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Pedro Martinez To Announce Retirement

By Dan Mennella | December 3, 2011 at 9:06pm CDT

Right-hander Pedro Martinez, who last pitched in the Majors in 2009, said he will soon officially announce his retirement, according to Cash Kruth of MLB.com.

Martinez had apparently remained open to a return to the bigs since appearing in nine regular-season and two postseason games with the Phillies in '09, but nothing materialized, and now at age 40 and two full years removed from big league action, it's hard to imagine him catching on anywhere.

A three-time Cy Young Award winner and arguably the best pitcher of the offense-heavy 1990s and early aughts, Martinez has already cemented his legacy as one of the top hurlers in MLB history and projects as a lock for the Hall of Fame.

Martinez will hang 'em up with a record of 219-100 and a 2.93 ERA in 18 seasons with the Dodgers, Expos, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies. The advanced metrics are equally flattering as the traditional stats: 154 ERA+, 2.91 FIP, 89.4 WAR. Pedro's 291 ERA+ in 2000 is the highest single-season adjusted ERA in the modern era.

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Uncategorized Pedro Martinez

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89 Comments

  1. sports33

    13 years ago

    Wait, he wasn’t retired before?

    In all seriousness, though – he was a great pitcher and is probably a first ballot hall of famer.

    Reply
    • bayareabeast

      13 years ago

      obviously not

      Reply
    • vtadave

      13 years ago

      “Probably”? He’s a lock…

      Reply
      • sports33

        13 years ago

        I would never trust the BBWAA that much.

        Reply
        • bobbybaseball

          13 years ago

          He may have done steroids, don’t forget.

          Reply
          • vtadave

            13 years ago

            I guess we could say that about 100% of the players who played with him, but there’s really no “evidence” other than his stats.

            Reply
    • John 87

      13 years ago

      You’re dumb.

      Reply
  2. bobdigi08

    13 years ago

    “who last pitched in the Majors since 2009”

    I take it your editor has also retired?

    Reply
    • ZZZZZIPPP

      13 years ago

      BOBDIGI08 DON’T YOU SEE? YOU WERE THE EDITOR ALL ALONG

      Reply
      • sports33

        13 years ago

        There can only be one Creature. It’s not you.

        Reply
        • cacavolante

          13 years ago

          yeah, one is more than enough.

          Reply
        • ZZZZZIPPP

          13 years ago

          SPORTS33 LOOK BEYOND DIALECT

          Reply
    • Dan Mennella

      13 years ago

      You, sir, are my editor!

      Reply
      • bobbybaseball

        13 years ago

        I do think there is ample evidence that Pedro did ‘roids. To think otherwise is naive.

        Reply
        • ellisburks

          13 years ago

          There is no evidence sir. And you replied to the wrong thread.

          Reply
  3. User 4245925809

    13 years ago

    I still say Jim “Kitty” Kaat should be in..

    for what it’s worth?? Noticed Charlie O’Finley is on the old timers ballot this year as a 1st timer.. Wonder if his mule is also??

    Reply
    • unvme7

      13 years ago

      John, 100% agree with you on Kaat, along with Santo and Hodges..

      Reply
  4. TheHitman23

    13 years ago

    A part of my childhood memories just died a little bit. We will miss you Pedro!

    Reply
    • diesel2410

      13 years ago

      I’ll miss him throwing Don Zimmer to the ground…Oh wait.

      Reply
      • John 87

        13 years ago

        Im waiting..

        Reply
  5. Richard Gilboy

    13 years ago

    This is so shocking. /s

    Anyway, your talents will be missed.

    Reply
    • John 87

      13 years ago

      You’re smart. /s

      Reply
  6. Infield Fly

    13 years ago

    It’s about time, Pedro. When you were in your prime there was nobody like you. 

    Congratulations, and I look forward to your HOF induction!

    Reply
  7. thekidfromyesterday

    13 years ago

    Arguably yes that goes to Maddux but Pedro was awesome

    Reply
    • KJ4realz

      13 years ago

      I’d say prime years (7 years from each) it’s more in favor of Pedro. 

      Pedro age 25-31: 1408.0 IP, 2.20 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.3 K/9, 5.59 K/BB 213 ERA+
      Maddux age 26-32: 1675.1 IP, 2.15 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 4.78 K/BB 191 ERA+.

      It’s arguably because they are pretty close but they differ in a few things. They both dominated keeping men off the base path and letting in (earned) runs but while Maddux was a more reliable pitcher (Maddux 239 IP/season in that span to Pedro’s 201) Pedro absolutely dominated the batters. He didn’t walk batters and he struck them out at a ridiculous rate. BBs and Ks are 2 of the ways to evaluate what a pitcher does independently. To be able to control the game the way he did was second to none (in my opinion)

      It was nice seeing him pitch in a Phillies uniform. Great career.

      Reply
      • notsureifsrs

        13 years ago

        (oh, you did include ERA+. FIP- is 50 to 62, adv. pedro)

        they’re both baseball immortals. i think pedro was clearly more dominant during his peak, but that 5000 (!!) innings of a 3.2 ERA/FIP pitching is more impressive than 2800 innings of 2.9

        Reply
  8. jljr222

    13 years ago

    Much respect to Pedro and what he has done in his career.  Will miss his hilarious press conferences but definitely not his stellar pitching.  Even as a Yankee fan you have to tip your cap to this destined Hall of Famer.

    Reply
  9. snowbladerp14

    13 years ago

    at least give dan duquette one more shot to sign you before retiring for good

    Reply
  10. NomarGarciaparra

    13 years ago

    Great career! One of my all-time favorites! No one in recent memory, perhaps in history, was as electrifying as Pedro! We will probably never witness another Pedro in our lifetime!

    Thanks for all the great years in Boston!

    Reply
  11. AmISerious

    13 years ago

    Glad you played with the Phillies Pedro.

    Reply
  12. NomarGarciaparra

    13 years ago

    Agreed. Every time I look at his stats in 99 and 2000, I’m still amazed by how he could’ve accomplished that…particularly during that era. Those seasons are no doubt up for consideration as the best pitching seasons in MLB history!

    Reply
    • NomarGarciaparra

      13 years ago

      Oops that did not come out right. That was a reply to Infield Fly.

      Reply
      • bobbybaseball

        13 years ago

        I’m sure u aren’t the real Nomar, but if u are, u should know how he achieved his HOF status.

        Reply
    • John 87

      13 years ago

      Lol look at Greg maddux’s stats

      Reply
  13. Bluduke28

    13 years ago

    Just the best. Anyone who enjoys baseball enjoyed watching him dominate in his prime. Such an amazing presence on the mound.

    Reply
  14. NYBravosFan10

    13 years ago

    Best pitcher in the 90’s? I think Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens might have something to say about that…in any case, enjoy your retirement Pedro, you deserve it.

    Reply
    • nepp

      13 years ago

      Over the entire decade, yeah…but in his peak, Pedro was better than any of them.

      Reply
    • mainesox

      13 years ago

      Those other guys had careers that were several years longer, but none of them ever dominated the way the Pedro did.  The last person I can find who dominated the way Pedro did was Koufax.

      Reply
      • jsmoltz29

        13 years ago

        92-95 Maddox…

        Reply
        • mainesox

          13 years ago

          …was not as dominant as ’99-’01 Pedro

          Reply
          • notsureifsrs

            13 years ago

            had he pitched a full season in 2001, that would have been ~33 WAR in 3 seasons. just absurd

            Reply
            • mainesox

              13 years ago

              Everything about him was absurd.  It’s still unbelievable to me every time I look at his numbers.  1.39 FIP!?!

              Reply
  15. notsureifsrs

    13 years ago

    dan duquette is so pissed

    Reply
  16. Jake White

    13 years ago

    Lousy human being, fantastic pitcher.  His greatness will forever be tainted by him throwing a 75 year old man to the ground.  So long.

    Reply
    • vtadave

      13 years ago

      Zimmer had that coming.

      Reply
    • rfffr

      13 years ago

      zimmer attacked him

      Reply
    • sports33

      13 years ago

      That 75 year old man was running at him and he had to make a split-second decision. I doubt you would’ve done differently…

      Reply
      • FowlofCanada

        13 years ago

        It’ was a no win situation, either do something or become Robin Ventura.

        Reply
    • FacelessGeneralManager

      13 years ago

      Thats why i love him.

      Reply
    • mainesox

      13 years ago

      Zimmer was clearly the aggressor in that situation.

      Reply
      • $19780412

        13 years ago

        yes he was

        Reply
  17. TrailerParkApe

    13 years ago

    I remember when Tim Lincecum and Pedro went face to face back in 2009 and it was a very hyped up game. Turned out to be a great game. Martinez was a great pitcher during his career. Just imagine if the Expos decided to keep most of the players they actually had coming up through their system. Would’ve been a dangerous team.

    Reply
    • vonhayesdays

      13 years ago

      just imagine if they had decided to keep the expos 

      Reply
    • jimbeau

      13 years ago

      pedro came up with the dodger; but the point is fair

      Reply
  18. jojo

    13 years ago

    If only he weren’t so picky and adamant to pitch only half a season, he would have got more chances.

    Reply
  19. nepp

    13 years ago

    Easily the best pitcher I’ve ever seen in person and one of those guys that you stopped what you were doing to watch him work in his peak years.  In his 7 year peak, he was simply unhittable.  He WAS the best pitcher of his era.

    And his interviews were always hysterical.

    Reply
  20. MB923

    13 years ago

    Great career Pedro.

    Reply
  21. mike292929

    13 years ago

    Who’s your daddy!

    Reply
  22. EdinsonPickle

    13 years ago

    I don’t think we’ll ever be so spoiled to see so many incredible pitchers take the mound in one generation. Maddux, Johnson, and Martinez were three of the greatest ever.

    Reply
    • notsureifsrs

      13 years ago

      strikeout kings! 1999

      johnson 364 (12.06 K/9; 9.8 WAR)
      pedro 313 (13.2 K/9; 12.1 WAR)

      i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/logawv/Drawer17/1…

      Reply
      • sports33

        13 years ago

        Man do I love that photo.

        Reply
      • Lunchbox45

        13 years ago

        lol at 13.2 k/9 from a starting pitcher

        Reply
    • mike292929

      13 years ago

      During the “steroid” era none the less.

      Reply
      • notsureifsrs

        13 years ago

        the ’99 all-star game is one of the greatest baseball memories i have. just surreal watching him blow away star after star. it’s a shame this is the only video of it left on youtube

        youtube.com/watch?v=mNFloPq_WNY

        Reply
        • Lunchbox45

          13 years ago

          mlb seriously sucks with the protection of their videos

          Reply
  23. MeowMeow

    13 years ago

    My biggest baseball regret will always be not getting really intensely into baseball until 2002 and thus not being able to fully appreciate how spectacular Pedro was in 1999/2000 for the Sox.  Looking forward to seeing his don a Sox cap again in Cooperstown in a few years 😀

    Reply
  24. Lefty

    13 years ago

    Pedro I remember the stuff that you had at the 1999 A/S game, you were unreal.
    Also, I wonder if you would make a good pitching coach? You had one of the best fastballs ever. Then in 2009 when your fastball wasn’t as good when you joined the Phillies you had a more cerebral approach. I think you could do it if you wanted to if asked. Just as long as you didn’t have to work with Don Zimmer =P.

    Reply
    • cacavolante

      13 years ago

      you do realize that pedro is never going to read this, right?

      Reply
      • ellisburks

        13 years ago

        Don’t harsh is mellow!

        Reply
  25. nats2012

    13 years ago

    Pedro was amazing. Wonder if he has enough to be in the HOF.

    Reply
    • mike292929

      13 years ago

      I hope you are kidding.

      Reply
    • Guest 5903

      13 years ago

      by has enough you mean will be a unanimous first ballot HOFer? yea

      Reply
      • mainesox

        13 years ago

        Unanimous?  Never.

        Not saying he shouldn’t be, but it’s never happened before because some of the writers don’t think it ever should, for whatever reason.

        Reply
        • vtadave

          13 years ago

          …because they are idiots. The rationale for not voting for guys like Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken, and Tony Gwynn is that they shouldn’t be unanimous if Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb weren’t. Rubbish.

          Reply
          • mainesox

            13 years ago

            Agreed

            Reply
    • Leonard Washington

      13 years ago

      Pedro will 1st ballot. Not a doubt in my mind.

      Reply
  26. MetsMagic

    13 years ago

    It’s amazing how such an offensively oriented era produced so many of the greatest pitchers to ever take the mound. When you have Randy Johnson, Maddux and Pedro having these seasons all at the same time, its easy overlook Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Curt Schilling (I still say Kevin Brown is a HoF). 

    Reply
  27. coreif

    13 years ago

    Pedro was in 3 postseason games in ’09. 1 against the Dodgers and 2 against his ‘Daddies’

    Reply
  28. Ravi Jain

    13 years ago

    I remember going to Fenway late in ’99 when Pedro pitched. It’s a cliched expression, but it was electric in the ballpark. He notched his 300th strikeout for the season in that game and everyone went even more bonkers at that point.

    Reply
    • Leonard Washington

      13 years ago

      It was a highlight of my life seeing that man pitch a couple times a year when I was growing up in New England. He made you damn proud to be a Sox fan anytime he picked up a baseball.

      Reply
  29. hallwagner

    13 years ago

    what an amazing career for pedro. he was easily the most dominating pitcher in the mlb in the late 90’s-early 2000’s.

    Reply
  30. $3866193

    13 years ago

    Pedro is a first-ballot HOFer and his peak of 1999 and 2000 was better than Greg Maddux’s best seasons, but the argument can definitely be made that Greg Maddux was the more consistent, more valuable pitcher over their career.  I’d take 12 years of Maddux’s dominance to Pedro’s 8 or 9.

    Of course, given my username, I admit the possibility of bias. They’re both amazing, but I’d peg Maddux as the better overall pitcher for their careers.

    Reply
  31. lefty177

    13 years ago

    with how great he was for all those years, you would’ve thought he’d’ve had more than 12 wins per year, wouldn’t you? He was dominant in the ERA & Ks but not W i guess, still HOFer though

    Reply
  32. Joey E

    13 years ago

    looking at his 1999 and 2000 stats give me chills. absolutely incredible

    ’99: 313 K’s, 37 walks lol
    ’00: 284 K’s, 32 walks lol

    im a dodger fan, but i wont talk about letting him get away. though i wish i could have seen him as a dodger when i was a kid

    but 2009. i wasnt awed then because i wanted to beat him, but his game 2 start looking back was pretty cool. his change was nasty that day

    Amazing career. Congrats Pedro. Job well done.

    Reply
  33. Leonard Washington

    13 years ago

    Pedro was a beast and we all loved him. Please take the Soxs uniform in the hall. One of the greatest EVER!

    Reply
  34. Jslonim2

    13 years ago

    I have never like Pedro but he was amazing. Might be ibecause he is mexican

    Reply
  35. FS54 2

    13 years ago

    He is great but not a first ballot HoF. Never lasted more than 220 IP except once. While Johnson and Maddux have more than 4000 IP over their career, Pedro did not even reach 3000. Yes, he was the most dominating in his prime but for a career player, I take Maddux and Johnson over Pedro.

    Reply
    • ellisburks

      13 years ago

      For their career Maddux and Johnson were better. But given the stats in the article and the sheer dominance he displayed while he pitched he is a first ballot Hof. You also have to realize that Johnson and Maddux were both fairly large men with sturdy builds and could take pitching 250 innings. Pedro was 5’9″ and 170lbs and throwing 100mph fastballs. There is only so much the body can take when you are that small. If you consider that, he did well to pitch the innings he did.
      There is no doubt that Pedro is a first ballot Hall Of Famer.

      Reply

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