It’s official: call it Pesky’s Pole
It’s officially Pesky’s Pole.
The Boston Red Sox renamed the right-field foul pole in honor of former player and coach Johnny Pesky before Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Pesky, a 56-year member of the organization, was honored on his 87th birthday with an on-field ceremony. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch to pitcher Tim Wakefield.
For years, many have referred to the pole as “Pesky’s Pole” when batters have hit homers down the short right-field line, where the pole stands 302 feet away.
“This is a little unusual for me,” said Pesky of the attention, while sitting in the Red Sox dugout and wearing a uniform with his No. 6 on the back during batting practice. “I’m a little flattered. This is really nice.”
Former Red Sox players Bobby Doerr and Frank Malzone were on hand for the celebration.
Doerr, a Hall of Famer, was a second baseman who played along side Pesky, a shortstop.
“The guy had to work hard for what he has,” Doerr said. “He’s a Hall of Famer in my eyes. He’s a great ambassador for baseball”
Pesky played with the Red Sox in 1942 and 1946-52, hitting .313, and held the club record for most hits by a rookie with 205 until Nomar Garciaparra broke it with 209 in 1997. He was the first Red Sox player to have three 200-hit seasons.
After his playing days, he managed the team in 1963-64, coached and worked in the radio-TV booth.
The team will place a plaque just before the pole on the outfield wall in foul territory.
“You sure they didn’t make a mistake?” he said with a smile. “I hope I make it to next year.”
Pedro not looking like Pedro
Pedro Martinez hardly looks ready for the playoffs.
The New York Mets’ ace was rocked again in his final start of the regular season, giving up eight hits, seven runs and two homers in 2 2/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta.
Martinez, who recently spent a month on the disabled list with a strained right calf, was in danger of his third straight loss since being activated and fourth in a row overall. He was yanked after giving up a run-scoring double to fellow pitcher Tim Hudson, who gave the Braves a 7-0 lead.
The poor outing throws into question how the N.L. East champion Mets will set up their rotation for the playoffs, which begin next week with the best-of-five division series. Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez are set to start, but Randolph had hoped to use Martinez in Game 1.
La Russa upbeat despite slump
Tony La Russa always has been a sore loser, quick to lash out at the slightest provocation during postgame news conferences.
But the St. Louis Cardinals’ manager has been taking a decidedly different, positive-thinking tack during a September swoon that is threatening to become one of baseball’s most spectacular collapses. St. Louis (80-76), which led the N.L. Central by seven games with 13 to play, lost its seventh straight Tuesday night and was just 1 1/2 games ahead of second-place Houston (79-78) heading into Wednesday’s games.
“We have a chance to play in October,” La Russa said Tuesday night after wasting a lead in a 7-5 loss to the San Diego Padres. “Take the alternative where you’re out the race. That’s what you look at, and we’re not out of the race.”
Clearing the bases
Chien-Ming Wang will start the New York Yankees’ playoff opener on Tuesday, followed by Mike Mussina in Game 2, and Randy Johnson in Game 3. … Tampa Bay pitching coach Mike Butcher, who appeared to make contact with an umpire while arguing balls and strikes during a Devil Rays’ loss to the Yankees earlier this week, was suspended for three games. … Rookie right-hander Ian Snell, one victory short of becoming the Pirates’ first 15-game winner in seven years, will miss Sunday’s scheduled start against the Reds due to tightness in his right elbow.