News about Pedro Martinez, Red Sox pitcher, for the 2001 Boston Red Soxseason (March 27-31, 2001)

pedro martinez
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News Archive for March 27-31, 2001
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Saturday, March 31, 2001

Opening Day 2001 — Red Sox v. Orioles

Opening Day agrees with Pedro
Brita Meng, redsox.com

On April 2, Opening Day in Baltimore, Pedro Martinez — as he has done for the past three years — will take the mound for the Red Sox. Starting on Opening Day has become an April ritual for the Red Sox ace, and one that obviously agrees with him. Thus far, Martinez has a 3-0 record with a 0.90 ERA on Opening Day. The Orioles should beware.

Sox players recall Opening Days
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

The Red Sox open their 100th anniversary season Monday, April 2 at Camden Yards in Baltimore against the Orioles. And for several players on the Boston roster, Opening Day conjures up different memories and different emotions.

Despite everything that happened this spring … 25 reasons why you should be excited for the 2001 Sox
Bill Simmons, Boston Sports Guy

After a spring training that went over like a fart in church, Red Sox fans find themselves dealing with that familiar, nagging sense of doom.

5. El Guapo
He’s built like the Penguin from Batman, he throws bee-bees and he never gets injured despite a daily regimen that includes two sit-ups, three toe-touches and a devout adherence to the Seefood Diet. Every week with Guapo is just gravy at this point.

1thru9 Best Starting Pitchers in Baseball
Dayn Perry, MLBtalk Editor

1. Pedro Martinez – Red Sox
Age: 29; 2000 Stats: 18-6, 1.74 ERA, 217 IP, 128 H, 284 K, 32 BB, 17 HR, 1.19 XERA … There’s really not much to say that the numbers don’t already scream at you. Pedro should’ve been a banned substance last year. Just look at that obnoxious XERA. It was arguably the greatest single season a pitcher has ever had. As a sign of his league dominance last year, I offer this: Pedro led the AL in ERA with a 1.74 mark. Roger Clemens’ ERA, which, at 3.70, was the second-best in the AL at 3.70, was closer to the 38th best ERA (Rolando Arrojo’s) than it was to Pedro’s. Unbelievable.

2. Kevin Brown – Dodgers
3. Greg Maddux – Braves
4. Randy Johnson – Diamondbacks
5. Chan Ho Park – Dodgers

Red Sox focus on the regular season
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

When Pedro Martinez displays his exceptional talent during a game, he typically uses one of his favorite words afterward to explain his performance — focus.

Sox drop game to Astros, 8-5

Despite Nomar’s loss, Sox will compete for playoffs
Paul Izzo, Springfield Union-News

For Sox fans, ‘The Curse’ lives
Bill Zajac, Springfield Union-News

Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press

The Brewers played Boston on Saturday, and Selig said Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette was within his rights to fine center fielder Carl Everett nearly $100,000 for missing a team bus and skipping a recent workout.

Everett is planning to file a grievance over the hefty fine. The Red Sox “know what the appropriate remedy is, so I certainly have no problem with that at all,” Selig said. “I have confidence in the Red Sox.”

Selig, who has vowed to keep negotiations on a new labor deal quiet, said unlike in the past, talks will get underway before the last minute.

Red Sox’s Everett hopes to deflect distractions
Neil Hohlfeld, Houston Chronicle

Everett, on the difference between the Boston market and the Houston market: “Boston is going to have more unique fans. They’re going to follow you everywhere. Houston, you didn’t have that. I think the market is different. Boston is a bigger market, they have more loyalty as far as fan support. That’s the big difference. You have a small market, you’re not going to have that media circus.”

Everett returns from suspension, ready to play
Michael A. Lutz, Associated Press

Everett Keeps Sox On Edge
Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant

Everett returns to happier place — Houston rolls out the welcome wagon
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

It’s time to trade a problem
Garry Brown, Springfield Union-News

Astros defend Everett: Bagwell: Love to have ex-mate back
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

Mets don’t see Everett reappearing in future
Pete Caldera, Bergen Record

And if Carl Everett is ever placed on the market by Boston, there will not be a Shea Stadium sequel in his future. Due to the latest strain in his relationship with the Red Sox, Everett might soon ask to be traded. “It still wouldn’t work here,” one club executive said of the lingering bad blood Everett feels for the Mets …

Sox open wallet wider than Yanks
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

Hillenbrand earned trip to Boston
John Nalbone, Trenton Times

Merloni makes final, futile plea to stay on
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

Merloni: “The fact that [the roster decision] has gone on this long is a joke already. … I’ve worked hard and I think I deserve it.”

Red Sox pick up [2004] option on Garciaparra
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Sox exercise option on Nomar’s contract
Associated Press

The Boston Red Sox exercised their option on Nomar Garciaparra’s contract for 2004, agreeing to pay their injured shortstop at least $11.5 million for the final season of a deal that began in 1998.

Providence Journal Baseball Special

Where do they go from here?
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

In a hotel suite in Dallas, in the boardrooms on Yawkey Way, and in their dreams, the 2001 season didn’t look anything like it does now for the people who run the Boston Red Sox.

What went wrong? — The timeline of incidents at spring training 2001
Providence Journal

Strength seldom overcomes weaknesses
Steven Krasner, Providence Journal

Down’s style is up close and personal
Steven Krasner, Providence Journal

The matchup
How Jim Rice-coached teams compare to Rick Down-coached teams in four important offensive categories — batting average, runs scored, home runs and walks drawn.

Sox’ future just might come back to haunt them
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

When Dan Duquette assumed control of the Red Sox organization in January, 1994, he vowed to preserve and protect the team’s top prospects, to guard them carefully. Plus: Dan Duquette’s trades.

Stiches in time saved nine and fashioned a partnership
Bill Parrillo, Providence Journal

If you ask Ben Mondor and Mike Tamburro what they remember most from their 25 years of running the Pawtucket Red Sox, you won’t hear anything about base hits or home runs.

As luck had it, Yawkey had none
Art Martone, Providence Journal

Boston Globe 2001 Baseball Preview

Hope diamond
By Gordon Edes

Always looking inside — Drive from within is at the heart of Martinez’s brilliance
By Gordon Edes

Head of production — At peak efficiency, Ramirez has shown he’ll deliver goods
By Gordon Edes

Challenging task — A little Yankee ingenuity could help Sox measure up
By Bob Hohler

He knows whereof he speaks — Orsillo at home on NESN
By Bill Griffith

Sox and Fox 25 proving to be a fine marriage
By Bill Griffith

Rockies reach for the pinnacle
By Michael Holley

American League East
By Gordon Edes
American League Central
By Gordon Edes
American League West
By Gordon Edes
National League East
By Gordon Edes
National League Central
By Gordon Edes
National League West
By Gordon Edes

Friday, March 30, 2001

Sox beat Twins 3-2; Sabes strong in start
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Art’s Notebook
Art Martone, Providence Journal

After giving the bad news, here’s the good: “Weird, I know, to discuss good news on the day after it became all-but-official that Nomar Garciaparra will probably be sidelined until at least mid-June. But there has been good news coming out of southwest Florida these last few weeks, and you don’t have to look far to find it.”

Sox’ ulterior motives are the culprit
George Kimball, Boston Herald

Let me get this straight. This whole thing started over Carl Everett “failing to ride the team bus?” Listen, if a player had been required to ride the team bus to exhibition games in Carl Yastrzemski’s day, Captain Carl wouldn’t have played an away game the last 10 springs he was in the big leagues.

Red Sox are down, but not out
Paul C. Smith, mlb.com

The Boston Red Sox are driving through the middle of a wicked Florida storm right now, and they can’t see 15 feet in front of them. But if they just wait it out and take care of what they can, they should be fine.

Everett suspended for one game — Will start in Houston
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Red Sox make their point — Everett given suspension, big fine for his actions
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

Everett, Sox talk it over — Parties attempt to clear air after fine
Gordon Edes and Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

Little sympathy offered by fed-up teammates
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe

Union filing grievance for Everett — Sox fined center fielder $97,222.22
Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

Everett fined; players association to file grievance
The Sporting News

Team Turmoil moves on: Everett not a happy camper
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

Sorry, we’ve heard it all before
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

Drop the gloves: Sox should go down swinging with Carl
Gerry Callahan, Boston Herald

“They’re hopeless up there. There are some cases that are so far beyond the pale that you don’t worry about them.” — players’ union official Gene Orza, reacting to the Red Sox decision to fine and suspend Carl Everett.

Garciaparra waits, hopes — Rest given another chance
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

Hoping against hope, the Red Sox will wait a little longer before scheduling wrist surgery for franchise shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.

Grebeck gets nod over Merloni for final roster spot
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

Mercker’s left out: Merloni may be next to go
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

Time is running short on the final decision — Merloni, Grebeck sweating it out
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe

Sox, Varitek talk long-term deal
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

Brand new Beck brings the heat
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

Red Sox Notebook, March 29
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Boston Red Sox Minor League Report and Top Prospects
March 29, 2001
Josh Goldfine, SportsTicker Staff Writer

Average ticket price reaches $18.99
Howard Blum, Associated Press

Average ticket price increased nearly 13 percent to $18.99 this year. In comparison, the average NFL ticket price was $48.97 last year. It’s $51.02 in the NBA and $47.69 in the NHL.

The Boston Red Sox have the highest average at $36.08 — more than $7 above any other team. The Yankees are second at $28.90, an 11.4 percent rise, followed by the New York Mets at $26.53, Detroit at $23.90, San Francisco at $23.38 and Seattle at $22.87. Montreal, which at $9.70 in U.S. dollars has the lowest average price, was among three teams to lower their averages, dropping the cost 5.7 percent.

Pittsburgh, which moves to PNC Park from Three Rivers Stadium, had the largest rise at 82 percent, from $11.80 to $21.48. Milwaukee, which moves from County Stadium to Miller Park, increased its average 55 percent, from $11.72 to $18.12.

Thursday, March 29, 2001

Pedro ready to dominate — again
Despite stomach cramps, Martinez says he’s ready for opener
Paul C. Smith, mlb.com

One bad breakfast isn’t going to ruin Pedro Martinez’s Spring Training, or keep him from going to the mound to start the season. Martinez, who had to leave Wednesday’s 8-0 win against the Tampa Devil Rays after four innings because of stomach cramps, pronounced himself fit to terrorize the rest of baseball once again.

Pedro, Boston blank Rays, 8-0
Damon P. Young, devilrays.mlb.com

Martinez masterful in final tuneup
Fred Goodall, Associated Press

Pedro sick over bro’s release — Red Sox Notebook
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

Also: Sang Lee placed on waivers.

Sox suspend, fine Everett — He has three games to consider behavior
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

David Cone walked across the carpet of a near-empty Red Sox clubhouse just before 10 a.m. yesterday and said to no one in particular, ”I thought the Bronx Zoo was something, but this place takes the [expletive] cake!”

Team believes penalty warranted after lapses
Gordon Edes and Bob Hohler, Boston Globe

Everett still isn’t into the swing of things
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

Carl suspended: Red Sox fine Everett, sit him down for a game
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

Red Sox wait to comment on Everett
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Everett: Absence Of Malice?
Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant

Everett not at team facility, unclear if he skipped practice
Jay Lindsay, Associated Press

Nomar and Sox await “last glimmer” of hope
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Following an hour-long meeting with the Red Sox team doctor and general
manager Dan Duquette, Nomar Garciaparra said Wednesday he wants to wait
before committing to surgery on his injured right wrist.

Nomar will take his time: Rests up before surgery
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

Nomar clings to the hope that rest is the answer
Bill Parrillo, Providence Journal

Wrist watch for Garciaparra to tick on for a few more days
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

Garciaparra waits, hopes — Rest given another chance
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

Garciaparra will wait to decide about surgery
Jay Lindsay, Associated Press

Still up in the air [Nomar]
Associated Press

Garciaparra to wait before deciding on surgery
The Sporting News

Red Sox Notebook, March 28
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Williams facing uncertain future
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

Hillenbrand’s dream comes true
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

Hillenbrand gets big-league news
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe

Hillenbrand makes opening day roster
Associated Press

Wednesday, March 28, 2001

Sox gang up on Rocket, beat Yankees, 11-2
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Art’s Notebook
Art Martone, Providence Journal

Slack Gammons
The “Dean” of Baseball Journalism Rises to His Level of Incompetence
Jonathan Vankin, New York Press

He’s out of options — Nomar seems resigned to wrist surgery
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

“Right now, yeah, it’s probably extremely high that I’ll probably have to have (the procedure).”

Garciaparra says surgery “extremely” likely
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Garciaparra says surgery seems likely
Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

Nomar: Surgery up next
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

Nomar’s Painful Truth
Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant

Doctor says wrist surgery best option
espn.com

Front Office Is Less Than Forthcoming
David Heuschkel, Hartford Courant

Short List? Not Too Deep
Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant

Options to replace Garciaparra aren’t great
Ken Rosenthal, The Sporting News

Notebook: Ramirez is still a sore spot
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe

Red Sox notebook, March 27
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Injury Report: Cone, Merloni, Arroyo, Garciaparra, Ramirez, Daubach, Juan Pena

Notebook: Ramirez extends stay in Florida
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

Also Cone and Merloni.

Lowe getting less attention in light Red Sox’s injuries
The Sporting News (AP)

Carl Everett not on team bus
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Sox feeling road rage as Everett misses the bus again
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

Everett takes a bus pass: Drives to game against Sox’ wishes
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

A second fuss regarding bus for Everett
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe

Pair of mates [Merloni, Hatteberg] come to Carl’s defense
Michael Silverman, Boston Herald

In Jimy’s View, It’s Another Blown Call By Everett
Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant

It’s becoming clear: Sox ‘Window’ has closed
Jim Donaldson, Providence Journal

The Daily Prospectus: Black Monday
Joe Sheehan, baseballprospectus.com

It’s truly been straining camp
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

Spring splat: Sox’ season has sprung an early leak
Steve Buckley, Boston Herald

Curse Still Haunts Sawx
Joel Sherman, New York Post

Notebook — Agent: Manny content with Sox
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

Don’t Do It (March 15, 2001)
Ethan, whatcurse.com

“Inside Pitch” by George Gmelch
(book review @ salon.com)

Tuesday, March 27, 2001

Red Sox Notebook, March 26
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Pedro Martinez will hop on the bus for the two-hour trip to St. Petersburg Wednesday morning to make his final spring tune-up against the Devil Rays at Florida Power Park. “He’ll throw about 85 pitches, maybe 90,” Jimy Williams said Monday. Martinez is 2-0 this spring in three exhibition starts, allowing just one earned run in 15 innings of work with 21 strikeouts and one walk. [Also: Ramirez, Saberhagen, Daubach and Roger Clemens.]

Doctor says wrist surgery best option
espn.com

A source close to Garciaparra told ESPN’s Peter Gammons on Monday that surgery is virtually certain and most likely will happen next week, in either Los Angeles or Boston depending on what doctor performs the surgery. The source said that the best estimate is that Garciaparra will be out eight to 10 weeks after the surgery.

Garciaparra says wrist surgery very likely
The Sporting News

Nomar: “It seems like we’ve kind of exhausted a lot of our options right now.”

Surgery considered for Nomar
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com

Nomar is leaning toward surgery that would sideline him 10 weeks
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

Dr. Frank McCue: “With the type of swelling he has, (surgery) would likely relieve the situation.”

Wrist not responding to treatment so far
Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

Sox: Group therapy — Red Sox Notebook
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

Cut to the chase: End result was really no surprise
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

Garciaparra destined for wrist surgery
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

Experts weigh consequences
Michael O’Connor, Boston Herald

Nomar Can’t Avoid Surgery
Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant

Nomar’s wrist put on hold
Garry Brown, Springfield Union-News