As Pedro goes -- so go the Red Sox
Just as it has been every year since he first arrived in town, the Red Sox postseason hopes are pinned squarely on the shoulders of Pedro Martinez. Yet, this spring his performances have been quite mediocre, leaving some to question his overall health.
I've seen the spring training games for the Red Sox and I've come to one startling conclusion: I fear that Pedro Martinez may be hurt. Badly.
Spring training is what it is. Former Montreal Expos manager Felipe Alou used to say that anyone's crazy for trying to win spring training games. It's more of a tuneup for the well-oiled machine of a ballclub. Every year it's apparent that some players on certain teams share this same opinion as some merely soak up the sun and go through the motions before the 162 game marathon begins. They don't want to exude more energy than they have to so they can have fresh base-stealing legs or that monster home run uppercut. Still, I've seen enough from the competitive Martinez to tread lightly on the optimism for the Red Sox season.
Watching Pedro pitch this spring reminds me of the junkyard battle scene in Superman III between Clark Kent and the evil, Bizzaro Superman. One represented all that was wholesome and pure with the world, a protector of all mankind and the hope for a better tomorrow. The other was like a disease -- a pile of bile, nothing sweet, simply sour and more corrupt than Lex Luthor.
In that abysmal movie (hey, at least Richard Pryor was in it), Superman defeated his evil alter-ego and retained his title as champion of the globe. One of the biggest questions coming out of spring training is: Can Pedro pitch like the Superman he once was and win back some more Cy Young trophies as champion of the mound? The new Red Sox brass better hope so because as has been the case since the first season Pedro arrived in Boston -- after him, who else?
Last year they hoped it was Hideo Nomeo. This year who -- John Burkett? Maybe Dustin Hermanson? How about setup man-turned closer-turned starter Derek Lowe? A few around Boston seem to think that this rotation looks as promising as the box-office figures for Freddy Got Fingered. I would say this rotation can be pretty good, but that's with Pedro as part of the lineup. Without him, it's going to be like one giant limbo contest: who knows how low they will go?
The Red Sox need a healthy Pedro. Last season was a prime example of how ugly things can get with Pedro down. Yet, serving as the expired chocolate sauce on a soured, milky sundae, Nomar Garciaparra went down with injuries along with starting catcher Jason Varitek, and even Manny Ramirez. The canned, processed cherry on top was the babbling Carl Everett and his lame temper tantrums.
Oh what a dandy time it was.
I know, I know, I can hear you now. You question my sanity and optimism as I live in Boston and have been born into the cynical chapter of Red Sox fans. This I can't help. However friends, things aren't as dismal as they seem. While Red Sox fans always tread lighter than a container of fat-free Cool Whip, I say things are still sunny here in Boston. The fans are still intoxicated with their first championship since 1986 and Dr. Jekyll is more predominant than Mr. Hyde, for the moment anyway.
It always rests on the tender shoulder of Petey Martinez.
Last season there were whispers of rotator cuff problems -- the same ailment that plagued his older brother Ramon and ruined his once promising baseball career. Could the same be true of Pedro? They both have lanky frames and still could put so much power behind their pitches. They could also torque and tink their bodies to toss the most jostling junk your eyes have ever been witness to. Yet, the Martinez brothers are so thin. It was a mystery as toward how they could be so dominating. Time eventually caught up to Ramon and now people fear that the same is happening to Pedro.
This spring has been an anomaly for Pedro's normal numbers. At the moment, Pedro's spring ERA is hovering over the eight-plus mark. While he has struck out close to 15 guys this spring, he has given up close to as many earned runs. Then again, it is spring training and maybe Pedro is just giving us all a little scare. Perhaps he's just playing with our emotions.
Perhaps.
But perhaps he's really cautious -- afraid to go after batters in the past. Some have said this spring that they don't see as much movement on Pedro's pitches in the past. Batters don't seem to quake in their spikes like they used to when he'd zipline a heater their way.
Manager Grady Little isn't that worried, or at least that's what he says. ``He's keeping himself under control. He looks like a pitcher out there to me, not someone who's trying to throw it through a wall on every pitch. He's staying within himself. I'm sure he'll get better next time.''
Boston Red Sox fandom and brass sure hope so. Just like every year since he first got it -- as Pedro goes, so go the Red Sox.
Spring training is what it is. Former Montreal Expos manager Felipe Alou used to say that anyone's crazy for trying to win spring training games. It's more of a tuneup for the well-oiled machine of a ballclub. Every year it's apparent that some players on certain teams share this same opinion as some merely soak up the sun and go through the motions before the 162 game marathon begins. They don't want to exude more energy than they have to so they can have fresh base-stealing legs or that monster home run uppercut. Still, I've seen enough from the competitive Martinez to tread lightly on the optimism for the Red Sox season.
Watching Pedro pitch this spring reminds me of the junkyard battle scene in Superman III between Clark Kent and the evil, Bizzaro Superman. One represented all that was wholesome and pure with the world, a protector of all mankind and the hope for a better tomorrow. The other was like a disease -- a pile of bile, nothing sweet, simply sour and more corrupt than Lex Luthor.
In that abysmal movie (hey, at least Richard Pryor was in it), Superman defeated his evil alter-ego and retained his title as champion of the globe. One of the biggest questions coming out of spring training is: Can Pedro pitch like the Superman he once was and win back some more Cy Young trophies as champion of the mound? The new Red Sox brass better hope so because as has been the case since the first season Pedro arrived in Boston -- after him, who else?
Last year they hoped it was Hideo Nomeo. This year who -- John Burkett? Maybe Dustin Hermanson? How about setup man-turned closer-turned starter Derek Lowe? A few around Boston seem to think that this rotation looks as promising as the box-office figures for Freddy Got Fingered. I would say this rotation can be pretty good, but that's with Pedro as part of the lineup. Without him, it's going to be like one giant limbo contest: who knows how low they will go?
The Red Sox need a healthy Pedro. Last season was a prime example of how ugly things can get with Pedro down. Yet, serving as the expired chocolate sauce on a soured, milky sundae, Nomar Garciaparra went down with injuries along with starting catcher Jason Varitek, and even Manny Ramirez. The canned, processed cherry on top was the babbling Carl Everett and his lame temper tantrums.
Oh what a dandy time it was.
I know, I know, I can hear you now. You question my sanity and optimism as I live in Boston and have been born into the cynical chapter of Red Sox fans. This I can't help. However friends, things aren't as dismal as they seem. While Red Sox fans always tread lighter than a container of fat-free Cool Whip, I say things are still sunny here in Boston. The fans are still intoxicated with their first championship since 1986 and Dr. Jekyll is more predominant than Mr. Hyde, for the moment anyway.
It always rests on the tender shoulder of Petey Martinez.
Last season there were whispers of rotator cuff problems -- the same ailment that plagued his older brother Ramon and ruined his once promising baseball career. Could the same be true of Pedro? They both have lanky frames and still could put so much power behind their pitches. They could also torque and tink their bodies to toss the most jostling junk your eyes have ever been witness to. Yet, the Martinez brothers are so thin. It was a mystery as toward how they could be so dominating. Time eventually caught up to Ramon and now people fear that the same is happening to Pedro.
This spring has been an anomaly for Pedro's normal numbers. At the moment, Pedro's spring ERA is hovering over the eight-plus mark. While he has struck out close to 15 guys this spring, he has given up close to as many earned runs. Then again, it is spring training and maybe Pedro is just giving us all a little scare. Perhaps he's just playing with our emotions.
Perhaps.
But perhaps he's really cautious -- afraid to go after batters in the past. Some have said this spring that they don't see as much movement on Pedro's pitches in the past. Batters don't seem to quake in their spikes like they used to when he'd zipline a heater their way.
Manager Grady Little isn't that worried, or at least that's what he says. ``He's keeping himself under control. He looks like a pitcher out there to me, not someone who's trying to throw it through a wall on every pitch. He's staying within himself. I'm sure he'll get better next time.''
Boston Red Sox fandom and brass sure hope so. Just like every year since he first got it -- as Pedro goes, so go the Red Sox.
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