Pedro Martinez Waiting for That One Last Call for Help
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If there were a classified section published for athletes, you might see a
listing like this:
Free-agent pitcher looking for work. Eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young
Award winner and 2004 World Series champion. Contact Pedro Jaime Martinez at
a fishing pier in the Dominican Republic or Miami.
Martinez, 39, who last pitched for Philadelphia against the Yankees in the
sixth game of the 2009 World Series, has never officially retired and is
waiting for a call to help a team win a World Series. He has an academy in
the Dominican Republic and the Pedro Martinez and Brothers Foundation.
On Sunday, he will be a guest with Aaron Boone and Bernie Williams on MLB
Network’s “20 Greatest Games” series, featuring Game 7 of the 2003
American League Championship Series, in which the Yankees defeated Martinez’
s Boston Red Sox.
Q.
How do you spend your time?
A.
Training, the Pedro Youth Academy and Ballpark and the foundation. I’ve also
been doing a little bit of fishing and spending time with my family, of
course. I fish most of the time in Miami and the Dominican — that’s where
we spend the most time. When I see myself free completely, I’m fishing. If I
’m not, I’m training or dealing with the foundation.
Q.
If a major league team called, how soon could you be ready to pitch in a game?
A.
I’m in shape right now and I’m training and I’m playing catch, so getting
to full strength would probably take me a month, month and a half, to be on a
mound.
Q.
What will make you retire?
A.
More than anything, my family. The more time I spend away from the game, the
more attached I get to my family. Apart from that, it would probably be just
the hassle of having to travel so much and being away from them. It’s what
makes it more difficult for us.
Q.
What are you most proud of in your career?
A.
Just the fact that I was able to have the best job ever and that I have an
honorable career and that I can leave that as a legacy with no shame, not on
the field. That I’m able to lead by example for many young players coming up.
Q.
Which players do you enjoy watching now?
A.
Everyone. Every one of them is exciting, every one of them is a lot of fun.
But I like good pitchers, I like good defensive plays. I like everything
about baseball, to be honest. Everybody and everything. But without a doubt,
a good pitching matchup is a highlight for us pitchers. I would love to see a
matchup between Ubaldo Jimenez and Roy Halladay. That would be a dream
matchup. I know it can be stressful for some of us to be facing top-notch
pitchers, but that’s the way I liked it throughout my career. I liked big
pitchers, the big time and big games, and I’m pretty sure they feel the same
way.
Q.
Which hitter gave you the most trouble?
A.
Edgar Martinez. He’d foul off so many pitches! He’d foul off 11 or 12
before you’d get him out or he’d get the hit. He had my pitch count really
high.
Q.
If the Yankees, the Phillies and the Red Sox called you to pitch and offered
the same salary, which team would you sign with?
A.
I’d probably have to say the Red Sox. I would like to win a World Series in
the National League, so the Phillies are in there, too. But for the time I’m
going to be playing, I think Boston is more suitable so that I can retire
with the Boston Red Sox and go to the Hall of Fame with the same hat.
Q.
Who will win the National and American League pennants and the World Series
this year?
A.
I believe if the pitching staff stays healthy, I’d pick the Phillies to win
the World Series and National League. In the American League, I’d probably
have to go with the Red Sox. They’re loaded. They have pitching, they have
everything, so I think they’re due.
紅襪可以考慮衝一下啊!