A Mango Tree Grows In The Bronx?
Via Gordon Edes:
Pedro Martinez once famously referred to the New York Yankees as “my daddy” after losing a game to them, prompting 50,000 fans in Yankee Stadium to mock him with a “Who’s your daddy?” chant during a subsequent appearance in the 2004 postseason. Martinez ranks as one of the top villains in Yankee lore – having sent Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano to the hospital in the same game after he hit them with pitches and tossing Joe Torre’s beloved bench coach, Don Zimmer, to the ground during a brawl.
Yet Yankees fans soon could be cheering Martinez as one of their own, according to a source close to the 37-year-old right-hander. The source said the Yankees are one of four teams planning to watch the three-time Cy Young Award winner throw in the Dominican Republic on Friday.
The Tampa Rays, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels are the other teams planning to watch Martinez throw. On Wednesday, Martinez said he had spoken with the Cubs and Rays and “there’s a good chance I’ll be signing soon, but there still isn’t anything firm.”
Could Slippery Pete still help a big league baseball team? Yeah, maybe…
As a Yankees fan, do I want to see him wearing Yankees pinstripes? To be honest, not really. Why would the Yankees do this? Maybe they’re worried about Wang and/or Pettitte?
But, if the Yankees are sending someone to watch Martinez, it’s not just for show…it means they have an interest. And, where there’s smoke…
I would be very surprised if he signed with the Yanks… It couldn’t hurt to take a look @ him, but I doubt he signs with an AL team.
Personally, I would never turn down an opportunity to watch Pedro pitch. Dude was a magician.
I too doubt the Yankees will sign him. But maybe he could help in the bullpen?
Justin wrote:
Key word *was*
I enjoyed watching him pitch since his days as an Expo.
You know, now that I think of it, with Tomko on the team, I guess it wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility that Martinez signs with the Yanks.