BOSTON -- Pedro Martinez couldn't have been filled with more pride than he was when New York Yankees manager Joe Torre selected him for the American League's All-Star team.
But last night, after pitching the Boston Red Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Martinez decided to decline the invitation.
Martinez, who is 10-2 with a 2.85 earned-run average, said he made the decision after talking with manager Grady Little, pitching coach Tony Cloninger, some teammates and his brother, Ramon.
The consensus was that Martinez, a four-time Cy Young Award winner whose 2001 season was shortened by a rotator cuff injury, could use the rest instead of traveling to Milwaukee and pitching in the Midsummer Classic next Tuesday. Martinez, the coaching staff and his teammates want him to be as strong as he can for the second half as the Red Sox chase a playoff berth.
"This is one All-Star Game that I would be as happy to go to as when I got to my first one (1996, with the Expos) because of overcoming the things that I did -- the injury and everything. Especially not knowing for me and not realizing what was going to happen during the season. I think that is something that I certainly appreciate. I am deeply honored by the invitation," said Martinez, whose selection was the sixth of his career.
"But declining it, I think, is the smartest thing to do at this point," said Martinez. "Plus, I have some personal matters to take care of. It's the perfect time for me to take a little break and make sure I can continue to be the way I have because I wouldn't to trade a World Series for an All-Star Game.
"That's how I'm think (making the World Series). That's what my teammates and coaches are thinking. I felt it was good advice (to turn down the All-Star invitation). I think I made the right decision by deciding this and listening to those guys," said Martinez.
While Martinez was understandably tentative at the outset of this season, he has found a rhythm that not only includes an occasional sizzling fastball, but also a cutter to go along with his crackling curve and devastating chanegup. He had all his pitches working in last night's eight-inning, 14-whiff performance.
Over his last four starts, Martinez has gone 3-1 with a 1.74 ERA. In three of those outings, he went eight innings. If you throw out his first start of the year, when he admittedly was more focused on his shoulder than the hitters and was whacked around for seven earned runs in three-plus innings by the Blue Jays, his earned-run average shrinks from 2.85 to 2.34.
He has been impressive as he re-invents himself to some degree, continuing the season as a work in progress.
"For Pedro Martinez to be selected to the All-Star team after everything he has been through is quite a treat for everyone, especially him," said Little. "It shows what he's made of. It's more than an honor for him."
Martinez likely could go to the All-Star Game and request not to pitch, even though the day of the game coincides with his day to throw between starts. But he said if he wasn't going to pitch, he didn't want to go.
Martinez's final start of the first half will be Saturday, at home against Detroit.
