May 20, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher former pitcher Pedro Martinez shows his World Series rings prior to a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Was Pedro Martinez the best pitcher the Red Sox ever had? From 1997-2003 he may have been the best pitcher in baseball history. A pitching Picasso, who was as skilled with a baseball as a highly recognized surgeon is with a scalpel.
When Pedro operated it was with superb control with every pitch in his command. Even when Pedro’s best “stuff” was among the missing he was capable of dominating.
I have been fortunate enough to see the greatest pitchers of the last sixty years and that is certainly a long list of accomplished talents: Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn, Bob Gibson, Felix Hernandez, Sandy Koufax, Greg Maddux, Juan Marichal, Whitey Ford, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson and many that I have omitted.
Pedro was the best I ever saw.
BSI’s Sean Penny covered some of the more magnificent pitching memories and I will now focus on some other memorable Pedro moments that I can recall.