There’s been plenty of “ace” talk surrounding the 2015 Boston Red Sox, but there were no such conversations centering around the 2004 team.
Well, that’s not entirely true. Much of the conversation in 2004, however, revolved around the fact that the Red Sox seemingly had an abundance of aces in Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling and even Derek Lowe.
Martinez, who recently was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, released his book “PEDRO” on Tuesday, and that release has included a fascinating media tour. On “The Dan Patrick Show” on Tuesday morning, the former Red Sox right-hander spoke about that 2004 pitching staff, a front-line unit largely responsible for Boston’s first World Series title since 1918.
Martinez was known as a confident pitcher who could hold his own in a big game, but even he was impressed by Schilling’s ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most.
“Schill is a man that doesn’t like being like chased around or be told certain things,” Martinez told Dan Patrick. “He would take it personal. Believe me, I loved watching Schilling whenever he was about have a big game or in a big-game situation. I’ll take the ball off my hands and give it to Schilling in a big-game situation.”
Patrick pressed Martinez further, asking if he’d really give up the ball for Schilling — and Martinez doubled down.
“Yes, and Derek Lowe as well,” Martinez answered.
“Derek Lowe, I don’t think realized the importance of a big game. So he was like cuckoo-bird like we called him. Regardless of the game. Schilling was a guy who probably didn’t sleep the night before, but he was going to be so ready for the big game. To me, that was fascinating to see. I could, yes, center a game, but I’ll be more relaxed than Schilling was.”
Martinez also shared this hilarious story about a time he was trying to get a warm tub all to himself only to be interrupted by teammates.
“One day I’m in the tub, the small tub,” he explained. “I’m making sure that nobody goes in my tub when I’m in the tub. I took as much clothes as I could off and I stayed in the tub so nobody would jump in the tub. And Manny passes by and he goes, ‘Oh, chiquito! Can I jump in?’
“I’m like, ‘No, Manny, no. You’re not jumping in.’ He jumps in, then Millar jumps in and then Johnny Damon jumps in.” Then I’m like ‘Oh no! I need to get out of here! Too many guys for a mini-tub.'”
