FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It's hard to imagine an organization having a greater pitching resource than the incomparable Pedro Martinez.
Martinez has neither the time nor the interest to be with the Red Sox on a daily basis. But at various points throughout the season -- starting in spring training -- Martinez makes himself available to the team with which he is most closely associated. Martinez watches, provides input, serves as a sounding board and offers recommendations. He dissects video, digs deep into the analytics and is genuinely present.
Then, he goes home -- to Miami, to the Dominican -- and spends time with his family while squeezing in TV commitments. Then, weeks or months later, he resurfaces and begins another tutorial.
Young pitchers -- and veterans one, too, for that matter -- would be wise to listen.
Martinez sat down with BostonSportsJournal.com recently to touch on a number of topics.
On Brayan Bello: "He's in great shape. He's optimistic. I think he learned a lot last year, especially toward the end. He's healthy. He has no ceiling. I see myself. I see myself, but a lot more talented and a lot of different ways to learn the game and make the game easier for himself, including my own knowledge, and the knowledge of everyone else around him. They're willing to teach him. Plus, the organization is doing an outstanding job handling those guys. I'm very optimistic that the game is going to come to him in an easier way than it did to me. I had to go through the reps, I had to go through the game entirely in order for me to learn. Nowadays, you can hand out a lot better information and a lot better ways to train yourself to get better and improve your body physically and mentally.
"I look at him and see myself. I mean, it's very, very similar -- electric arm, has a great changeup, and has the opportunity to improve his breaking stuff. But that's going to take repetitions. But that's why we're here. I had the opportunity to work with him over the winter a little bit. His mechanics were a little bit inconsistent. So we got him to the point where he's consistent now, where he feels comfortable and everything is flashing the right way. So I'm very optimistic that if we manage to keep him healthy, and guide him -- because we often forget that these kids are so young -- the sky is the limit. They need guidance. They're gonna need someone to take them and guide them toward the proper way of approaching the game and being consistent -- which is the most difficult thing to do.
"I believe he can be (a front-of-the-rotation starter). Why not? Like I said, he has no ceiling. When I look at him and look at where he is, especially physically, he's a lot more mature than I was at the same age. I think he's going to learn how to preserve energy, build stamina and everything else that comes along with consistency. That anxiety that he had, I think he burned through that in the first four or fives games, then he got over it and he felt like he belonged. The only thing that will dictate how good Bello is is his health. Longevity in the game is the most important aspect in order for you to pile up numbers, to learn, pay attention to details. It's just staying in the game.
On the 2022 Red Sox: "We weren't in sync the entire year. You and I know that and the fans know that. The entire team wasn't in sync. We weren't doing anything consistently the entire year - defense, offense, pitching bullpen... We didn't do anything consistently. This year, I think is going to be different. We have an entire spring training to do what we need to do, to get these guys ready, to get these guys involved, and pick brains. I think those guys can actually go out and pick brains, then have enough time to improve what they have already. So you're going to see a lot more mature pitchers, and see them be a lot better in the strike zone than in previous years.''
On the team's minor league pitching development program: "I think (the developmental staff) is digging deeper. They're making an effort, not only selecting and drafting and going internationally to look for players with ability, but they're looking for IQ, they're looking for character, they're looking for different things that help you improve your game. Internationally, they're doing really well. Everybody here is chipping in, to go internationally, to find some of those guys that are, on a day-to-day basis, practicing baseball. (We in the Caribbean) have the advantage of having the whole year and having a lot of time to go and practice. That gives us a little edge over the guy in Boston, or New England, which is full of snow. The scouting department is doing a good job reaching out to different areas and digging in really for talented and capable guys that have a certain level of IQ, education, guys that are going to make their way to the big leagues easier.''
On the keys to successfully develop young pitching: "When you're not healthy, you can't repeat (your delivery). What helps you master those things is repeating -- repetitions. You have to get to that mound and repeat, get into the game and repeat. A lot of people think the game is superficially physical. It's not that way. You have to put together a lot of different things -- it's mechanics, it's mental, it's physical. If you're able to repeat your mechanics, I think you eliminate two of the three problems you might have executing your pitches. It's about recognizing when your body allows you to do that. You need to have repeatable mechanics and you need to be healthy for you to execute the plan you have when you go out there and the approach you want to have against each individual team. If you're not healthy and your body tells you, 'No!,' like happens a lot of times, it won't work. Mentally, I might be ready to face the Yankees; mechanically, I'm where I need to be. Now, can I get to the point where I can execute that slider? Well, the elbow is stiff. My legs are not really firing. That's what you have to know. And that comes from experience on the field and repetitions.''
On his approach with younger pitchers and his appreciation for analytics: "I just want to be someone who can really help and make the game easier for them. I still think that I can offer so much, because my mind's still fresh. I keep knocking on wood. The feel for pitching is still really alive in me. Because I can't do it physically anymore, mentally, I can help so many of these guys and improve their mechanics and improve what they already have by using my knowledge, suggesting little things that I think might help what they have -- not what I did, because what I did was unique. I have my own ways. But for guys that don't understand sometimes where you generate what, I think I can help a lot. I was a video rat when I was here, and now with the analytics department, you have to really dig into video a lot and analytics. I wish I had some of the information (when I was pitching) that they have nowadays. I don't know how much I could have preserved my game or how much longer. But I would have appreciated having the tendencies ahead of time to approach the game.
"I don't dig deep into the analytics because that can only apply when you can execute. If you're not good at (throwing) sliders and the slider is the pitch that you think is going to be effective against a team and you don't have a slider, then you have to use your changeup or your curveball or your sinking fastball or whatever you have. But for guys who are able to do what they need to do, all they have to do is pitch to their strength. You just have to figure out a way to execute it in an effective way.''
On the potential of the team's veteran starters -- Chris Sale, James Paxton and Corey Kluber -- who have battled health issues and a potential secret weapon for the rotation: "I can only dream. I can only dream about those guys being healthy and surprising everybody. I was a big advocate for (signing) Kluber because I know of the presence he has in the clubhouse and the knowledge he brings about pitching. I suggested that we needed a guy like that, especially a righthander. You need somebody to mingle in-between (the older lefties and the rest of the rotation), a guy who knows how to pitch, who has a great presence in the clubhouse, that can be an extra pitching coach. He's a strike-throwing machine. I think we can kind of click together. I had the opportunity to chat with him a lot of times and he's always looking forward to exchanging ideas. I've got three Cy Youngs and he's got two. I mean, the guy has a feel for pitching as well as anybody in baseball. He just needs to stay healthy. You can see the shape of his body. It tells you the guy is a workaholic and that he's serious about his business. There's a lot others can learn from this group -- Corey Kluber, Chris Sale and his determination, Kenley Jensen. What a guy to have around the young kids, willing to teach and give up whatever time he has. I'm extremely happy with these guys.''
On the impact the new rule changes will have on pitching: "I think it's going to be great because you can force the hitter to hit the ball where you want if you're around the strike zone and you can locate. What I think we need to improve a lot more is in controlling the strike zone because that's going to be critical, especially with the pitch clock. Stamina is going to play a big role, especially early, having to pitch so quick if you're not used to it. Later on, as we go, they're going to have to learn how to preserve energy in order for us to pitch a little longer in the game. For those relievers who max out and aren't repeatable, I think it's going to be an advantage (to the hitters).''
On his role and future role with the Sox: "I'm always flexible to be involved with the organization. I don't know what plans the organization has for me or what they think for the near future. But I'm equipped for whatever they ask me to do. I just don't want to spend 162 (games) in the field. But when it comes to helping out, I was well-trained by Dave Dombrowski. That was my request. (I asked) 'Can you teach me how to handle and manage information? How to do things the way you do it? I spent the most time always sitting in Dombrowski's office, picking his brain. And I'm glad I did it because I understand a lot of the things he did and how organized he was. I also understand how much work it takes -- how much you have to be on the computer, how much you have to be on the phone. I got to learn a lot. I got my hands dirty in all aspects of the front office and the field. So, it's just a matter of how much they want to use me and how much time I have. After you retire, you want to be at home, you want to be with your family at critical moments. That's what I want to do, kind of balance both. I love baseball, I love being around, I love how I'm treated. I just don't see myself as a pitching coach or a manager for 162. Those days are done. I put my time in.''
___________________
All such lists are subjective, but MLB Network's list of The 100 Players in the game was notable given that it included just one Red Sox player -- Rafael Devers, who was ranked No. 19.
To put that in perspective, here are the other teams with just one player on the list: the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the Houston Astros and New York Mets were first with eight players each on the list, followed by the Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves (seven each) and the Yankees and San Diego Padres (six each).
You can argue, if you wish, that star power is overrated, but it's worth nothing that that of the seven teams with the most number of players on the Top 100 list, all seven made the playoffs. And that's true of nine of the top 10 and 12 of the top 15.
So while there may be a heavy marketing component to the list, there's also a pretty obvious link to competitiveness. It's pretty basic: the teams with the most number of star players also just so happen to be the best teams.
Not so long ago, the Red Sox placed six on the same list in 2019. And as recently as a year ago, they had four: Devers, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Trevor Story.
The number one complaint I hear from fans is that the Red Sox seem to be a faceless collection (beyond Devers). Gone are the stars and with them, some personality. You didn't need a program to recognize Pedro, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez or Johnny Damon.
This list is, of course, a snapshot of time and happens to catch the Red Sox in transition. If things break right for the 2023 Red Sox, next year's list could easily include Masatake Yoshida, Triston Casas and Brayan Bello.
But for now, the Sox are somewhat anonymous and not exactly compelling.