DuffyCliff

Yes, they've won without Pedro before but a lot of that was because of where Pedro had them positioned when he DID pitch. Pedro literally carried the team on his back with some offensive help from Nomar.

It would be tough without either of them. They could still be a "winning team" if they lost one or the other for nothing, but they wouldn't and won't win the World Series without them. I can't really see going to battle with the Yanks or Angels without Pedro... not to mention the pitching juggernaut that is the Chicago Cubs. The Red Sox would be completely obliterated by Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Clement, Maddux... they may anyway.. if they even get to the Series.

Hudson.

Unfortunately, and I am serious, today was an excellent example of my point about D-Lowe. The Run Support wasn't there and Lowe was rather average. His ERA is now at 5.01. 7 innings of 1-run Pedro ball would sure be nice right now wouldn't it? Right now you'd either have to have a true hatred for Pedro or just be out of your mind to say that signing D-Lowe would be a better option. The fact that Boras is his agent makes things even worse. Cuza (Pedro's agent) seems like a much better man to do business with and has stayed optimistic about Pedro staying with Boston ever since this whole contract thing started heating up in 2003 ST. I don't really care about "attitude" or any of that crap, just pitch. I don't see how people can use "Clubhouse Chemistry" as an argument when they really have no clue what goes on in the Sox Clubhouse. That "argument" has absolutely no merit. I haven't heard anyone complain about Pedro, but I've sure heard players defending him. Not just Manny either... when Pedro's velocity/skills were in question, who stood up and said he'd be the Man when the bell rang - Why, it was Jason Varitek.

Let's just say I have no complaints.

Isn't going to hurt him much when he leads the league in ERA again. I guess it is going to take Pedro to move to Toronto win 2 more Cy's, move to New York win another Cy and 2 World Series before the Red Sox realize who they are letting get away. Pedro isn't as physically fit as Clemens? That's ok, he's SMARTER. Of course he isn't the same guy... the "same guy" was the most dominant pitcher in the history of baseball compared to his peers. Pedro is built like a bat boy, did you really think he'd be throwing 98 mph forever? The fact that he even could in the first place for all those years is a testament to his incredible talent. Extra points, Pedro. C'mon Theo... you really have to choose between Pedro and Lowe? Yikes. What does Lowe offer that makes him so much better than Pedro to sign? "Wins?" Yeah, 7-8 runs a game doesn't assist there. What happens when he doesn't get it and he's the same average pitcher? "ERA?" Next. "Innings?" Well, last season Lowe pitched 203 innings to Pedro's 187. The difference between their durability and effectiveness was 16 innings of 30.94 ERA pitching. "He's younger." By a year. "Pedro is a distraction... look what happened to the team after he came out and spoke." Yeah, all the hitters must have cared so much about what Pedro said about his contract talks that it just sucked their talent right away and got them into the horrible slump they'd been in since the YANKEE SERIES. Don't get me wrong, I like D-Lowe plenty...I hope he throws a shutout tomorrow, but when it comes to paying D-Lowe 12 M or Pedro 15, it's a fairly easy decision. If Lowe pitches like it is 2002, then I'd think about it. So far he has pitched more than 7 innings in a start just once, has allowed 40 hits in 26.2 innings, has 12 K's to 11 BB's and is flirting with an ERA around 4.75. As for Zito, I think he's drastically overrated. He was great in 2002, but Pedro and Lowe both deserved the Cy before him. Last year his ERA rose by almost half a run. So far this season he has a 6.17 ERA in 35 IP. Right now nothing seems to make sense and the numbers are indeed inflated (Pedro included). It would make a lot more sense to look in July...even more to look at the end of the season. However, this is where we are right now.

They don't need to trade anyone at this point. Things are going just fine, this team is going to be even better when two of the most important players on the team return to the lineup. I can't see Theo messing with this team right now.

Yes. However, Win Shares aren't calculated until the end of the regular-season. Right now I'd obviously have to say Manny has been more valuable thus far. If Pedro puts together his usual nice string of "Pedro-like" starts, then you have to go with the Starting Pitching as being the more valuable aspect. That is yet to happen thus far, but I believe we are getting close. Pedro has done a good job of lowering his value so far. He really hasn't been as mediocre as his ERA says, it's just that when he's been bad... he's been bad 04/05: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO - L 04/10: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO - W 04/15: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO - ND 04/20: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO - W 04/25: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO - W 05/01: 4.0 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO - L 05/06: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 SO - W Definitely not the same guy. He's already had as many bad starts in 7 this season than he had in 58 in 1999-2000. His uber-fastball is no longer there nor are his K's even though he is still among the AL Leaders . However, it's hard to argue that when he's been "on", the end result (IP, ER) really hasn't been all that much different than the Old Pedro. Even as far as durability. There were 3 instances this season in which I felt Pedro could complete the game, but Francona has been extremely consistent about taking him out after a certain pitch count. I personally hate this. You have to go on performance, not pitch count. Pedro can still get outs after 105 pitches, he's done it all his career. He is not THAT weak. Let him "earn" his money. When all is said and done, Pedro is one of the smartest and best pitchers in the history of baseball. He is going to start heating up, he's going to be dominant. If he can stay off the D.L. this season and make around 32 starts, I think he'll win 18-22 games with his team, have an ERA less than/equal to 2.50 and strikeout 200+ for the 8th time in his career. If he accomplishes all this, I don't think the Innings will be much of an issue to people and Pedro will have a good shot at a 4th-should be-5th Cy Young Award.

Reese is going to have the best offensive season of his career under the guidance of Papa Jack and hitting at Fenway. What a beautiful touch with that Gold Glove. Pokey has been a Fenway favorite ever since he first stepped on the field, the fact that he has been swinging the bat makes him all the more lovable. I'll say this right now: If the Red Sox win the World Series this season, the reason or final play will be made by POKEY REESE. Now it can be offensively or defensively, but Pokey will be the player who ultimately saves or wins the game for us. What a fairy tale that would be. I love his defense, attitude and appreciation he has playing in Boston. And more recently, his hitting. I hope they lock him up for years. Shouldn't take more than five minutes.

Yeah, because it is all about $$$$$ Throw credibility and integrity out the window.

I think the two main requirements are that the player is in the HOF and has at least 10 seasons with the Red Sox for number retirement. Community Involvement Catholic Charities USA 1731 King Street #200 Alexandria, VA 22314 E-mail: dcoates@catholiccharitiesusa.org http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org - assisted the Dominican victims of Hurricane George Leadership Institute for Global Hemophilia Training 21 Sawmill Way Georgetown, MA 01833 (978) 352-7657 OR (800) 249-7977 Fax: (978) 352-6254 E-mail: info@kelleycom.com Pedro J. Martinez and Brothers Foundation - provides assistance to area groups that focus on youth, family and education The Jimmy Fund 10 Brookline Place West 5th Floor Brookline, MA 02445-7295 (800) 52-JIMMY (54669) E-mail: JimmyFundContactUs@dfci.harvard.edu - has made frequent visits to the Jimmy Fund as well as making appearances at schools, Shriner's Burn Hospital and Lawrence General Hospital Massachusetts Department of Public Health - posters featured Martinez in its anti-tobacco campaign http://bigleaguers.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/4875/community

Red Sox.com Summary http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bo...recap&fext=.jsp CLEVELAND -- Manny Ramirez was downright giddy with anticipation after spotting teammate Pedro Martinez saunter into the visitor's clubhouse on Thursday afternoon. The ace had shades over his eyes and a big smile on his face as he strode toward Ramirez, wearing what looked like a brand-new suit. "He's ready," Ramirez bellowed to a small gathering of reporters. "It's warm out, no excuses." Then Ramirez cited Martinez's 10-1 career record against the Guardians as proof that the three-time Cy Young Award winner was going to make his previous start against the Rangers (four innings, nine hits and six runs) a distant memory. Credit Ramirez for his prophetic confidence. His pal Martinez was indeed on top of his game, stifling the Guardians over seven strong innings, and leading the Red Sox to a 5-2 victory at Jacobs Field. While Martinez has been erratic on cold nights this season, he had no such trouble on an evening the game-time temperature was 82 degrees. Was it the soothing weather that led to Martinez being as crisp as he's been in any start this season? "I don't know. It seems like it," said Martinez. "I just got lucky I think. I got lucky today." The tone in Martinez's voice was biting with sarcasm as he attributed his performance to luck. Perhaps he was irked that his Texas debacle -- which came on the heels of Martinez saying he would become a free agent at season's end -- was so heavily scrutinized in the passionate zone known as Red Sox Nation. Whatever the case, Martinez was in complete control after giving up hits to the first three batters of the game, led by a leadoff homer by Matt Lawton. "I think all my pitches were there," Martinez said. "It was just a matter of getting into a groove and getting settled." Once he did that, the Guardians had no chance. For just like the gleeful Ramirez all but guaranteed, Martinez continued his dominance against the Guardians, against whom he's now 6-0 with a 1.98 ERA at Jacobs Field. Overall against Cleveland, Martinez is 11-1 with a 1.72 ERA. Of course, the victory may not have been possible without Ramirez. Guardians ace C.C. Sabathia was having a pretty good night of his own, until Ramirez unloaded on Sabathia's 1-2 pitch in the top of the sixth for a solo shot that tied the game at 2-2. "C.C. threw a great game out there," Ramirez said. "He just made a mistake to me and I hit it." From that point on, the Sox were in control, bringing positive closure to a 2-5 road trip. "There will be some air to breathe on the plane," said Sox manager Terry Francona, who relaxed the troops with a pep talk following Tuesday's loss. "I guarantee they feel better." Martinez sure looked better, running his record to 4-2, and lowering his ERA to 3.92. Of his 93 pitches, 63 were for strikes. His eight strikeouts were a season-high. "He found the cutter," Francona said. "He got comfortable with it. He about stayed with it and said, 'You're going to have to hit it.' And they really didn't." There were offensive heroes as well. Pokey Reese, normally known for his defense, had a double and a triple while driving in the game-winning run. Kevin Millar went 4-for-4. Steady Mark Bellhorn added two hits while subbing for Johnny Damon in the leadoff spot. And the bullpen finished it off for Martinez. Power lefty Alan Embree worked a scoreless eighth. Closer Keith Foulke closed it out with his sixth save in as many opportunities. All's well that ends well, right? "We didn't bury ourselves," said Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "We found a way to come back and win these [last] two games." Locked in a 2-2 tie, the Sox stole the momentum in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Reese ripped an RBI double to center, scoring David McCarty from first. "Big-time, that's big-time," Reese said of aiding Martinez. "He struggled early and I got the hit to put us up. That's big for my confidence right there." That ended the night for Sabathia, who gave up eight hits and four earned runs over 6 2/3 innings. The Sox got an insurance run, as Bellhorn's double to right off Gabe White scored Reese to make it 4-2. The night couldn't have gotten off to a more inauspicious start for Martinez. His first pitch was deposited over the wall in center field by Cleveland leadoff man Matt Lawton. "I felt pretty good from the get-go," Martinez said. "The first pitch of the game I was trying to throw a strike and Lawton happened to hit it out. I'll take my chances again over and over and over. I've thrown that throughout my career. Very few times have I given up home runs right on the first pitch." The Guardians kept going, as Omar Vizquel and Jody Gerut followed with singles to put runners at the corners and still nobody out. Victor Martinez increased the lead to 2-0 with a grounder to second. Varitek never had a doubt, even after the rocky start. "It's all about his location," said Varitek. "I knew in that first inning, I just knew. He was fine, and that was it." Martinez got a break when Travis Hafner lined to second, and Gerut was doubled off the bag to end the inning. From that point forward, Martinez put on a clinic. Following Gerut's single in the first, he retired 18 of the next 20 batters he faced. Martinez struck out the side in the fifth, capped by a 92 mph fastball to Lawton. But Sabathia was perplexing the Sox just as much in the early innings. In the top of the sixth, the Sox were at last able to do some damage. Bellhorn led off with a double to left and Gabe Kapler's single set up runners at the corners and nobody out. The Sox broke Sabathia's shutout bid, but not in the fashion they hoped, as David Ortiz hit into a 4-6-3 double play to score Bellhorn. But Ramirez stepped up next, and he walloped an off-speed pitch from Sabathia over the wall in right field for that game-tying solo shot. For Ramirez, it was his seventh homer of the season. As for predicting greatness from his teammate, Ramirez says there's no rocket science to that. "He's the best pitcher in baseball," Ramirez said.

I believe that he wants to. He says he wants to. His Agent says he wants to. Manny says he wants to. If Pedro stays through 2007, that'd make it 10 years. Just enough to have his number retired, and hopefully by then, we'd have a couple World Series titles.

Next thing you know they are putting logos on the uniforms. Now I'm not talking about Majestic or Adidas for NFL jerseys. I'm talking about outside advertisements.. such as SPIDER-MAN. They already had RICOH patches on the Yankee pinstripes. That was disgusting. I would throw up if I saw something like that on a classic Boston uniform. The All-Star patches in 1999 were ok, and I liked the "9"'s after Ted's passing, actually wouldn't mind those full time, but Spider-Man, Ricoh.... nu-uh.

I heard some rep. saying they are also using it as a way to get fans to come to the ballpark more. Yeah, um, you can do that ******** with the 28 other teams not named the Boston Red Sox or Chicago Cubs and put that in ballparks not named Fenway or Wrigley. We're doing just fine filling the seats, thank you very much.

I think if Pedro really wants that contract, he needs to make at least 32 starts this season while still having Pedro-like dominance as far as ERA and WHIP. He hasn't made over 30 since 1998. People make such a big deal over the 200 IP thing. If Pedro made 32 starts this year and only pitched 6 each time, he'd still have 192. He pitches 7 for the most part. He should cross 200 innings easy if he makes his starts.

Probably Duffy's Cliff, because it's long gone. Pesky's Pole is always going to be there.

Yeah, although I'm not all that big on Duffy... he was a Yankee too. I just like the whole "Duffy's Cliff" thing.

1. Pedro 2. Duffy Lewis 3. Ted Williams 4. Carlton Fisk 5. Manny Ramirez

That is one instance... and it was at the very end of the season. Pedro looked great tonight, should smooth things over a little bit. The added delay of his return (he's scheduled for Tuesday at Fenway) should let things cool even more. I really don't see what booing him is going to accomplish.

I'd like to see Pedro at least START the 8th. See what happens... could be another 6 pitch inning.

He just needs to get out of the first inning without any harm. He is usually lights out after that as we are saw in the last couple of innings.

See... now what was that? Pedro comes out in the 2nd with a much more violent delivery and gets a six pitch 1-2-3 inning. In the 1st he was curled up in his delivery like a wilted little man. Those 2 runs may cost him the game with Sabathia pitching.

I'm very concerned about him right now...

What a laugh. Sorry, the pitcher with the best winning percentage for any single major league team in history isn't "easily replaced". Pedro is 104-30 with a 2.26 ERA and 4-1 postseason record for the Boston Red Sox. He's arguably the greatest pitcher we have ever had. Everyone seems to fixated on the "Diva attitude" and not that he can simply flat out pitch. Can we quit with all the talk radio-like reactions, please? Pedro is complaining? Pedro is greedy? How do we know who is lying and who isn't? Pedro told the media that he'd comment on it at the end of April when Henry told him he'd "work things out". Pedro is willing to give a hometown discount and Management obviously hasn't shown any interest. He never said he wanted a new contract although he obviously does, he was upset bcause they haven't even shown any INTEREST. Forget about contract, we are talking Interest! Papi can't get a phone call? Just as they haven't shown interest in Tek OR D-Lowe. This is OK? I don't think so. I trust Theo... At the moment I do not trust H/W/L. It worries me that they hold more power over this franchise than Theo does, who can be overuled whenever Ownership feels it's necessary. See: A-Rod deal. Major money. Big deal. So is Pedro's contract. That is what worries me. Let Theo handle everything. Tell him how much he has and let him work his magic.