Supper: Pedro the Talk Soup Nazi Won't Speak to Fans After Tonight's Talk

(unless a fellow Dominican gets caught cheating, then
he'll soap box about his personal persecution in America again)

It's a black and white matter for Martinez ''two innings,
forty or fifty pitches. That's all... After (tonight),
no more talking again, back to normal.''

As a senior Red Sox official said a few weeks ago,
"Judging by his behavior, he's acting like a person who
doesn't want to be here."
(Herald, Bryant, 6.9.03)


6.5.03

Ace a Disgrace

Sammy Shill Plays Race Card Again

Martinez Goes On 15-Minute Tirade on ESPN, Gammons, and Backs Canseco 100 percent

And It's Literally 'Turn Back the Clock Night' for The Dominican Diva as He Plays his Blame Game, Forgets American Fame. What a Shame. For Martinez Only: It Does Matter if You're Black or White

On Sosagate: Martinez goes after Gammons and calls ESPN "anti-Sosa" after Outside the Lines Doubleheader. (Ummm, did you see Gammons and Harold Reynolds make fools of themselves Tuesday night ballwashing Sammy senseless?) The Pete goes on "This wouldn't be as big a deal if a white player's bat was corked." (Pete Rose turning over on a shopping channel right now). "It would still be a big deal, but not as big, not like this."

MarTEAMez Still Focused on 2002 Cy. (Sigh.) He's got Dementia, Clemensia and Zito Envy. But He Just Can't Get It Up for as Many Starts
(That's What's Stopping You Slick)

Martinez remarks "If Roger Clemens would have had the year I had last year he would have won the Cy Young instead of that white guitar player." (Theo hides Stratocaster as we speak). Sorry my fragile friend the "Cry Young" chant has gotten Old.

Pedro Hosts His Annual Whine and Sleaze Party in Pittsburgh. Needs to Wash the
Soap Box Out of His Mouth

Pedro went on the Press Tour in Pittsburgh to get the word out: "I'm not defending Sammy because it's illegal, but I've never cheated and I've been robbed. We might be Latins and minorities, but we're not dumb." And cheaters... cheaters loving cheaters are the luckiest cheaters... "If I knew how to scuff a ball and nobody would find out, I would do it. Baseball is a tough game. I just don't know how to do it.'' So suddenly Paydro's all Talk, but now he's nearly a month out of Action. And he's still whining all the way to the bank in the Bad Old USA. I guess $17.5 million a year doesn't go a long way when you're constantly discriminated against in America right Mr. Media Manipulator? (How convenient he wants a mouthpiece and some Pedro Press now eh?) Bottom line: this is Deja vu Danny Almonte foot-in-mouth disease all over again). The boo birds are on the wire. Oh, and get well soon Pedro.


4.25.03:

Not Shoulder Soreness, but Pedro Has Nagging Lower-Back Knot

Sexless Soap Opera Continues:

It's another stretch from Pedro "Oil Cantankerous" Martinez

"I'm not speaking for the rest of my Red Sox career"

New Twist from Silent Starter: Pete's Peeved Again

Throw away one-liner from Harmless Bob Hohler sets him off

(and we thought Mazz was the culprit)

"Martinez offered his only public comments as reporters were interviewing
Lyon. Apparently alluding to his stance of silence, he said,

''Get your news while you can, you guys.""

Garciaparra has to step in between Martinez and Media


4.13.03:

Pedro Has "Heavy Arm"

Is the ink dry on the extension?


4.10.03

John Henry is Disappointed in Paydro

John calls into The Big Show from downtown Boston:

GO: You've obviously picked up the newspapers. You have read the comments by Pedro Martinez. You just exercised an option that gave him 17 and a half million dollars. And it's certainly, in the comments I've read here, doesn't seem to have brought you an awful lot of goodwill via this player that you just gave all this cash to.

JH: I would uh... I couldn't disagree with you. I could not disagree with that comment based on what I read today.

CC: Does that disappoint you?

JH: ......... um.... I don't know if I want to create any more quotes :-)... but I can't disagree with what you are saying.

GO: Well obviously when you exercise the option I would think you expected that this guy would at least say something more positive along the lines of "and now we can negotiate and work something out at the end of the season" instead he's coming out and basically saying that the deal that you had on the table, even though you've just given him $17.54 million John is off the table, and he's telling you his demands are going to be greater come November. Do you regret giving him the $17.5 million?

JH: .....well I don't know what to say other than uh hopefully we'll be able to make a deal, but I can't disagree with what you're saying.


Dan Shaughnessy on SportsPlus: "Pedro spit on them"

Greedy Petey

Sox Pick Up Option But Can't Please Paydro

17.5 million dollars for 30 games is not enough

''I sacrificed a lot of money by not being a free agent the next two years... I'll let you know what I deserve." (sigh)


4.7.03:

Sox Pay Up to Shut Pete Up

After two no-decisions, the $17.5 million one is official. Martinez gets his money seven months early.

Next Stop Wonderland? Wonderful? Or 2005 Walk?

John Henry: "Initially there was an issue of respect, but with the conversations we had, that faded away. I don’t think he believes that anymore. Then the issue of trust came up. A feeling on Pedro’s part that maybe we didn’t trust him that he’s healthy. By picking up the option now, we showed him that:

1. We trust you, you are healthy
2. We're committed to you


RESPECT by Pedro Martinez and John Henry

(oo) What you want
(oo) Baby, I got (my option)
(oo) What you need ($)
(oo) Do you know I got it?
(oo) All I'm askin' (pay me early)
(oo) Is for a little respect when I throw home (hurts just a little bit)
Hey Larry (hurts just a little bit) when I throw home
(hurts just a little bit) mister Henry (just a little bit)

I ain't gonna do you wrong but don't pay me, I'm gone
Ain't gonna do you wrong (oo) 'cause I don't wanna go John (oo)
All I'm askin' (oo pay me early)
Is for a little respect when I throw home (hurts just a little bit)
Larry (hurts a little bit) when I throw home (hurts just a little bit)
Ouch (just a little bit)

I'm about to give you all of my money
And all I'm askin' in return, Petey
Is to give me my profits
When you throw home (just a, just a, just a, just a)
Yeah Petey (just a, just a, just a, just a)
When you throw home (just a little bit)
Yeah (I just bit)

Ooo, your pitches (oo)
Sweeter than honey (oo)
And guess what? (oo)
So is my money (oo)
All I want you to do (oo) for me
Is give me nine when you're at home (re, re, re ,re)
Yeah Petey (re, re, re ,re)
Whip it to me (respect, just a little bit)
When you throw home, now (I just bit)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it costs for Pete
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, CHB

Oh (sox just paid me, sox just paid me,
sox just paid me, sox just paid me)
A little respect (sox just paid me, sox just paid me,
sox just paid me, sox just paid me)
Whoa, Babe (you never made this)
A little respect (just a little bitch)
When my arm gets tired (just a little bitch)
I'll keep on tryin' (just a little bitch)
I'm runnin' out of foolin' (just a little bitch)
And I ain't lyin' (just a little bitch)
(re, re, re, re) 'spect
When I throw home (re, re, re ,re)
Or the pen walks one in (respect, just a little bit)
And find out I'm gone to New York (just a little bitch)
I got to have (Sox just bit)
A little respect (Sox just bit)


4.1.03

Pete Peeved

"This is the first time I've ever seen this happen. For me this is something new (this committee). I'm gonna have to trust Grady and just shut my mouth and do my work."


3.26.03

"I Deserve It"

Martinez Gets Back to Business

Pedro says if Sox don't pick up option early "they don't want me around."

Petey Confident Sox Will Extend Him

"I would like to finish" with the Red Sox, Martinez said. "I like the challenge of spending so much time without winning it. I'd like to be part of the first team that's going to win it."


2/30/03

Petey Throws a Change-Up

Misunderstood Martinez backs off threat to leave Boston if deal is not done by March 30th.

"I'm not saying they have to. No, I wouldn't guarantee I would walk (if the option isn't picked up by the end of the spring). I'd have to see why (it wasn't picked up) or if it's going to be worked out."

"I would like to just shut my mouth right now and let the Red Sox work. I'm here to work, I'm here to get ready. I'm not here to yap yap about my contract. I hope you guys let it go right now. I'm not going to talk about this any more. For my fans in Boston, I want to stay in Boston. That's all I said. And I want to know if I'm going to stay in Boston now. That's all I said. I'm not talking about this anymore." - 2.21 WEEI, Dennis & Callahan

"Crucify me if you want to" over previous comments.


2002:

Former Dominator Turned Junkballer, Trashtalker is Mentally and Physically Out of It.

(Sox have now lost 15 of 25 Yankee games Pedro starts)

June 8, 2002: "I am a rookie at this ... I don't really know what to expect and when to expect it," said Martinez, despite striking out 10 in six innings and throwing 75 of his 115 pitches for strikes. "The biggest adjustment I have to make is realizing that I have to deal with this for the rest of my career -- or for this year at least. After the season is over, I am not going to know what is going to happen. In reality I don't know if I am going to pick up velocity after [this year's] first half. I don't know if I am going to make it to the second half. I am wondering. I don't know. I don't know. I am lost." - Pedro's comments after 3-2 loss to Schill and Snakes.


Sunday, March 17, 2002

Pedro Gets Crushed. Yankees Beat Sox 8-7.

Pedro says "it was a flat game, it will be different the next time out, health wise I'm fine. I just have to work on my mechanics. It will be fine. People in Boston: DON'T PANIC"


12/12/02

More Pedro Quotes While the 'Team' is Still Alive:

"I'm not in a hurry to get their money. They can defer whatever they want. It's up to them.''

No Time Like the Present for this #%&?!


Sunday September 22, 2002

PEDRO GOES FOR 20 TODAY...

$20 Million Per Year That Is.

``It's bye-bye, once the year starts, I'm gone, I'm just going to pitch. I won't wait until the All-Star break to talk to them.''

More Pedro Quotes While the 'Team' is Still Alive:

"I'm not in a hurry to get their money. They can defer whatever they want. It's up to them.''

No Time Like the Present for this #%&?!


Pedro MarTEAMez?

How's It Goin' Grady?

(He looks a Little upset that you kicked him, us in the teeth Petey)

SI's Tom Verducci: "Unless there's an injury I don't know about, he should take his last turn, regardless of whether or not they're still in the playoff hunt."


Bob Lobel on the Superstar Shutdown:

"Who died and left him boss?... that's garbage... give me a break."


BRONX BOUND?

Martinez Ready to Follow Ruth, Boggs, Clemens. Bad Sign? Pedro was at the China Club with David Wells and David Cone during Sox last trip to New York. It's only a matter of time.


Back in June and earlier:

>/tr>

What's Wrong with This Pitcher?

Doctor Whiney, Mr. Worry

The Panic Room that is Pedro's mind

6.9.02: Pedro pitched OK, says he feels fine, but it's now hour-to-hour on the Pedro worry watch:

"I'll have to deal with this the rest of my career, or at least (until) the end of the year... This is all new to me. I don't know if I'm going to make it into the second half. I am wondering, I don't know. I am lost. After this season is over, I am not going to know what is going to happen... I have to wait for each outing to come over and then from there I will take on whatever comes on... Sometimes I have to give away the focus in the game and that I need to focus on what is going on with that shoulder. Mentally it's tough for me. I came from the top to the very bottom. I don't even know if I'm going to get through the end of the year."

Did Tommy John whine this much after he came back from Tommy John surgery? Did you ever hear this from a 35 year-old, three shoulder surgeries Bret Saberhagen?

No, Saberhagen, at 35, after three shoulder surgeries, and his shoulder in constant pain, would only say at the time that if he slept on the shoulder "the discomfort wakes me up but I just change position and I can fall...



Get BDD Gear Here

Get the BDD women's T's, tanks, and more


Get Frank Galasso's 2007 Red Sox Lithograph

Frank Galasso Litho


Rally Against Cancer
Start a team today to win a visit from Dustin Pedroia


Dana Farber license plate


Hot Stove, Cool Music

Get the CD. Support Paul and Theo Epstein's Foundation to be Named Later.


The Gabe Kapler Foundation


The “Curt’s Pitch for ALS” program is a joint effort by Curt and Shonda Schilling and The ALS Association Mass Chapter to strike out Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Curt’s Pitch Goes Global!


Run for SHADE!

For the fourth consecutive year, SHADE Foundation of America will be represented at the Boston Marathon by a team raising funds for SHADE. SHADE is currently seeking marathon runners to join the team . For more information on running with Shonda Schilling on SHADE’s team or sponsoring runners, please visit SHADE's marathon page here. The SHADE Foundation thanks Red Sox Nation for joining in their fight to save future generations from melanoma.


Get a Danny O Fenway Litho, as Seen in the Cooperstown Catalog

Danny O


Why Not Us?
Chasing Steinbrenner
One Day at Fenway


Home

Box Score and Schedules

Yesterday's News

Barks & Bites

Second Page

20/20

Hardball