Pedro Martinez Quotations

I get a lot of kids distracted. Sometimes they got to go cover left field, but they're over here talking to me, getting an autograph.

You have to execute. You have to sacrifice your body.

Only God knows why I didn't make it with the Mets, but yes, in a short period of time, I got the opportunity with the Phillies.

Actually the adrenaline of the game will probably help me out a little bit to regain command and concentration about the things that I have to do.

I believe that if you're healthy, you're capable of doing everything. There's no one else who can give you health but God, and by being healthy I believe that God is listening to me.

I keep active because I have not announced my retirement, because that is something that takes time and you have to plan it. Plus, it is something that the Dominican people expected.

I'm open to play for anybody that would give me respect, treat me the right way, and actually going to make me feel comfortable.

Some of the things I've done are really special.

My first ball I ever got from a Big League player I actually got to purchase in Dodger Stadium in a silent auction, was Reggie Jackson.

Before, if I wasn't in baseball, I wanted to become a doctor.

I doubt that I will get involved with politics. That's something I don't have in me.

I had the opportunity to go with some other teams. But I didn't consider those teams to be contenders, and I was right.

I understand business and understand the ugly face of baseball, which is the business part of baseball.

I'm thankful for not ever taking anything illegal.

If you want to follow some good steps, it would Proverbs, all over.

My brother never got an opportunity to throw a pitch, and I didn't want the same thing to happen to another young kid.

Some other things I don't miss: the media and the pressure of just being asked to do, and being asked questions every day.

Whether you like it or not, the last few years I'd be the first one to tell you I haven't been the Pedro Martinez that I'm used to being.

I just try to do what I have to do and let the people out there do what they have to do, which is have fun, scream, yell and jump around. I try to do what I have to do, which is play baseball, and I can only play in that piece of area there, so that's what I try to do.

I do miss competing, being out there - the atmosphere, I do miss it.

If I wanted to pitch that bad, I probably would. But I don't think I'm in that stage.

None of the teams that actually probably were offering me a job from the getgo, actually in spring training, are in the playoffs right now.

I wasn't playing mind games with anybody, I just said what I said. I am responsible for it, but I wish everybody would fall asleep for that one and let me go out there and do my thing.

We're facing a good team, a smart team, ... Right now, they're on top of their game and we're not.

We want him to pitch as much as possible.

Please write that they were really, really nice - extremely nice - at Immigration. The court where they swore you in, the people were beautiful.

I would get some that say 'I am not fan' and they were probably a Yankee fan and there would be some mean letters. It was a little disappointing.

I don't go out there expecting no-hitters or anything like that. I go out there trying to make things happen, actually expecting them to hit the ball, but where I want, not precisely where they want to. That's what happened today, and I was lucky enough to be flirting with a no-hitter.

I felt good. I felt a little stiff, but that was expected. After I threw a few pitches and I let it go, everything went back to normal.

I feel the toe a little bit now but I prefer to do it like that and get used to doing it the way I normally do it and see what the results are going to be.

It could happen in any game, but you know what? I don't hold any grudges. He's probably bitter still, but I'm just going to continue to pray for him, and hopefully it will get better, his temper will change. I still have respect for his bat, he's a good hitter and I'm just going to continue to do what I have to do. And I was glad that, when I'm OK, I don't need to hit anybody.

Roger is probably the biggest freak I have ever seen in terms of how he keeps himself in shape. I can't imagine pitching like that at his age.

That ball just got away. That pitch wasn't really that far in. He leaned over (the plate).

I'm still making a lot of pitches for the amount of innings I'm pitching. When I'm on, I don't need that many pitches. When things start to go wrong, I don't feel that confident about my pitches. They're coming around, but I'm not there yet. So all of the credit goes to my teammates and how well they have done behind me.

I wasn't sure when to push it or what to expect. Now I know what to expect. Hopefully, I'll be able start mixing everything together and see how it goes. As of now, I'm planning on pitching opening day. If not, I'll pitch on the fifth day. I guarantee I'll have one spot in the rotation.

What can I say--just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy. I can't find a way to beat them at this point.

At 2-0 I wanted to throw a strike, I wanted to get him. It was a cutter. But Mike didn't waste any time and he does really well against me in his career.

At my Mom's house on the farm, it get's so dark, you look at the stars and and you feel like you can just reach out and grab them. I love her so much and I love this place so much, it hurts. I stay here because I need to find myself again after playing in the States. Here it's me talking. It's my soul talking.

There's no need for me to do that, or for anybody to do that. Nothing happened. I'm just going to go about my business and keep my cool, like always.

Oh believe me, I was fully aware and I tried as hard as I could,

You see the Latin passion for baseball. This is how we play all the time. It's a good idea.

You take the good with the bad. But sometimes when you are making an effort to answer everybody's question and request, then you get one like that. It affects how much I look at (fan mail) and how much I send back, but I still do.

They're sending me to the Dominican Republic. Then I'll go with T. O. to the Bahamas and do his training program to get myself in shape. When I get back, I'll pitch if we're still in the race. After tomorrow's start, I'm on vacation.

At first I felt a little tentative. If I wanted to throw hard, from the first inning on, I could've, but you have to be careful. It's my first time out, adrenaline is running, you have to just try to be as normal as possible and be careful how you do things.

I never expected Giles to score like that, ... We are facing a smart team. Obviously, they are on top of their game.

I just need to regain my command. I was concerned at first that I was not going to be able to go with the team and be healthy.

I hope he loosens up. New York is his hometown, ... Just respect his family.

I didn't feel in command at all. I just grinded,

If I'm ready to pitch in a Grapefruit League game, why not in the regular season? It's the same thing. You just have to go out there and be patient with the things that happen. Don't worry so much about the results early and make adjustments.

The bigger the contract, the bigger the responsibility.

Because I want to have my arm in good shape, I need to have my legs in good shape. Without a leg, there is no arm.

I want to feel secure personally. Have a competitive team out there -- I really want to win; I hate losing -- and, I guess, I want to be treated like a normal person.

All I can say is, I will put my heart and soul into helping the Red Sox win.

If the shortstop makes an error, I am responsible. I let the batter hit the ball.

I like the challenge. I do not like the attention.

When I go to the plate, I think about putting the ball in play. It's important to get on base and get some walks, but I don't go to the plate thinking of walking.

Baseball is a game of the soul.

You can't have a family when you're playing because you're away from home so much. So believe me, I won't be pitching forever. I won't make it to 300 wins or anything like that. No way.

I enjoy every bit of baseball I can get.

There was always something missing in Montreal.

I love my teammates, and I'll do anything for them.

We grew up poor, very poor, but I am very proud of where I come from.

Georgie Porgie, he might buy the whole league, but he doesn't have enough money to buy fear to put in my heart.

I remember quotes in the paper, 'Here comes the man that New York loves to hate.' Man? None of you have probably ever eaten steak with me or rice and beans with me to understand what the man is about. You might say the player, the competitor, but the man? You guys have abused my name. You guys have said so many things, have written so many things.

I believe I have a responsibility that goes along with the money I make. I can help a lot of people.

Every time I feel mad or something, I run somewhere. It gets my frustrations away. I run and run and run.

I'm not in the big leagues just because I'm cute.