Who's Your Daddy?

Later tonight, the Yankees will try to rebound from Game 1's drubbing. Thankfully, mercifully, Cliff Lee is not pitching for the Phillies. In his place steps Pedro Martinez, the former face, arm, mouth and jheri curl of the Boston Red Sox. There was a time, back in the late 90s and early 2000s, when Pedro, one of the greatest pitching talents of all time, terrified Yankee fans and silenced Yankee bats. In 1999, during his heyday, Pedro struck out 17 Yankees in a dominating one-hitter at the old Yankee Stadium, before out pitching Roger Clemens in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

As dominating as Pedro could be, his stellar performances weren’t why Yankee fans—and many members of those Yankee teams-- disliked, even hated, Pedro. When Pedro wasn’t blowing fastballs past the Yankees, he was throwing at them. In 2003, for instance, he hit Derek Jeter and, in that same game, Alfonso Soriano, sending both infielders to the hospital. And, of course, later that same year, during the 2003 ALCS, he tossed 72-year-old bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground during a benches-clearing brawl, which started after Pedro hit Karim Garcia in the shoulder.

Pedro was never well liked in New York. 

Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Pedro embraced the role of villain. At times, he even fed off of it. He seemed, at least to this fan, as if he were born to wear the black hat and, in this particular case, the red socks.

More often than not, though, the Yankees usually got the best of Pedro—particularly when it mattered most. Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, for instance. In 37 career games against the Yankees, including postseason play, Pedro is a rather pedestrian 12-13, with 12 no-decisions. Not exactly overwhelming. After one rough outing against the Bombers in 2004, Pedro famously lamented, “I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy.”  

But that was all a long time ago. That Pedro is gone. He no longer exists. His fastball, once thrown in the mid-to-high 90s, now stalls around 85, and his curveball and change aren't nearly as sharp as they once were. Instead of power and intimidation, Pedro today gets by with guile, nerve and junk, really.

This is not to say, however, that Pedro can’t win tonight. Earlier this month, he pitched a gem against the Dodgers in the National League Division Series, and maybe Pedro makes the most of his final game against the Yankees. Maybe we’re all in store for an encore performance. Vintage Pedro.

I doubt it, though. Pedro hasn’t face an American League line up in more than a year, and this Yankees team is ready to take out last night’s frustrations on the team’s former nemesis. Even if the pitcher formerly known as Pedro is no longer worthy of the role.

BEN:

I wish I had time to say more about this one before Pedro goes to the mound; but we can revisit it after the game has been played. I feel sure it will be an entertaining one. Pedro pitched inside and hit a lot of players in his day; that was part of his strategy, just as part of Jeter's is to crowd the plate. There has been plenty of bad blood on both sides of this rivalry, and while the Zimmer fight was not exactly a proud moment for the Red Sox, let's also remember that the Yankees horse in that particular race, Roger Clemens, was less than a class act. I would also add that Herr Zimmer, geriatric though he may have been, was physically attacking a player and yelling obscenities about his family. I'm not saying it gave Pedro the right to fight back, but he did have to do *something*.

In that peak year of 1999, Pedro was the greatest pitcher I've ever seen toe the rubber. I am proud to have attended some of his thrilling performances, including a 16-strikeout masterpiece at Fenway that June. The fact that he fed off the rivalry and didn't mind pissing off the enemy fans never bothered me--I didn't think he was a bad guy, just a fiery competitor. So what if he hit a few batters? So did Bob Gibson. And, by the way, let the record show that Pedro did not hit Soriano in that 2003 game, which took place on July 7th; and that Jeter was back in the lineup on July 9th; and that he pinch-hit in the only game in between. Somehow, life went on.

The pressure in tonight's game is really on the Yankees, who are down 1-0 in the series after a truly incredible performance last night from Cliff Lee. I think Pedro will be a solid option for them, and has the chance to pitch well; but the most crucial issue for New York will be controlling the erratic AJ Burnett, who has a pretty nasty lineup to deal with himself.

MILES:

Truth be told, I always liked Pedro. Talented, entertaining and provocative, he made the game that much more exciting to watch. And he gave the Sox-Yanks rivalry an edge. Sure, he was arrogant, but that's why it was so much fun to play him. As a fan, I always knew he would bring it, and the Yankees would have to play nearly flawless baseball to best him. Fortunately, more often than not, they usually did. 

I have to admit, I was wrong. Pedro pitched great last night. I really didn't think he had it in him. Granted, his performance last night was more Joe Saunders than Pedro, circa 1999, but he gave the Phillies a chance to win the game, even if it fell apart for him in the 7th, one inning longer than he should have pitched. Thank you, Charlie Manuel. 

If things had been different last night, say had the Yankees been up three runs in the 7th, I like to think Yankee fans would have given Pedro a standing ovation after Manuel finally came out to take the ball. His exit, though, in the middle of a very close game, happened almost too quickly to notice. That's a shame. Although Pedro was never our favorite opponent, he certainly was one of the best.  And he probably deserved our best on his way out.   

BEN:

I appreciate the gentlemanly spirit. Sadly, this video confirms that Pedro was booed when he got pulled last night. The silver lining: he clearly enjoyed it.