Pedro Martinez retires

http://www.nesn.com/2011/12/pedro-martinez-to-announce-retirement-soon-after-spending-two-seasons-out-of-baseball.html

I'm sad to see him go. There's never been a more exciting pitcher to watch than Pedro at his peak.

I don't know why he waited until now to announce it. Someone probably told him he needed to get his HOF countdown clock started.

 

Theo Epstein goes undercover in Texas to lure the Rocket out of retirement.

 

Him and Maddux are the two best pitchers of the last 30 years.

 

You don't need to announce your retirement at all for the HOF. You are eligible after five seasons in which you don't play. Period.

 

The biggest MVP robbery of my lifetime was when Pudge beat him in 1999.

In my opinion, he's a first-ballot lock.

 

First-ballot lock, no doubt.

This will always make me happy, though:

 

Always respected Pedro more than I liked him, but he gave two quotes that are pretty cool:

"Wake up the Bambino. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass."

and

"Who is Karim Garcia?"

 

Do you know what makes me happy? 2004.

 

Ah yes, 2004. ;D

 

I'm sorry, I'm unfamiliar with that year.

 

Most exciting pitcher of my lifetime. Wish the game had more personalities like him.