Now, I'm all for blaming Little, but Pedro is backing down. WR will love this!
Pedro: Little knew I was tired in last game By By John Burke and Ed Medina, Boston.com Staff, 11/7/2003
Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez said today that even though he told former manager Grady Little that he could get Yankee Hideki Matsui out when he faced him in the fateful 8th inning of Game 7 of the ALCS, the decision to leave Martinez in really was Little’s.
In a wide-ranging press conference in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic this afternoon, Martinez admitted he was tired when he returned to the mound for the 8th inning.
"… at the end of the seventh inning, I wasn't in good shape," the three-time Cy Young winner told reporters during the conference, broadcast live on ESPN.
"(Little) told me they were going to have a pitcher behind me," Martinez said. "When Matsui was coming to bat, he asked me, 'Do you think you can put him out?' and I said, 'Yes.' No pitcher is going to say no to that."
“But it was Little’s decision.”
Matsui was one of several Yankees who got hits off Martinez during the inning, in which the Yankees came from three runs back to tie the game. The Yankees won in extra innings to advance to the World Series, where they lost in six games to the Florida Marlins.
Martinez said he was sorry that Little was let go, and praised him as “a great manager, a great friend; someone we could get along with.''
He also reaffirmed that he wants to end his career with Boston, but said that he will accept it if the team trades him. "For me it would be an honor to play in Boston, but it is not in my hands," he said.
Martinez said his future goals were to be elected to the Hall of Fame and to be healthy when he retires so he can enjoy life with his family.
He also talked about his stormy relations with the media in Boston, saying the press often misinterpreted his remarks.
Quite a difference from:
"There is no reason to blame Grady. Grady doesn't play the game. If you want to point the finger, point the finger at me."
Yep, now that Little's gone, he's going to get the blame for everything. I thought it was cool that Pedro took the blame after the loss, but now I'm not so impressed.
Yes doctor, I am sick. Sick of those who are spineless. Sick of those who feel self-entitled. Sick of those who are hypocrites. Yes doctor, an army is forming. Yes doctor, there will be a war. Yes doctor, there will be blood.....
He may be a jerk.....ok, he is a jerk, but he is also the cornerstone of a fantasy pitching staff. His ERA and WHIP numbers alone can have a huge impact, and he has been my stud for 2 years running now. I figure he has another dominant year under his belt, and hopefully his selfishness will come through on the diamond if the sox don't re-sign him and he is pitching for a contract.
What's that old saying, he may be a punk, but he's my punk.
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wrveres wrote:How many more days Transmo.... Is it one more week and I can lose the Popsicle to the left?
I think it might be ten days or so. The game was on the 16th, ended on the 17th, so you have till the 17th, in my book.
this has got to be the slowest month ..... .... .... ever.
Perhaps, but I guarantee you my month has been worse. Just digging up the old Pedro quote I had to read some stories about that game. It brought back memories and I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight.
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by Transmogrifier » Fri Nov 07, 2003 5:05 pm 
