News about Pedro Martinez, Red Sox pitcher, for the 2001 Boston Red Soxseason (August 21-31)
pedro martinez
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News Archive for August 21-31, 2001
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Friday, August 31, 2001
Here’s a lot of crap from Pedro
Gerry Callahan, Boston Herald
“It’s a good thing he doesn’t have to deal with all the crap they’re trying to do to him, all the crap that America has to offer.”- Pedro Martinez on Danny Almonte, the Bronx Little League star who was revealed to be two years older than he claimed.
Crap, Pedro? Is that what this country has to offer? Is that what we’re putting poor Danny through? Crap? Well, it sure didn’t look that way last week when he appeared on national TV, signing autographs, taking bows and striking out all those hapless little 12-year-olds from around the globe. … Our interest was originally piqued by the way he dominated hitters, but soon there were other things about Danny Almonte that captured our attention. That he’s a fraud, for one.
Making himself clear
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe
The last thing Pedro Martinez wanted to suggest Wednesday when he criticized the investigation into Little Leaguer Danny Almonte’s birth date was that he is anti-American. Echoing the concerns of many Dominican Americans and others, he questioned whether Almonte would have been probed so aggressively if he were not an immigrant. But he said his criticism was limited strictly to a baseball matter, not America at large, as he believed some readers may have taken it. ”Not even in the most remote place in my mind was it meant to hurt America or say anything bad about America,” he said. ”How can I criticize America when I make my living in America? I’m not that dumb.”
Thursday, August 30, 2001
Pedro: Don’t blame Little League pitcher
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald
Pedro Martinez said that he has no doubt that Bronx pitcher Danny Almonte is an innocent victim in the scandal that has tarnished his accomplishments in the Little League World Series.
The Dominican Republic-born left-hander, who pitched the first perfect game in 44 years in South Williamsport, Pa., is now believed to be 14 years old, which is two years older than Little League rules allow.
“The kid isn’t the one who did this if they changed his age, so he’s innocent,” Martinez said. “At 12 or 14 years old, he doesn’t know how to do all those legal things. It’s unfair that they’ve turned this all on the kid. . . . Blame the parents or the guy who runs the team or the people who brought (the birth certificate) through customs. He doesn’t know anything. …
“This kid has been through so much. He comes from the mountains, he goes to New York, he gets the opportunity to play and then he gets all of this crap just because he does good. If he did the worst, nobody would be talking about anything. If he’d given it up every time, nothing would have happened. It’s just because he kicked everybody’s ass that people complained.” …
Martinez said that he’s thankful that Almonte speaks very little English and doesn’t have to hear what is being said about him. “It’s good that he doesn’t have to deal with all the crap they’re trying to do to him; all the crap that America has to offer.”
Martinez weighs in
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe
As officials in two countries scurried to determine the age of Little League phenom Danny Almonte, Pedro Martinez suggested the lefthander from the Bronx was being unfairly targeted by sore losers. “If he was from America, that kid would have probably been in the White House getting a little medal from George W. Bush. Now, all of a sudden because the kid’s from the Dominican, he’s not legal. He’s too old.”
It’s A Classic Wrist Shot
David Heuschkel, Hartford Courant
Given the severity of the setback, the Red Sox believed there was absolutely no chance that shortstop Nomar Garciaparra could help the team in the next two weeks. And if the team continues to lose ground in the playoff chase, it is possible he won’t return this season. As for any chance Garciaparra will return this season, he isn’t sure. “I don’t know,” said Garciaparra, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with tendinitis in his right wrist. The move is retroactive to Monday.
If Jeff Kent were black
Joan Walsh, salon.com
[The Rick Reilly Sports Illustrated] flap exposed a double standard in coverage of the Giants, Bonds and Kent that’s sloppy and lazy and maybe even partly racial. Worst of all, it showed the amazing extent to which reporters’ own experience of a sports star — the petty slights or the charm and flattery — can control the way they cover him, and how the star is in turn perceived by fans. Kent and Bonds are in many ways brothers under the skin: proud, hardworking, self-critical loners, family men with few friends on the team. Both have been known to stare through fans like they didn’t exist and stonewall kids’ requests for autographs. In short, in some ways both guys are cocky assholes, but one is white and dutifully answers reporters’ questions, while the other is black and does not. Guess which one’s the media darling?
Don’t hand Cy Young to Clemens just yet
Rob Neyer, espn.com
I don’t want to make a federal case out of this, but the notion that Roger Clemens obviously deserves to win the Cy Young Award strikes me as fairly preposterous. Seems to me that the Cy Young should go to the best pitcher in the league, but you can reasonably argue that Clemens isn’t even the best pitcher on his team.
Innings Hits HR BB SO ERA Support W-L
Mussina 188 181 18 38 169 3.55 4.3 13-11
Clemens 182 170 16 56 176 3.56 7.2 17- 1
Wednesday, August 29, 2001
Pedro on schedule
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal
Pedro Martinez said he felt only “the normal soreness” following his return to the mound Sunday night in Texas. Martinez, who played catch briefly yesterday, is scheduled to have his usual between-start side session today in anticipation of his second start — Saturday against the Yankees at Fenway.
Pedro set for side session
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com
Pedro Martinez is scheduled for a side session Wednesday at Jacobs Field to prepare for his next scheduled start Saturday at Fenway Park against the Yankees. “So far, yes, I feel good. It’s sore like normal, nothing unusual,” said Martinez, who gave the “thumbs up” sign when asked how he was feeling. Martinez threw 71 pitches against the Rangers Sunday night. I will know more after [Wednesday], but everything feels fine.”
Sox caught short: Garciaparra skips 8-3 loss to Indians for more tests
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald
Empowered with the right to restore Manny Ramirez to the cleanup spot in his lineup, Sox manager Joe Kerrigan was forced to relinquish the rights to Nomar Garciaparra, who returned to Boston on Monday for a magnetic resonance imaging test on his reconstructed right wrist.
Garciaparra is sidelined — Wrist pain prompts an MRI
Gordon Edes, Boston Globe Staff, 8/29/2001
The plans the Red Sox had to be at full strength for this 13-game acid test against the Indians and Yankees disintegrated yesterday with the news that shortstop Nomar Garciaparra had returned to Boston for an MRI on his surgically repaired right wrist and appeared likely to miss the three-game series here.
Manny returns
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald
Manny Ramirez wore Band-Aids on his earlobes because he had new piercings done in Florida and was instructed not to remove them for several days. The Band-Aids were his attempt to adhere to the club’s no-earrings policy.
Up to their ears in trouble now
Gordon Edes, Boston Globe
Ramirez came back with a new haircut and matching double sets of diamond studs in each ear. The Red Sox have a team rule that prohibits wearing earrings during a game, but according to manager Joe Kerrigan, Ramirez couldn’t take out the earrings last night. …
There was, however, an expert on earrings available: Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel, who last weekend provoked a rhubarb with the Seattle Mariners when he complained that the glare from reliever Arthur Rhodes’s earrings was blinding him at the plate.
”Yeah, I saw it,” Vizquel said. ”Whether he wants to look like that, it’s up to him.” When he heard why Ramirez was wearing the tape, Vizquel smirked. ”Oh, really? How stupid is that?” he said. ”It’s a Manny thing.”
Tuesday, August 28, 2001
Martinez nears return to form
Jim Molony. mlb.com
As far as memorable returns go, well, let’s just say Pedro Martinez’s return from the disabled list Sunday night wasn’t exactly as momentous as shorstop Nomar Garciparra’ return on July 29. But the Boston Red Sox were certainly thrilled to see their ace right-hander toeing the rubber for the first time in two months, even if it came in a sloppily-played 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington. Martinez returned all right, but it is obvious he is not quite back. Or at least not all the way back.
Ace moderates: Restraint gives Sox a chance
Gerry Callahan, Boston Herald
Jimy Williams is even lauded for keeping Pedro healthy this year because he pulled him from the infamous Yankees game after 90 pitches, likely costing the team a win over its division rival. Often overlooked is the fact that Williams left Pedro on the mound for 110 pitches in his next start, five days later, and Pedro was soon on the DL anyway. … Pedro knows he has to start pitching smarter. A little less Nolan Ryan, a little more Greg Maddux. Pedro did just that in Texas on Sunday night, and it was a pleasure to watch.
Martinez feels sound, sets sights on Yankees
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe
Thumbs up. The day after Pedro Martinez’s first outing and biggest workload in two months, the Red Sox received no discouraging word on the condition of the franchise pitcher’s fragile shoulder. As a result, Martinez remains on track to face the Yankees Saturday at Fenway Park in the second game of a crucial three-game series. It will mark his first appearance against them since June 4 – when he vowed to plunk Babe Ruth’s ghost after the Bronx Bombers scored three runs off him in six innings at Yankee Stadium.
Candid Kerrigan clearing the air
Seth Livingstone, Baseball Weekly
Only 17 hours after Kerrigan had celebrated a victory against Seattle in his managerial debut Aug. 16, there were telling signs that Jimy Williams had moved out. A new, more modern regime was inhabiting the office that has been updated often but never seen a world title.
On a table were two laptop computers. One was open to the Josh Towers page, providing a scouting report on that night’s opposing Orioles starter. The other computer was tuned to Red Sox pitching numbers. To one side of the manager’s desk was a flower arrangement and a champagne gift basket from Kerrigan’s chiropractor. Atop the desk, a congratulatory telegram in the mail tray, computer printouts and a clear plastic container with highlighting pens in a variety of neon colors.
Dan Mclaughlin, Baseball Crank
Is — was — Jimy Williams a rational manager? … there was plenty of evidence from the moves he made over the years, particularly his starting lineups and in-game substitutions, to suggest that he was not. Not that the decisions were stupid or misdirected or based on bad ideas, necessarily, although you could always find someone to argue with any particular decision, and some of them were way out there. Rather, the problem was simply that you could not possibly come up with a theory of who should play when, in advance, that would ever explain the things he did. … Let’s look at the Sox hitters’ performance at the top of the batting order (slots 1-4), the middle (5-6) and the bottom (7-9), this year and in prior years under Jimy.
Fossum deals with weighty issue
Michael Silverman, Boston Herald
With his toothpick-sized frame and gaunt face, Casey Fossum looks as if he’s wandered through the Mojave Desert the past 10 years, surviving on scorpions and saguaro. He weighs 157 pounds – “On a good day,” he said – and the weight is stretched tightly over his 6-foot-1 body. Too tightly. Fossum, 23, is one of the Red Sox’ brightest hopes to become a fixture in their rotation for the rest of this year and for years to come. In order for him to survive that long, however, the Sox want the left-hander to fatten up.
Monday, August 27, 2001
News/Links on Pedro’s start in Texas.
Martinez’s return is first big step for Red Sox
Sean McAdam, espn.com
For the past two months, the Boston Red Sox had, figuratively speaking, circled this date on their calendar. This would be their jumping-off point, their unofficial joining of the battle. …
Into this atmosphere of hype, Martinez re-appeared Sunday night, showing flashes of his past brilliance, along with the expected rust that comes from a two-month vacation. Martinez threw 71 pitches over four innings and yielded three runs — one of them unearned — on six hits. … That 51 of his 71 pitches were strikes speaks to his command …
Sunday, August 26, 2001
Prepping for Pedro
Michael Teevan, redsox.com
“I think there is an air of anticipation with the club as far as Pedro going tomorrow. I know we’re all looking forward to it,” Kerrigan said. “As far as his pitch total or how many innings he goes — you can’t predict what kinds of things will happen in the ballgame. We’ll start him out and see how that goes. He’ll have input on how many pitches or how many innings he goes.” …
Kerrigan added that the Sox did not yet know how they would clear a spot on the roster for Martinez as of Saturday afternoon, but he did say that Tim Wakefield was headed back to the bullpen to open a spot in the rotation. Left-hander Casey Fossum will get a start in Cleveland. “Pedro’s activation is the reason that Wakefield is going back to the bullpen. It gives us a chance to use Wakefield three or four times a week instead of once every five days.”
Little League coaches put private eyes in lineup
Steve Politi, Newark Star-Ledger [August 24]
For one week, they have been the most popular baseball team in the Bronx. Nicknamed the Baby Bombers, they have moved their big-league neighbors at Yankee Stadium to the back of the sports pages. … But not everyone is rooting for the Rolando Paulino All-Stars. Two rival coaches say they hired private detectives to investigate the team because they were convinced the players — who under Little League rules must be 11 and 12 years old — are over the age limit and ineligible. … Little League spokesman Lance Van Auken said the Bronx team had “been through more scrutiny and has produced more documentation than any other team in history.”
Saturday, August 25, 2001
Kerrigan, Martinez differ on what ace will deliver
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal
While Pedro Martinez is attempting to keep expectations in check as he prepares to return to the mound for the first time after a two-month absence, manager Joe Kerrigan is spinning his ace’s return the other way.
“Knowing the man and the pitcher, I wouldn’t be surprised if the story after the game was: ‘He hasn’t missed a beat,’ ” Kerrigan said. “That wouldn’t surprise me because I’ve seen it before. I think about spring training, when he didn’t throw all winter, then he throws for the first time, and those eight minutes . . . I remember all that.”
Pedro eager to test arm
Michael Silverman, Boston Herald
When he takes the mound tomorrow night, Pedro Martinez is not sure how good his stuff is going to be after a two-month layoff. All he knows is that he will not use up too many pitches to find out.
“Sixty pitches, that’s all, no more,” Martinez said before the Red Sox’ 7-4 win over the Rangers last night. “That’s three innings or so, depending. If things go smoothly, who knows? Maybe (the Rangers) will make it easy for me, which is very difficult to get.”
Bonds’ numbers impossible to ignore
Joe Sheehan, espn.com
It appears we’ve reached a point where every excuse under the sun is going to be provided to rationalize a vote for anyone other than Barry Bonds as the National League MVP. Despite his having what may end up being the second-best offensive season of all time, and doing so while playing pretty good defense in left field for a contending team, there are people who want to find reasons to vote for someone else.
If Bonds plays any better, I imagine we’ll start to hear about his inconsistent flossing, his nasty habit of splitting infinitives, and rumors about his involvement with the WB’s programming. Anything to enhance the MVP candidacies of Luis Gonzalez or Sammy Sosa. But hey, he has a recliner in the clubhouse, so to hell with him, right?
Friday, August 24, 2001
Kerrigan manages uniquely
Ron Chimelis, Springfield Union-News
This is a different team under Kerrigan. Jimy Williams used to disappear into the manager’s office, knowing he was unwelcome among his own troops. Kerrigan is all over the locker room, chatting it up with everyone, including Carl Everett, who is making an effort for Kerrigan he’d never have considered for Williams. …
Ask Kerrigan a simple question, and he’ll bury you with statistics about various matchups. Ask Jimy, and he looks at you as if you were trying to go through his pockets.
Yet among Red Sox media, there remains a surprising amount of sympathy toward Williams. Turning on Jimy is perceived as tantamount to endorsing general manager Dan Duquette, and some in the Boston press would rather gargle with nails than do that.
All systems go: Martinez primed for Sunday return
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com
Pedro Martinez will pitch Sunday night for the Boston Red Sox against the Texas Rangers. Manager Joe Kerrigan officially slotted Martinez into the Red Sox rotation Thursday after the ace threw a final side session at Anaheim’s Edison International Field. “We definitely have him listed as a starter for Sunday,” Kerrigan said.
Brief start for Pedro
Michael Silverman, Boston Herald
Pedro Martinez received the green light yesterday to start Sunday for the Red Sox in Texas, but his first outing in two months likely will be a short one. After a 15-minute throwing session before last night’s come-from-behind 7-6 win in Anaheim, Martinez was checked out by Angels team doctor Lewis Yocum and told to be cautious. “He said I have to listen to my body but no more than 60 pitches Sunday. I have to really be careful not to overcompensate because of my shoulder. And not get sore in other parts of my body.”
Lowe: Fresh start?: Struggling reliever mulls return to rotation
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald
He went from starter to setup man to closer, a metamorphosis so fluid that it landed him in the All-Star Game. Now Derek Lowe is caught in the middle again, and he can’t help but wonder if he would be better served to just start all over again. “I’d like to have another opportunity to start. Obviously, if you have Urbina here, you have a closer. Can I say (starting) is going to happen? No. Would I like it to happen? Yes. Obviously, you sit down (with team officials) and see what kind of reaction you get, but I’d like to try.”
Fossum in the hunt
Michael Silverman, Boston Herald
Kerrigan said that last night’s starter, Casey Fossum, was very much in the mix for a spot in the starting rotation next spring but that over the winter he would report to Fort Myers. :The first thing we have to do is get him to Florida and start a strengthening program, getting his weight up, getting his overall condition ready for a 30-32 start season,” Kerrigan said.
Activists take on maker of baseball caps — Allege that New York company is sweatshop and union-buster
Elizabeth Neuffer, Boston Globe
Student activists who have successfully focused public attention on sweatshop conditions at factories that produce university-licensed wear have a bigger target in their sights: Major League Baseball. A report issued this week by an antisweatshop monitoring group alleges that the New Era Cap Co. in Derby, N.Y., which produces hats worn by all 30 Major League teams, engages in union-busting tactics and tolerates working conditions that have led to higher-than-average injury rates among employees.
A-Rod Keeps Insisting Mets Were First Choice
T.J. Quinn, New York Daily News
It’s almost September, but Alex Rodriguez continues to make waves in New York. … “I wanted to be a Met. I’ve always wanted to be a Met,” he said. “I’ve been a Met fan since I was a kid. And I would’ve played there for less money and less years and they know that.”
Thursday, August 23, 2001
Pedro decides today on start
Michael Silverman, Boston Herald
Pedro Martinez sounded wishy-washy about the status of his throwing shoulder yesterday, but he did not rule out being able to make his start this Sunday in Texas. … “I’m going to throw on the side (today). … “If I continue to react the way I have been reacting, I can easily go (Sunday), but you might not see the sharp Pedro Martinez you’re used to seeing. A lot of people might look and expect to see the same Pedro Martinez they’ve always seen. I can only tell you, I’ll try to get better and stay healthy.”
Decision on Pedro due Thursday
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com
The Red Sox will wait until Thursday to make a final decision on whether Pedro Martinez will return to the rotation Sunday night against the Texas Rangers. Martinez played catch in the outfield Wednesday, one day after throwing a 70 pitches in a five-inning simulated game at Anaheim’s Edison International Field. Physical Therapist Chris Correnti looked on as Martinez tested his arm and shoulder. “He experienced normal soreness,” Red Sox Manager Joe Kerrigan said. “We’ll know more by [Thursday]. Everything’s still a go, unless something crops up.”
Ramirez off to Fort Myers for rehab
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com
Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez is not headed to the DL, but he has gone to the Red Sox minor league complex in Fort Myers, Fla., in an effort to speed his recovery from a strained right hamstring.
All systems not go for Saberhagen
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe
He came out for batting practice at 20 minutes to 6 and retreated to deep right field to play catch with physical therapist Chris Correnti. It was painful to watch. Saberhagen had to turn his entire body in order to flip the ball 40 feet to Correnti. He looked like an 80-year-old Hall of Famer who’d been summoned to toss out the first ball before a World Series game. He played catch for less than 10 minutes and it didn’t get better. This wasn’t a guy getting loose slowly. This was a guy who couldn’t throw.
Joe Kerrigan – consistent offense?
Lyford, Your Turn message board [August 21]
OK. Small sample size. But there’s something already that leaps out. 5 runs is a bit of a magic number. OK, if not magic, at least arbitrarily significant. The Sox have, over the last couple of years, won over 77% of the games in which they score at least 5 runs. The AL average this year is 4.89, so 5 runs a game is slightly better than average, 4 runs is much worse than average. So that seems to be the performance that you’d like your offense to consistently, night in and night out, give you. And so far, under Joe Kerrigan, they have. They’ve scored 6, 5, 5, 7 and 6. At least 5 every night.
But they must have had other 5 game stretches like that this year, right? In the 118 games that Jimy managed, there’s probably a longer streak of 5+ runs scored, right? … Well, there’s an 8 game streak. That’s the longest of the last two years. But it wasn’t this year. It ran from May 10 to May 17, 2000. The 2nd longest streak of 2000? 4 games. The longest streak of 2001? 4 games. That’s right. In 5 games under Kerrigan, they’ve already got a longer 5+ runs scored streak than they had in the last 243 games that Jimy Williams managed. 243 games. All of June, July, August and September of 2000. All of April, May, June and July of 2001. No streak of at least 5 games with at least 5 runs scored. …
Williams didn’t make best of situation
Matthew Leach, mlb.com [August 20]
Sure, the timing was strange. And sure, it never seemed like Jimy Williams got much support from the front office in Boston. Moreover, there’s no denying that Williams dealt with a lot of injuries. But if those are your best arguments against Williams’ firing as manager of the Red Sox, you don’t have much of a case. If those are the answers, you’re not asking the right questions.
Archives reveal diamond: Kerouac’s baseball league
Hillel Italie, Associated Press
It sounds as surreal as an old Bob Dylan song: Pancho Villa playing center field for a 1930s team called the Boston Fords, taking on such rivals as the Pittsburgh Plymouths and the St. Louis Cadillacs. But the history books and the record books will lead you nowhere. Villa never bothered with the big leagues, and the Fords and their fellow franchises were only legends, roaming the mythic ballparks of a young Jack Kerouac.
The New York Public Library announced yesterday that it has acquired the literary and personal archives of Kerouac, who died in 1969. … Most unusual is a labyrinthine fantasy baseball game Kerouac created as a kid growing up in Lowell, Mass., and referred to in his private papers and the novel ”Dr. Sax.” Kerouac fans have long wanted to know more about the author’s so-called ”Summer League.”
Wednesday, August 22, 2001
Martinez appears to be ready for Sox’ home stretch
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal
No one knows how he’ll throw or what kind of impact he will have. No one knows how quickly — if it all — he’ll regain his level of dominance. What the Red Sox do know about the impending return of pitcher Pedro Martinez is this: Just the sight of him on the mound makes them feel better about themselves and their longshot playoff chances.
Pedro passes latest test: Ace on target for Sunday
Michael Silverman, Boston Herald
His control was not perfect, but Pedro Martinez’ 70-pitch side session went just fine overall yesterday. “It’s looking good (for Sunday) depending on how I feel (today),” Martinez said. “If I feel really, really sore or some pain, I might have to back off. I’ll do whatever it takes to get back on the mound.”
Kerrigan said that Martinez likely would be kept to an approximate 75-pitch count in Texas. He said the expected 95-degree temperature deep in the heart of Texas should work in Martinez’ favor. “I think he likes the heat.”
Not easy being Pedro: Ace can’t carry Sox by himself
Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald
For four years he has been their cure-all, their elixir, the one true constant on a team in a perpetual state of anarchy and flux. Pedro Martinez now appears just days away from a return to the Red Sox, and it is far too easy to believe, once again, that he will make everything right in the world. It’s just not that easy.
Hamstring could sideline Ramirez for up to 10 days
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal
As Manny Ramirez sat out for the second straight game last night with a strained right hamstring, the Red Sox weren’t able to rule out the possibility of placing their best run producer on the disabled list. … “If we put him on the DL, he’d miss the Yankee series (Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Fenway),” Kerrigan said. “And he’d also miss the Cleveland series. We don’t want to make a quick decision here.”
Martinez has eyes and ears popping
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe
I knew I was almost late for the simulated game when I got out of my car and could hear Pedro Martinez warming up inside Edison Field yesterday at 2 p.m. True. From outside the near-empty ballpark, you could hear the catcher’s mitt popping as Martinez threw his practice grenades into the glove of bullpen coach Dana Levangie. … Martinez is a loud pitcher.
Pedro back Sunday?
Ron Chimelis, Springfield Union-News
If Pedro Martinez wakes up this morning and his right shoulder gives him no discomfort, Boston Red Sox fans can enjoy the comforting thought that he’ll be back on the mound Sunday. … The simulated game conditions involved pitching to live hitters (teammates Darren Lewis, Scott Hatteberg and Trot Nixon) in 15-pitch intervals, then sitting for a few minutes as if Martinez’ team were batting.
Pedro pain-free after pitching simulated game
espn.com news services
Pedro Martinez has been given the go-ahead by Red Sox manager Joe Kerrigan to start Sunday at Texas after pitching a five-inning simulated game before Tuesday night’s Boston-Anaheim Angels matchup and experiencing no discomfort. Martinez, who threw a total of 70 pitches, worked on his fastball, curveball and change.
Pedro moves closer to Sunday start
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com
Pedro Martinez wanted one more chance to face live hitters before returning to the mound in game action. Tuesday afternoon at Edison Field in Anaheim, the Red Sox ace got his chance, throwing his second simulated game in five days. “I thought I threw good,” Martinez said. “I had some control problems the first two innings, but I made the correction and everything went fine after that.”
Boston may’ve been better off with Jimy
Mat Olkin, Baseball Weekly
Jimy Williams was a difficult manager to love. So loathe was he to explain his decisions that it was all but impossible for the average fan to divine his motivations. From the box seats, his maneuverings often seemed more like the work of an abstract surrealist performance artist with a chemical imbalance. … Now, after hearing Joe Kerrigan deliver his manifesto of ‘How Things Shall Be From Now On,’ Red Sox fans might rightly decide they were better off before.
Tuesday, August 21, 2001
Final exam for Pedro
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal
This afternoon represents the final hurdle for Pedro Martinez before he’s cleared to return to the mound. Martinez will pitch another simulated game over five innings. If he has no setbacks, he will pitch Sunday night in Texas. “We’re looking for a good, solid five times of up and down with no stiffness,” Kerrigan said. “We want to see him maintain his command. Stuff-wise, I don’t think that’s much of an issue.”
Good things come in threes: Pedro charts own course
Michael Silverman, Boston Herald
Pedro Martinez has three more tests to pass before he will agree to the fact that he is pitching Sunday against the Texas Rangers. First he must throw a 70-75 pitch, five-inning simulated game this afternoon at Edison Field without incident. Second, he will need the blessing – and second opinion – of Angels team doctor Lewis Yocum in an examination of his pitching shoulder after the session. And lastly, he will need to wake up tomorrow morning with no problems in the shoulder.
Probable pitcher
Gordon Edes, Boston Globe
Pedro Martinez throws another five-inning, 75-pitch simulated game this afternoon, his final tuneup before a scheduled start Sunday in Texas. Kerrigan said the quality of Martinez’s stuff will not be an issue, not after the way he threw last week in Fenway.
”He was lights out,” Kerrigan said. ”That’s as good as he throws. ‘It’ll be a good solid five times up and down. Make sure there’s no stiffness between innings, no problem getting loose when he goes back out, monitoring how he feels all five times up and down.”
”When it will be a real game, then I’ll be a lot more excited, but not while I’m just working,” Martinez said. ”I want to get back in a game. ‘I’ve done a lot more work when I’m hurting than I’m just trying to maintain.”
Looking forward to Pedro
Mike Petraglia, redsox.com
Pedro Martinez throws a second simulated game Tuesday afternoon at Edison Field, and Kerrigan hopes it is the final hurdle to clear before Martinez returns to the rotation Sunday evening in Texas. “I’m looking for five solid times up and down — no stiffness between innings, no problem getting loose,” Kerrigan said. “He should maintain that feel all five innings.” Kerrigan said Monday he is not as concerned about Martinez’s command. “He was lights out the last time he threw at home. He can’t pitch any better. Stuff-wise, that’s not an issue.”
Pichardo calls it quits
Brita Meng, redsox.com
Red Sox reliever Hipolito Pichardo has retired from baseball, effective immediately. Manager Joe Kerrigan made the announcement prior to batting practice in Anaheim on Monday. …
Kerrigan: “He came in after the game yesterday. We talked to him. He told me he didn’t want to play anymore. We asked him to reconsider. We told him we’re leaving in 40 minutes [to go to the airport for the trip to Anaheim]. You have 40 minutes to think this over. He came back before we left and said, ‘No that’s it, I’m done,’ he said. We asked him if there was any outside problems. ‘No,’ he said. I had no idea. It hit me totally out of the blue. I can’t remember anyone, minor or major leagues, just retiring like this — with six weeks left in the season. We asked him how long he’d been thinking this and he said about a week. He said he just didn’t have the competitive drive. He didn’t want to play the game anymore. And the look on his face was there.” [Also: Projo — Herald — Globe]
Back from vacation
Rob Neyer, espn.com
Dan Duquette finally realized one of his long-standing fantasies, and canned Jimy Williams. As many of you know, Duquette and Williams spent most of last year fighting an undeclared war, and a lot of people in Boston were shocked that their two-man act lived for another season.
That’s old news, of course, so the question today is, are the Red Sox better off now than they were last week? I think this actually boils down to two other questions.
Boston’s focus now on Duquette
Larry Stone, Seattle Times
For Jimy Williams, it had become increasingly obvious his fate was heading in one of two directions — Manager of the Year or ex-manager of the Red Sox. There was that little middle ground in the wildly dysfunctional milieu that pervaded Red Sox Nation.
Mariners sign top draft pick
Jim Street, mlb.com
It took longer than they had hoped, but the Mariners on Monday signed their top draft choice, a shortstop with a household last name. … Garciaparra was selected in the “sandwich” round between the first and second rounds of the June First Year Player Draft, the 36th overall selection as compensation for losing Alex Rodriguez to the Texas Rangers.
Garciaparra had just 12 at-bats during his senior season because of the knee injury, recording five hits, including a double. He also had 2 RBIs. He was named First Team All-Camino Real League for three years and excelled in three sports, kicking for the varsity football team and playing varsity soccer for four years, in addition to baseball.
M’s hope Garciaparra will develop like brother
espn.com
The Seattle Mariners have signed shortstop Michael Garciaparra, their No. 1 draft choice and the younger brother of Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, the team said Monday. Garciaparra was the 36th overall draft choice, selected between the first and second rounds.
Michael Garciaparra, 18, of La Habra Heights, Calif., batted .412 in 12 at-bats during the 2001 season, with one double and two RBI. He played for Don Bosco Tech High School in Rosemead, Calif. Garciaparra missed most of the season because he was recovering from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, an injury he suffered during a high school football game, the Mariners said.
“We are very excited about getting Michael signed,” said Frank Mattox, Mariners scouting director. “He has a very high ceiling and we think he is very similar to where his brother, Nomar, was at that age.” The 6-foot-1, 160-pound player was named First Team All-Camino Real League for three years. In addition to baseball and football, he also played high school soccer.
Mariners sign No. 1 draft choice
Jim Cour, Associated Press
Garciaparra opted to sign with the Mariners after signing a national letter of intent to play baseball at Tennessee. Nomar spent three years at Georgia Tech before signing with the Red Sox.
Garciaparra will report to Peoria, Ariz., Sept. 16 or 17 for the Mariners at the Arizona Instructional League. He will be there until the end of October. “My ultimate goal is to be a big leaguer,” Garciaparra said. “I’ll get there when I get there.”
Garciaparra said his contract prohibits him from playing any more football and soccer. “It’s going to be tough,” he said. “I’ve played soccer ever since I was 4-years old.”
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