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Boston Red Sox Debate: Pedro Martinez’s best season

By Sean Penney

BALTIMORE - JULY 26: Starting pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Baltimore Orioles July 26, 2004 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - JULY 26: Starting pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Baltimore Orioles July 26, 2004 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – UNDATED 1998: Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox pitches during a MLB game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. Pedro was with the Boston Red Sox from 1998-2004. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CHICAGO – UNDATED 1998: Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox pitches during a MLB game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. Pedro was with the Boston Red Sox from 1998-2004. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

1999

23-4, 2.07 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 13.2 K/9

In his second season in Boston, Martinez led the majors in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP. The win total was the highest of his career, as was his league-leading .852 winning percentage.

The 313 strikeouts that Pedro tallied that year still stands as the single-season franchise record. His 13.22 K/9 and 37.5 K% were the highest in major league history until Gerrit Cole topped them last season (13.82 K/9, 39.9 K%).

It isn’t the best ERA of his career but Pedro’s 1.33 FIP is the best recorded by a starting pitcher since 1910.

Martinez allowed only nine home runs in 213 1/3 innings for a 0.35 HR/9. Since 1999, only five pitchers have recorded a season with a lower home run rate, one of them being Pedro (0.34 in 2003). Keep in mind that this was at a point when home run totals were skyrocketing while MLB turned a blind eye to PEDs.

Pedro was the runaway winner for the Cy Young and finished as the runner-up to Ivan Rodriguez in the AL MVP race. He fell 13 points shy on the ballot despite earning more first-place votes.

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