Pedro Martinez elected to Hall of Fame

[Spitball]

In 1967 when Yaz won the Triple Crown and carried the Red Sox from 9th place to the World Series for rthe first time in 21 years, he missed being a unanimous MVP, because 1 writer voted for Cesar Tovar. I think he voted for Tovar because he played every position in 1 game. If he had done that while chewing gum, he might have gotten more votes.

 

 

 

In 1941, Ted Williams hit .406, but Joe DiMaggio won the MVP when a Boston sports writer left Williams off his ballot. If he had at least given Williams a 10th place vote, Williams would have won the award.

 

In 1942, Williams won the Triple Crown but Yankee Joe Gordon won the award. In 1947, Williams again won the Triple Crown but lost to DiMaggio by a 202-201 vote.

 

I think politics often play a large part of the voting. Williams did not have a very good relationship with the media. Yastrzemski may have broken the hearts of the Minnesota media with his incredible performance in the final series of the 1967 season when the Sox and Yaz won the pennant on the last day of the season.

[a700hitter]

In 1941, Ted Williams hit .406, but Joe DiMaggio won the MVP when a Boston sports writer left Williams off his ballot. If he had at least given Williams a 10th place vote, Williams would have won the award.

 

In 1942, Williams won the Triple Crown but Yankee Joe Gordon won the award. In 1947, Williams again won the Triple Crown but lost to DiMaggio by a 202-201 vote.

 

I think politics often play a large part of the voting. Williams did not have a very good relationship with the media. Yastrzemski may have broken the hearts of the Minnesota media with his incredible performance in the final series of the 1967 season when the Sox and Yaz won the pennant on the last day of the season.

I read about the slights of Ted Williams when I was a kid in his book My Turn at Bat. That is probably when the aspect of being on a winning team entered into the voting consideration. I think the winning team consideration was a rationalization for the writers deliberate lighting of Williams. It had nothing to do with winning teams, but with the writers hatred for Williams.

[seabeachfred]

Pedro did to Zimmer what I wanted to do to him 25 years earlier when his stubborn stupidity or stupid stubbornness cost us the pennant in 1978.

 

I might be standing on shaky ground here bringing up 1978 when I wasn't even a Red Sox fan then, but I wasn't living in a bubble and noticed how that 14 game lead melted like an ice cream cone in a sauna. Zimmer was a total ******* that summer in his refusing to pitch Bill Lee for calling him a gerbil. That cost them the AL East because no one can tell me that if Lee had been left in that rotation they wouldn't have been one game better at the end of the regular season, and therefore, no one would have heard of Bucky "f***in' Dent. Amazing, isn't it, how a manager can cut his nose to spite his face and take the entire team down with him in the process. Of course the Sporting News that summer was replete with some of the boneheadedness shown by Zimmer in other personnel moves. The writer was Joe Guiliotti I believe and he laid into Zimmer all that summer. Perhaps had Zimmer gotten his head out of his ass, he could have gotten the Red Sox into the WS against his equally boneheaded friend La Pasta. You think about some of those episodes that engulfed the Red Sox for so many years before hyperion in 2004 and it makes me wonder how some of you older fans weren't on suicide watch seeing all that s*** going down.

[a700hitter]

I might be standing on shaky ground here bringing up 1978 when I wasn't even a Red Sox fan then, but I wasn't living in a bubble and noticed how that 14 game lead melted like an ice cream cone in a sauna. Zimmer was a total ******* that summer in his refusing to pitch Bill Lee for calling him a gerbil. That cost them the AL East because no one can tell me that if Lee had been left in that rotation they wouldn't have been one game better at the end of the regular season, and therefore, no one would have heard of Bucky "f***in' Dent. Amazing, isn't it, how a manager can cut his nose to spite his face and take the entire team down with him in the process. Of course the Sporting News that summer was replete with some of the boneheadedness shown by Zimmer in other personnel moves. The writer was Joe Guiliotti I believe and he laid into Zimmer all that summer. Perhaps had Zimmer gotten his head out of his ass, he could have gotten the Red Sox into the WS against his equally boneheaded friend La Pasta. You think about some of those episodes that engulfed the Red Sox for so many years before hyperion in 2004 and it makes me wonder how some of you older fans weren't on suicide watch seeing all that s*** going down.

In Yaz's book he discloses that he begged Zimmer to pitch Bill Lee. Zimmer was such a stubborn prick that he wouldn't even listen to Yaz.

[User Name]

And yet you people continuously whine about the current ownership, FO and manager. That's why it pisses me off. Because you all know all of this bs people endured in the past from the Sox managers/fo/ownership.

[mvp 78]

And yet you people continuously whine about the current ownership, FO and manager. That's why it pisses me off. Because you all know all of this bs people endured in the past from the Sox managers/fo/ownership.

 

Simce 2004, it's now our birthright as Sox fans to get a championship every year. Duh.

[cp176]

I read about the slights of Ted Williams when I was a kid in his book My Turn at Bat. That is probably when the aspect of being on a winning team entered into the voting consideration. I think the winning team consideration was a rationalization for the writers deliberate lighting of Williams. It had nothing to do with winning teams, but with the writers hatred for Williams.

 

Ted williams who I still believe had the best eye at the plate and was the greatest hitter of all time, was no fan of the media and a very reluctant fan of the fans until after his retirement. A little tough on his teammates as well but very respected for his baseball and fly fishing abilities. It was a great thrill to see him play. Championships are very hard to win. Do you need to win one to be considered the best of the best? In terms of pure hitting, with Ted I don't think so. He was the best.

[Bellhorn04]

Williams was both blessed and cursed. I read the biography by Montville and I came away feeling sorry for the guy. I don't think his baseball career actually brought him a lot of happiness.

[cp176]

I might be standing on shaky ground here bringing up 1978 when I wasn't even a Red Sox fan then, but I wasn't living in a bubble and noticed how that 14 game lead melted like an ice cream cone in a sauna. Zimmer was a total ******* that summer in his refusing to pitch Bill Lee for calling him a gerbil. That cost them the AL East because no one can tell me that if Lee had been left in that rotation they wouldn't have been one game better at the end of the regular season, and therefore, no one would have heard of Bucky "f***in' Dent. Amazing, isn't it, how a manager can cut his nose to spite his face and take the entire team down with him in the process. Of course the Sporting News that summer was replete with some of the boneheadedness shown by Zimmer in other personnel moves. The writer was Joe Guiliotti I believe and he laid into Zimmer all that summer. Perhaps had Zimmer gotten his head out of his ass, he could have gotten the Red Sox into the WS against his equally boneheaded friend La Pasta. You think about some of those episodes that engulfed the Red Sox for so many years before hyperion in 2004 and it makes me wonder how some of you older fans weren't on suicide watch seeing all that s*** going down.

 

I suffered through those vintage 60's teams. A miracle started to form in 1966. You could see it and feel that it was coming. Talented young group of players with a fiery, demanding, and knowledge manager going in to the 67 season. For the most part since that season, all expectations changed. We had left the dismal 50's and most of the 60's behind. I was one of those very disappointed fans on numerous occasions. 75, 78, and 86 (in particular 86) stand out. I will exclude 67 - they had Bob Gibson before the mound was lowered - we did not. Baseball is a journey for me though. Once again championships are very difficult to win - any game in any sport. Of course I would like to think that we could win every year but I also realize that it is not possible. For me - It's the hunt, the long season and everything that goes along with it. I do think this is a franchise that should compete year in and year out. 59 years a fan. I always had a National League favorite (the Giants) but I have lived with this franchise for a very long time. Seen all the owners, players, managers, and general managers come and go. the hunt begins again very soon. I would like to see a few subtractions as well as additions but we will all live with whatever they yard out on to that field. I can't wait for that green flag to drop. I miss just two things - the radio and lazy afternoon games.

[Palodios]

Simce 2004, it's now our birthright as Sox fans to get a championship every year. Duh.

 

Everyone knows 2013 was just dumb luck. Its been 8 years since the Red Sox earned one.

[User Name]

How was it dumb luck? That's a nonsensical statement.

[mvp 78]

How was it dumb luck? That's a nonsensical statement.

I'm 99.9% sure Pal was being sarcastic with that one.

[BSN07]

Congrats to Pedro one of my all time favorites

[a700hitter]

I have been a Red Sox fan for 48 years. In that time, they have finished last 3 times -- twice in the last 3 years and once in the Butch Hobson era in 1992*. There have also been very few sub-.500 seasons during that time prior to 2012.

 

* Hobson's 1992 team won 73 more than the 2012 or 2014.

[User Name]

I'm 99.9% sure Pal was being sarcastic with that one.

 

My bad. I thought he'd given in to the dark side.

[Spudboy]

The Fox announcers deriding Pedro for throwing Zim to the ground is awful. Yes, it is unpleasant to see an old geezer be manhandled like that. But under the circumstances, it was probably the best outcome.

 

Pedro was doing nothing, it appears, until Zim runs at him with his arms extended. Pedro acted in self defense by throwing the guy to the ground. What else could he do? Stand thare and be hit by this looney toone? Or engage in a brutal fight?

 

Nope. Pedro was merciful and humane to the Girbil.

 

Great stuff.

[a700hitter]

The Fox announcers deriding Pedro for throwing Zim to the ground is awful. Yes, it is unpleasant to see an old geezer be manhandled like that. But under the circumstances, it was probably the best outcome.

 

Pedro was doing nothing, it appears, until Zim runs at him with his arms extended. Pedro acted in self defense by throwing the guy to the ground. What else could he do? Stand thare and be hit by this looney toone? Or engage in a brutal fight?

 

Nope. Pedro was merciful and humane to the Girbil.

 

Great stuff.

Zimmer threw a punch. He got what he deserved.

[mvp 78]

As the kids says these days "that game was the tits."

[Bellhorn04]

As the kids says these days "that game was the tits."

 

Losing that game pissed me off so much.

[jd98]

The Fox announcers deriding Pedro for throwing Zim to the ground is awful. Yes, it is unpleasant to see an old geezer be manhandled like that. But under the circumstances, it was probably the best outcome.

 

Pedro was doing nothing, it appears, until Zim runs at him with his arms extended. Pedro acted in self defense by throwing the guy to the ground. What else could he do? Stand thare and be hit by this looney toone? Or engage in a brutal fight?

 

Nope. Pedro was merciful and humane to the Girbil.

 

Great stuff.

 

It was just McCarver talking about how terrible it was, and everybody knows McCarver is an idiot. The other announcer (Joe Buck?) defended it.

 

I'm not even sure Pedro really threw him down. I think Zimmer may have toppled over even without Pedro's help. He was an old fat man trying to run too fast for his body and throw a punch at the same time. He looked like he was already off-balance. Didn't take much help from Pedro to pull him down.

Edited January 8, 2015 by jd98

[Palodios]

Baseball brawls are hilarious, because they always give the impression that the players have no idea how to fight.

[Bellhorn04]

It was just McCarver talking about how terrible it was, and everybody knows McCarver is an idiot. The other announcer (Joe Buck?) defended it.

 

I'm not even sure Pedro really threw him down. I think Zimmer may have toppled over even without Pedro's help. He was an old fat man trying to run too fast for his body and throw a punch at the same time. He looked like he was already off-balance. Didn't take much help from Pedro to pull him down.

 

It was actually a brilliant matador move by Pedro, especially since Zimmer came out of nowhere, and I think Pedro did 'put a little extra into it'. But I've always said Pedro was defending himself and shouldn't be criticized at all.

[Bellhorn04]

Baseball brawls are hilarious, because they always give the impression that the players have no idea how to fight.

 

Nolan Ryan handled himself pretty well when Ventura charged him, as I recall.

[Spudboy]

Baseball brawls are hilarious, because they always give the impression that the players have no idea how to fight.

 

Except when a nice guy and very good pitcher like Bill Lee has his career ended because of it. Then it's not so funny at all.

[GomesBeard]

 

* Hobson's 1992 team won 73 more than the 2012 or 2014.

 

Punctuation is important! I don't think they won 140+ games in 1992....

[a700hitter]

Punctuation is important! I don't think they won 140+ games in 1992....

lol!! That would have been a very strong division if they finished last with 140+ wins.

[seabeachfred]

Losing that game pissed me off so much.

 

Losing that series pissed me off even more. It was ours for the taking. Grady, if you're tuning in, you will never live that one down.

[Spudboy]

And the Boston papers let him have it at most turns. They loved that this guy Grady was a hick and a dummy. They used to play on it.

 

The guy was actually dumb, I concede.

[redsoxrules]

Losing that series pissed me off even more. It was ours for the taking. Grady, if you're tuning in, you will never live that one down.

 

Anyone managing that game 7 would of let Pedro in the game. He's the best the game

Aside from 2 HR by Jason Giambi he was untouchable in that game. That Posada hit was very fluke. He was lucky and got a bitch hit of the hands.

[Spitball]

Anyone managing that game 7 would of let Pedro in the game. He's the best the game

Aside from 2 HR by Jason Giambi he was untouchable in that game. That Posada hit was very fluke. He was lucky and got a bitch hit of the hands.

 

I hear what you are saying, but Pedro had been having trouble in late innings all season. Little had left Pedro into 8th only 5 times all season, and his numbers were clearly less dominant in the late innings and especially after 100 pitches. He had lefty Embree in the bullpen ready to face Matsui. I was shocked when he left Pedro in the game. Why did Little deviate from the seventh inning formula he had used with Pedro all season?