(Boston, September 21, 1999) Pedro Martinez (22-4, 2.11) continues to come up big. This time around it was a 3-hit shutout of the Toronto Blue Jays, putting the Jays one game away from elimination in the Wild-Card Showdown. He whiffed 12 this evening, giving him 300 for 1999. And surprisingly, this was his first shutout of the year. This is a very telling stat for someone with a 2.11 ERA. The Bosox ace has not faltered all season. LF Troy 'Luck o' the Leprechaun' O'Leary and Mike 'New York, New York' Stanley provided the offense. And the theory that the Scrawny Pedro wears down by September is finally put to rest. The scary part is this: wait 'til he fills out... Balloons to 170 pounds... I can see it now: "Pedro Fatty Boombalatti Martinez Bamboozles Jays and Inhales 10-Course Dinner at the No-Name". That being said, here's a comparison of his two Cy Young years:
year w-l era ip h k bb cg ShO '97 17-8 1.90 241 158 305 67 13 4 '99 22-4 2.11 204 154 300 37 5 1
(Boston, September 10, 1999) The Bosox ride into New York 6 games behind the Bronx Bombers, and 3 ahead of Oakland in the race for the Wildcard. In another historical performance, the Maestro Pedro Martínez (21-4, 2.20) has again risen to the occasion. It was a dominating performance, a 1-hitter (Chili Davis' homer in the 2nd inning) against perhaps the best team in baseball. And it was a game - one mistake could have turned the tide, as Andy Pettitte's performance was excellent. The Sox were trailing 1-0, before taking the lead on a two-run homer by (ex-Yankee) Mike Stanley (#17) in the top of the sixth. Knoblauch was the Yank's only other baserunner, grazed by a pitch (??) leading off the bottom of the 1st.
But Pedro was the game. No one had ever fanned 17 Yankees before. His fastball was, of course, overpowering, reaching 97 mph in the 9th, when he fanned the side. He retired the last 22 batters he faced, fanning 12 of the last 15. It was his command of the curveball that made him unhittable. And the pinpoint control of his entire arsenal. 'Sharp' and 'crisp' came to mind while watching Pedro. Everything he throws moves like crazy, and last night, everything went precisely where he willed it. And the hardcore Stadium crowd, with a sizable Dominican contingent, actually warmed up to him, cheering him as he brought their beloved to their knees... (Sorry... I'm getting giddy here...)
Best of all, he planted a seed in the minds of the Bombers, a seed that could grow into an oak tree when October arrives. Viva El Pedro! Viva Los Red Sox!
(Boston, September 11, 1999) Bring on the Rocket! This one was another battle, some of it not too pretty. It was 5-0, then 5-4, then 9-5, then 9-8. Neither team would fold. The difference in the end was a 2-run pinch homerun by Butch Huskey and a save by new savior Rod Beck. The Sox almost gave it away in the 7th when their infield collapsed. Reliever Derek Lowe entered the game with bases loaded (and a 9-4 lead) and did exactly what he was supposed to do, getting a couple of playable grounders, but the Sox managed to butcher them and enter the 8th with a 9-8 advantage. But hey, fielding is not the strong suit of either Mike Stanley (who has done a number on the Yanks this year) or Jose Offerman. And Nomar was shaky as well... a shame - it would be nice for the New York fans to really see the complete package. They have seen what he does with the bat, though. 2 'taters and 4 RBI today, and hitting a robust .351, a point ahead of Jeter for the league lead. With one left to play, the Sox lead the season series 7-4. Who ahhhh these guys?
A couple of observations: Catcher Jason Varitek, who impressed some of the Yankees last time around and reaching base thrice this afternoon, is getting a reputation. Like Pete Rose and Hal McRae before him, he takes his "takeout" slides seriously. Jeter and Knoblauch have both been victimized this series. My other observation is this: these Yankees, even when they lose, don't look bad. They battle to the end. Even with the Great Martínez toeing the rubbah in grand style yesterday, it wasn't over 'til.... well, Yogi's words still ring true. As a Red Sox fan, a baseball fan, I must admit that the game would not be as good without the Yankees to kick around! Seriously, win or lose, these are the games that make the season exciting.
(Boston, September 12, 1999) Bret Saberhagen (10-5, 3.29 with only 10 walks in 104 innings) made an impressive return from his latest stint on the DL - 5 innings, 1 run, 3 hits and 5 punchouts. And a hit batsman in response to Clemens' plunk of rookie 3B Wilt Veras (after he had the audacity to take an aggressive cut). No doubt about it, beating Rocket Roger Clemens (12-9, 4.65) made it a little sweeter for the Sox. Roger pitched well, surrendering 3 runs on 5 hits in 7 innings.
They asked Boston manager Jimy Williams... well it doesn't matter what they ask him, his answer is always the same: "We play just one game at a time, that's all we're playing. Just trying to compete. We're playing the schedule. That's about it. We'll see what happens."
The Sox have earned some respect around the league this season, and the New York series has hammered it home. Varitek's aggressive attitude was matched by Reggie Jefferson's takeout of C Joe Girardi, scoring an important run. Centerfielder Bernie Williams had a tough day. He got late jumps on a couple, and the Sox exploited his weak throwing arm. No knock on Bernie though - he's hit about .340 or so the last few years, and he can play the guitar, so he's a keeper. The Sox defense on the right side (Offerman, Stanley) leaves a bit to be desired. But that's the breaks when you have a batch of 1B/DH types on your roster... This is the American League, gotta get the bats in the lineup!
Well... all that and the boys are still 3 1/2 behind the Bombers, and those pesky Oakland A's are still breathing down their necks for the Wildcard, but Red Sox Nation is smiling. Life is good.
(Boston, September 6, 1999) After taking 3 of 4 from the Seattle Mariners, the Sox are playing tough, 3 up in the AL Wildcard Race at the moment. Nomar's on another of his incredible tears, and Pedro is, well, Pedro. Pretty much a 2-man team. Old friend Butch Huskey has helped, and Rod Beck (and the subsequent return of Flash Gordon) gives them as deep a pen as there is in the league.
Not too many clubs can plug 4 different pitchers into the 9th with confidence. The Red Sox, though not by choice, have done just that. And with success. When Gordon went down, knuckler Tim Wakefield closed the door, notching 14 saves. When Saberhagen (9-5, 3.36) was disabled, Wake went back into the rotation (sort of... Jimy Williams' juggling act has been extraordinary) and Derek Lowe notched 12 saves. Now Beck is in the fold, and they seem to be switching off.
Pedro The Maestro Martinez is, as you have heard, having a year. He is now 20-4 with a 2.26 ERA, 257 K's and only 34 walks in 179 innings. Pitching's rare Triple Crown and his second Cy Young Award are in the crosshairs. And he was benched by Jimy Williams for showing up late... Jimy's a standup guy, a straightshooter. Very respectable. And perhaps as good an overall manager as anyone in the game. Just sayin'.
Nomar Garciaparra (.354, 21, 86) is this team's other MVP. No shit... Is he better than A-Rod? Jeter? Who knows? Maybe 10 years from now we'll have a better idea. But this year, Nomar has put these numbers up without any established protection in the lineup. A-Rod has the advantage of being surrounded by the likes of Griffey, Edgar Martinez, and Jay Buhner, and Jeter's got O'Neill, Tino Martinez, and Williams. It's Brian Daubach, Troy O'Leary, and Mike Stanley in the Red Sox lineup.
Let's give these other folks some credit. Brian Daubach (.307, 19, 70) is a contender for Rookie of the Year, and Troy O'Leary (.279, 25, 90) is having a career year, and getting the big hits that win ballgames. Stanley (.267, 15, 59) is a leader and power threat, and Jason Varitek (.266, 16, 60) appears to be blossoming into one of the leagues top receivers. Butch Huskey (.293, 19, 68, mostly with the Mariners) has solidified the attack. And future star 3B Wilton Veras has rejoined the team as John Valentin rejoins the DL.
This is not a great team. But it is now a solid team and has played the great teams well. And the current roadtrip could make or break their chances. Oakland's next, then the Indians and the Yankees. Bring on the noise!
Red Sox-Yankees: 3 at Fenway Park
(Boston, August 1, 1999) Roger Clemens long-awaited return to Fenway Park wearing the dreaded pinstripes finally became reality. He was booed lustily, did not pitch well, and left (with a 5-3 lead) after five innings. The Red Sox went on to take the game in dramatic fashion.
After getting shelled on Friday 13-3, the Sox battled back with single runs in the 6th and 7th, plated by Varitek and O'Leary respectively, then entered the bottom of the 9th with a chance to put it away. Jose Offerman, 2 for 2 with 3 walks and 3 runs, tripled into the triangle in centerfield, and John Valentin singled to deep left, winning the game.
Righthander Brian Rose, who dominated the Yanks last time around, was not effective this time. Chuck Knoblauch led with a homer for the second straight night, and is having a monster series, 8 for 11 with 5 RBI and 3 runs in the first two games. Two batters later Paul O'Neill tatooed #12. Rose exited after 4, surrendering 5 runs and 12 hits.
The Rocket claimed it was another day at the office: "I've been gone from here a long time, and I've been a Yankee for quite a while. It wasn't that special." But Joe Torre's take was more realistic: "It looked like he was overthrowing. Pitching at Fenway Park in a Yankee uniform was an extra added ingredient."
In the rubber game, Bret Saberhagen (7-4, 3.21) and Tim Wakefield (14th save) pitched the Sox to a 5-4 win over Orlando Hernandez (12-7, 4.25) and the Bombers. O'Leary provided the firepower with a 2-run go-ahead 'tater.
(Boston, July 27, 1999) The spiraling Sox are hoping DH/outfielder Butch Huskey will add some punch to their struggling lineup. Huskey, acquired from the Seattle Mariners for Pawtucket lefty Robert Ramsay, hit .290 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 74 games this year. His .383 average against lefties got the Sox attention: they open an important series tonight against LHP Boomer Wells and the Blue Jays. But GM Duquette has been after Huskey for years now.
"I think Butch Huskey will be a good, productive player for us for the rest of this season and also in the coming years," Duquette said. "At 27 years old, he should be poised to put up some good numbers for the next several years in Fenway Park. He has a good work ethic and he likes to play ball. He's a very gritty, determined player. He's had good success against righties as well and he's made good progress this year, particularly in his discipline in the strike zone and that's helped him develop into a quality major-league hitter."
"I'm glad to be playing baseball," said Huskey. "I love the game and Boston, there's great tradition up there. It's going to be an exciting place to play. I've enjoyed the last couple years that I've been coming to play here. Now I get to make it my home park. There has only been good things that have happened in Boston and hopefully we can make it even better by winning this year."
It's always risky giving up pitching, and giving up a promising southpaw is somewhat disturbing, but the Sox track record under Duquette has been good - they seem to have a handle on the pitchers that will make it and those who won't. Robert Ramsay, 25 years old, posted a 6-8 record with a 5.35 ERA at Pawtucket (AAA), allowing 114 hits in 114 1/3 innings with 79 strikeouts and 36 walks. And last year he was Boston's minor league pitcher of the year.
The hope is that Huskey will be a classic Fenway Park hitter, capable of launching baseballs into the net with some regularity. But it seems the Sox have too many of these DH-type players. They need impact hitters, protection for Nomar in the lineup, and pitching. Can Huskey approximate Mo Vaughn's production? Perhaps that's unfair... But if the answer is no, what happens to the folks manning the positions that he is capable of playing? LF Troy O'Leary has been one of the most consistant contributers on the team. Lefty-swinging Trot Nixon has been hitting for a while now - possible platoon situation here. Mike Stanley? Brian Daubach? Not sure where his at-bats will come from, but if he hits that's another story. These things tend to sort themselves out...
