BOSTON — David Price has heard criticism and advice from all sides during his underwhelming 2016 season, and for the most part, it’s best to block out the noise.
But the Red Sox ace might want listen to latest person to weigh in on his struggles.
That would be Pedro Martinez, the Baseball Hall of Famer-turned-MLB Network analyst who stopped by the Red Sox’s clubhouse before their game against the Detroit Tigers.
Martinez knows a thing or two about being the ace of Boston’s staff, and he was asked to share what advice he’d give Price on regaining his Cy Young form. For Pedro, it comes down to one thing — confidence.
“I think he has to trust what he can do,” Martinez said. “… I don’t see anything wrong — his velocity is there, he can last eight, nine innings easily. He’s in great shape. He looks good overall, except some games just don’t go his way, and sometimes it doesn’t look like everything clicks for him. But I believe he just has to trust what he is, the presence he has, and his knowledge.
“Sometimes, it’s up to you to say, ‘Hey, I know this. I know the situation. So, I’m going to go and just approach it.’ And that’s probably what he needs to do, just trust what he is, and what he knows, and the stuff he has.”
Price certainly has the All-Star pedigree, and while his 4.51 ERA through 21 starts this season is disappointing to say the least, Martinez thinks the left-hander can turn things around.
“I believe he’s capable of it,” Martinez said. “He has given you guys a lot of signs that he’s the ace we all expect, and I think, to be honest, I think he’s going to be all right. I do. I think it’s just a matter of making the right adjustments and trying to make them as quick as possible.”
In a fitting coincidence, Price strolled through the Red Sox’s clubhouse just as Martinez was talking about him. Pedro didn’t notice, but Price certainly did, pausing for a moment to listen after hearing his name before continuing on his way.
Martinez said he hasn’t talked to Price directly but certainly is open to helping him out. Yet for all the advice the Red Sox legend likely can offer, Martinez insisted Price’s road to success starts from within.
“He knows how I feel,” Martinez said. “He knows that I want to help him and I want to help everybody else. But like I said, the biggest adjustment is the adjustment that David Price makes. It’s not really what Pedro says or the way Pedro used to go about it. David Price is David Price, and Pedro Martinez is a different person.”
Thumbnail photo via Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports Images
