Baseball
Pedro
Martinez
Played
For
Los Angeles Dodgers (1992-1993), Montreal Expos (1994-1997), Boston
Red Sox (1998-)
Post-Season
1998 ALDS, 1999 ALDS, 1999 ALCS, 2003 ALDS, 2003 ALCS
Through the 2003 ALDS,
Martinez had a career 4-0 record with a 2.13 ERA, with 40 strikeouts
in 38 innings, while allowing just 24 hits.
Honors
All-Star (7): 1996-2000, 2002-2003; National League Cy Young Award
1997; American League Cy Young Award 1999, 2000; All-Star Game
Most Valuable Player 1999.
Pedro finished second
in Cy Young voting in both 1998 (Roger Clemens) and 2002 (Barry
Zito)
Position
Starting pitcher: the only season he was used primarily as a reliever
was in LA in 1993 (63 relief appearances, two saves).
Major
League Debut: September 24, 1992
The
Battle of Canada
On June 30, 1997, Canada's two major league teams met in the regular
season for the first time in history. Montreal's Pedro Martinez
grabbed the spotlight, firing a three-hit, 3-1 win over Toronto.
Feats
In 1999, Martinez captured the pitching Triple Crown, leading
the AL in wins (23), strikeouts (313), and ERA (2.07)... Six times,
Martinez has posted an ERA under 2.50 runs per game (1997, 1999-2003)...
In 1993, Pedro relieved his brother Ramon while with the Dodgers,
marking the first time a brother had relieved his brother since
Rick and Mcikey Mahler did it for the Braves in 1979... On June
3, 1995, Martinez pitched a perfect nine innings against the Padres
in San Diego, but lost his perfect game in the 10th inning when
Bip Roberts led off with a two-bagger... Martinez joins Ferguson
Jenkins, Gaylord Perry and Randy Johnson as the only pitchers
to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues.
Uniform
#'s
#45 (1992-), #37 (1994 Expos)
Transaction
Data
Signed as a non-drafted free agent by Los Angeles Dodgers (June
18, 1988); Traded by Los Angeles Dodgers to Montreal Expos in
exchange for Delino DeShields (November 19, 1993); Traded by Montreal
Expos to Boston Red Sox in exchange for Carl Pavano and a player
to be named later (November 18, 1997) - Montreal received Tony
Armas Jr. (December 18, 1997).
Best
Season, 1999
In a league that averaged 5.07 earned runs per game, Pedro Martinez
was stingly — spinning a 2.07 ERA. He won the triple crown
(23 wins, 313 K's, ERA title), walking just 37 batters and surrendering
only nine homers in more than 213 innings. In consecutive starts
in May, he fanned 15 batters in each game. Thirteen times he fanned
at least 10 batters, and he carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning
or later three times. In the All-Star Game at Fenway Park, Martinez
was named MVP after he pitched two hitless innings and struck
out five of the six batters he faced. At Yankee Stadium in September,
Pedro set a record by striking out 17 New York batters, winning
3-1 on a one-hitter. The lanky right-hander won his second Cy
Young Award and was second in MVP voting to Ivan Rodriguez. In
the playoffs, he allowed five hits in 17 innings, fanning 31,
while allowing no runs, despite a sore back.
Replaced
When Pedro earned his first job in a starting rotation (1994 Expos),
he effectively replaced veteran Dennis Martinez, who had left
for Cleveland. In spring training of 1995, the Expos dealt Ken
Hill to St. Louis, which really cleared the way for Pedro as the
ace of the staff.
Best
Strength as a Player
Control. Martinez can throw his 95+ fastball like a BB at the
hitters' knees consistently, which makes him very difficult. He
also spots his off-speed pitches and uses several arm angles.
Largest
Weakness as a Player
Durability. Martinez thin frame means he rarely goes beyond 100
pitches with effectiveness. He's basically a 7-8 inning pitcher,
and has thrown more than 220 innings just twice in his career.
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