Dec
8
2012

Pedro Martinez Says It’s Too Difficult To Vote Bonds Or Clemens Into Hall

An article by Joe D

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe caught up with Pedro Martinez who was at former teammate David Ortiz‘s celebrity golf fundraiser in the Dominican Republic yesterday.

The always outspoken Martinez had plenty to say about the steroids era as well as his own career and legacy.

“I never had a complaint. I don’t have it. I think I did it the best way possible,” he said on Friday. “What would have happened if I had a level playing field? It’s something to be guessed. This is the same body that you saw, except for a couple of more pounds.”

When asked about his thoughts on new Hall of Fame candidates Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, Martinez minced no words:

“It’s really difficult for me to choose either one. I would have loved to face Roger Clemens when he was Roger Clemens with nothing. I would have loved to face him all the time.

Regarding his future candidacy:

“I was clean. I know I was clean. That’s all I can say. I was out there and they got the best out of me. Beat me or not, that was the best I had, and clean. I wish it were the same way for every one of them.”

“In my last years with the Mets, I was pushed too far. I was going too far with the pain. I did it naturally, I rehabbed naturally. I went through struggles a lot naturally. Today I can actually sit back, relax and enjoy the flight because I did it clean and my integrity is right where it belongs.”

Pedro, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, will no doubt get in as a first ballot Hall of Famer having never had any suspicion of PED or steroid use. Martinez is one of the rare great players from the steroid era to actually gain weight after retirement rather than lose weight.

About the Author: Joe DeCaro

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.

7 Comments + Add Comment

srt December 8, 2012 at 12:22 pm

I tend to believe Pedro when he says he never used. There is no doubt in my mind he belongs in the HOF. On of my favorite pitchers from his generation.
Metsie December 8, 2012 at 12:56 pm

I listen to what he is saying and I have to ask again…
Why isn’t the Union more interested in cleaning this up than anyone else?

Their members are the ones getting hurt the most (and Pedro seems to suggest what he might have been like if he wasn’t facing chemistry and just baseball players).

I’m sure they have a health plan for retired players how much does that cost them with all those guys having to deal with Steroid related maladies?

How many players are making 3-4 Mil less because they stayed clean thereby reducing what the entire league makes because Owners only pay the supreme performers who in many cases are the same guys that are all juicing?

It’s the same thing in the NFL…Owners are the ones worried about Players getting hurt and head injuries and the players are the ones who complain about the attempt to keep them safe and even enter into Bounty Hunters and get a Bonus for injuring a fellow Union member…

And what does the Union who is charged with defending and protecting thier membership do?
Defend the guys who made a concerted effort to hurt thier fellow Union Members!

What ever happened to the days where a Union was there to create fair pay and better/safer working conditions?

And we wonder why Unions are broken so easily these days?
PGrizzly24 December 8, 2012 at 1:00 pm

Pedro IMO is the greatest pitcher I have ever seen. To be an undersized starting pitcher who flat out dominated during the steroid era while pitching in the AL East no less, is truly remarkable. My favorite pitcher and a shoo in Hall of Famer.
Sloatsburg Mets Fan December 8, 2012 at 2:20 pm

I love Petey! He played the game the right way. He believed he owned the inside part of the plate and if you sat on top of it, you better be able to duck quickly!
Christopher Masiello December 8, 2012 at 4:16 pm

I always felt that Pedro was an overly honest guy. When he hit guys on purpose or made a stupid pitch he owned up to it.
He even fessed up the attending the cock-fighting events back home in the D.R. If he did steroids, his body certainly never showed it. He was skinny as a rail.
Having the guts to throw inside on guys like Bonds, and Albert Belle took skill and guts. Especially when you knew how much skill and juice they had backing them up.
DMets3 December 9, 2012 at 5:58 pm

I am not surprise that Bonds, Clemens, McGwire and others who took PEDs will not have a chance to get up to 75% in all the 14-15 years of eligibility.
doc inclimo December 9, 2012 at 10:26 pm

I agree with the comments, especially about Pedro’s greatness, he was the best I’ve seen in 40 years watching baseball. He was one of the smartest pitchers all time, running on pure guile those last few years. He was a champion and the definition of a Hall of Famer. What a lot of people look past is that steroids are illegal and the players who took them were engaged in criminal activity. I’d love to see Aaron and Maris’ records restored, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

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