Pedro Martinez
By Manuel Abreu
ENG 1430
Just imagine an aggressive pitcher who can throw the ball at 97 mph with effective control against a hitter. Pedro Martinez can do that. Even when he is losing, he stays focused on every single pitch. He is an excellent example of a person who sacrifices everything to achieve his goals. He is an outspoken baseball pitcher who plays for the New York Mets. Pedro Martinez is one of the best baseball pitchers in the last ten years because of the strategies and experiences he uses in every game.
He has won three Cy Young Awards and was considered one of the top pitchers in baseball in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Martinez started playing baseball at a young age in San Pedro de Macoriz, Dominican Republic. He was a poor kid and did not have enough economical support to go to school, but his father gave him all he needed to play baseball. Martinez’s career started with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992 as a relief pitcher. Before the 1994 season, he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Delino Deshields and became one of the top starters in baseball. In 1997 he posted a 17-8 record for the otherwise mediocre Expos, with a 1.90 ERA, 305 strikeouts and 13 completed games pitched, and won the National League Cy Young Award. The 13 complete games were an incredible task for his career.
Something that distinguishes Pedro from other pitchers is his control to spot the ball in the strike zone and strike out the hitters. No matter who is batting, he always trusts in his control and that is one point that makes him the best. He can spot a curveball in an incredible spot and leave the batter frozen at the plate. Also, the movement that he gives the ball can confuse the batter and strike him out quickly. The different spots in which he can deposit the ball are something that makes him a very valuable player.
Another factor that makes Pedro a great pitcher is his aggressiveness. As a pitcher, one has to demonstrate to the rivals some aggression to get their respect. Usually with this demonstration the hitters get afraid and this can confuse them by making the pitcher more effective. Besides Pedro, another pitcher who displays aggression is Roger Clemens. He is one of the best pitchers in the past ten years also. His different ways to pitch combined with his aggressiveness make him look excellent at the mound. Like Martinez, Roger Clemens made history in baseball of their talent and passion for baseball.
Moe Vaughn, a great hitter from the Mets since 1990s who has watched Pedro’s techniques and variety of pitches that Pedro has said: “he’s the best I’ve ever seen. I always said you need four things to be a great pitcher—location, movement, velocity and deception. He’s got all those. Now, you add the intelligence he brings to the mound and we’re not talking about a mere mortal here. We’re not talking about a normal guy.” “He is the best of the best,” said Marc McGuire, who played for the Athletics Oakland and St. Louis Cardinals and the player who had finished several seasons with more than 50 home runs, breaking the mark of Babe Ruth, the best player in history of baseball.
Another skill that distinguished Pedro from other pitchers is his rotation. His variety of pitches coupled with his great rotation makes him dangerous. Many baseball players copied or learned some of Pedro’s great skills because his locations, rotations and variety of pitches are the best example of an excellent pitcher. Although this looks easy, having a great control and making the ball rotate is very difficult and takes many years to learn this talent. Many people say that this talent can not be learned; you must born with it. Giving the ball the correct rotation and having control to spot it at the plate can make the pitcher very effective against hitters; Pedro is the best example of an effective pitcher.
Many critics of baseball say that Royer Clemens is a better pitcher when comparing with Pedro’s records; they say that Clemens is more effective and more expensive, but Martinez` talent is what made him the best Hispanic pitcher in the MLB since 1900s.
To be a great pitcher takes a lot of practice and dedication. As Pedro says: “By practicing and learning about errors is how you will succeed as a great pitcher”. It is true that play in major leagues is hard and learn how to play baseball takes many years, but it is also true that these issues are not impossible to surmount. With dedication, passion and talent in baseball one will be the greatest pitcher just like Pedro Martinez did when he was a youth.