Recap: Pedro Martinez on NY1
Last night on NY1, Tom McDonald talked one on one with Pedro Martinez, who had the following to say about:
His overall health:
“Right now my health is exactly where I’d like it to be all year. That’s how good I feel. If I’m this way all year, you’re gonna see lots of smiles and you’re gonna have a lot of fun with the things that I’ll probably be able to do.”
Pitching alongside Johan Santana:
“We actually met a long time ago. Minnesota and Boston shared the same town in spring training. I remember exchanging a lot with Santana,a especially with my arrival to Boston. Santana was a young kid, a young rookie, he asked me a couple of questions about the change-up and right now I’d say that’s probably the best change-up you can find out there. I’m glad I was able to talk to him back then and keep the closeness with each-other. It’s not only because Santana is so good as a player, but because he’s such a great human being.”
If it will be odd not being the team’s ace:
“No, not at all. To be honest, I’ll talk to you from my heart like I always do. I’ll tell you there was a time when I first came up and it didn’t matter who was in front of me, when I was given the ball and called ‘the guy,’ ‘the headliner,’ or whatever you guys wanted to call me. I was that guy and never stopped to look back about what other guys felt and I don’t expect Johan to do anything like that either. I expect him to come and perform and do what he’s got to do like he always does. I wish him the best and I wish I could help him ease into it even more. I don’t really care what spot I’m on, I believe my spot will be the headline for me. He’s gonna be the headliner on the first day and I’m gonna be the headliner on the second day…
“So, it makes no difference to me when I pitch, today or tomorrow. I’m a professional, I understand what I have to do. I’m so thankful that we have someone like Johan, that could probably be in my spot today or in anybody’s spot.”
…interesting…it sounds to me like pedro just assumes that santana will be the team’s opening day starter…
…added to by Peter Wade, who provided the quotes…
…as always, it’s a total pleasure to listen to pedro…he’s interesting and engaging…some of the stuff about being the number two starter may come across in print as pedro just trying to say the right thing…but watching and listening to the interview, i believe he really has no problem with it…now, the recent comments made by reporters about his health issues, i believe it does bother him despite his denial…you can tell he takes it like they are questioning his heart…
