Jeff Juden

Born on today's date, Jeff Juden.

"So Pedro Martinez is playing that song ('Celebrate' by Kool and the Gang) on the plane, and dancing around. I told him to turn it off. He said no, so I broke the CD player. Pedro looked at me and said 'If that was my CD player, I's break it over your head'. I looked at him and said 'Little man, you'll never break anything over my head'. That was it for me in Montreal and they traded me to Cleveland."

Pedro Martinez

On this date in 1997, Pedro Martinez of the Expos wins the NL Cy Young Award after posting a 17-8 record, 305 strikeouts, a 1.90 ERA and 13 complete games.

"What really catches your eye is how small he is. You go up against Roger Clemens, even if you've never seen him before, and you say, 'This guy looks overpowering.' You wouldn't say that with Pedro Martinez." - Mark Lemke 

Pedro Martinez

Born on today's date, Pedro Martinez.

"Some people are a little afraid of Pedro and that helps him." - Lou Piniella

Pedro Martinez

On this date in 1995, Pedro Martinez pitches 9 perfect innings before against the Padres before giving up a leadoff double in the top of the 10th inning in a 1-0 victory.

"Probably 90% of them." - on how many of his hit batters were intentional plunkings

Pedro Martinez

On this date in 1997, Pedro Martinez of the Expos wins the NL Cy Young Award after posting a 17-8 record, with 305 strikeouts, a 1.90 ERA and 13 complete games.

"If I didn't pitch inside, I'd be at home pitching to my nephew."

Pedro Martinez

Born on today's date, Pedro Martinez.

"What really catches your eye is how small he is. You go up against Roger Clemens, even if you've never seen him before, and you say, 'This guy looks overpowering'. You wouldn't say that about Pedro Martinez." - Mark Lemke

Did you know that Jose Guillen hit .390 in 49 at bats against Pedro Martinez?

And it's not like they came from the same village or went in on a time-share together.

One day an enterprising reporter will dig up the real story here, I am sure.

I see this as the only potential roadblock to Pedro's Hall of Fame bid.

Jeff Juden

Born on today's date, Jeff Juden.

"So Pedro Martinez is playing that song ('Celebrate' by 'Kool and the Gang') on the plane, and dancing around. I told him to turn it off. He said no, so I broke the CD player. Pedro looked at me and said 'If that was my CD player, I'd break it over your head'. I looked at him and said, 'Little man, you'll never break anything over my head'. That was it for me in Montreal and they traded me to Cleveland."

Pedro Martinez

On this date in 1997, Pedro Martinez of the Expos wins the NL Cy Young Award after posting a 17-8 record with 305 strikeouts and a 1.90 ERA.

"If I didn't pitch inside, I'd be at home, pitching to my nephew."

Pedro Martinez

On this date in 2007, Pedro Martinez strikes out Aaron Harang in the second inning for his 3000th major league strikeout.

"Some people are a little afraid of Pedro and that helps him." - Lou Piniella

Willie Randolph

Born on today's date, Willie Randolph.

"He was effectively erratic." - Referring to Pedro Martinez who walked four and hit a batter while beating the Diamondbacks in 2005

Pedro Martinez

Born on today's date, Pedro Martinez.

"Seemed like it was going to be an easy day at the office for the whole team. It was; only for me."

Game 2

1. As to Matsui's home run, I thought only Vlad Guerrero swung at pitches like that.

2. Pedro sure knows how to quick pitch. Just ask Jeter; the guy walking back to the dugout.

3. Computer Boy says that "majestic" music that Fox is playing in between some of the innings sounds like funeral music. Cannot disagree. Don't they use focus groups at all?

4. I know that Matt Stairs is a pretty good pinch hitter and all but Buck and McCarver made him out to be the second coming of Roy Hobbs as he approached the plate. It's only Matt Stairs you know; and he proved it.

5. This can't be happening again with the umpiring. I would love to be the negotiator for major league baseball in the upcoming negotiations with the umpire's union this winter. Just bring a DVD player. That one should go pretty quick.

6. Who made Tim McCarver God? Nobody expects a bunt with two strikes so why not try it? Jeter was not necessarily "wrong". Charlie Manuel's decision not to send the runners, while maybe not what I would have done, is defensible to stay out of a strike out/throw em out result. It is not necessarily a "wrong" decision. How many games has this guy managed? Where is Deion Sanders and his bucket of water when you need him?

Who's your daddy?

Second inning.

Even though they started before the first pitch, the "Who's your daddy?" chants sure did not last long. (One batter by my ears)

Look, Pedro will either be on or not tonight but he isn't going to be affected by a taunting chant. If the crowd wants to have some fun, that is cool but don't kid yourself that you are having any affect on the game.*

Pedro knows his lineage.

(Error by A-Rod. I don't care what the official scorer says.)

*Years ago at Tiger Stadium, the fans would regularly get on Paul O'Neill in the outfield by screaming "Paulie" over and over again. O'Neill incredibly would get visibly angry in the field because of this which of course just exacerbated the problem. Pedro is made of hardier stuff.

Not really Pedro!

In what appeared to be a pretty lively World Series press conference, Pedro Martinez displayed some very severe delusions of grandeur by saying this regarding his alleged status as a Yankee Stadium icon:

"I don't know if you realize this, but because of you guys (the press) in some ways, I might be at times the most influential player that ever stepped in Yankee Stadium. I can honestly say that."*

My retort:

Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly, Mariano Rivera, Kevin Maas (just making sure everybody is awake out there), Phil Rizzuto, Ron Guidry, Billy Martin, Goose Gossage......

The list goes on.

When I was a young lad growing up on the mean streets of Metro Detroit suburbia, I had a hardcover illustrated book on the history of baseball. I loved the book and probably read it cover to cover hundreds of times. You still see it in libraries. I am guessing that books like this were not widely distributed in the Dominican Republic.

*Those sportswriters must have been asleep. The obvious follow up question should have been, "Well then how come you are not on even one of those thousands of Upper Deck Yankee Stadium history cards?" They blew it! They could have nailed him!