The Post is in Pedro Martinez’s head.
On the eve of his Game 2 World Series start against the Yankees, Martinez complained about a Post headline from 2004 that still weighs on the Phillies pitcher’s mind.
The headline read “The Man N.Y. Loves to Hate,” and apparently poor, little Pedro’s feelings were hurt.
“I remember quotes in the paper, ‘Here comes the man that New York loves to hate,’ ” Martinez said before the Yankees’ 6-1 loss to the Phillies in Game 1 of the World Series last night at the Stadium. “Man? None of you have probably ever eaten steak with me or rice and beans with me to understand what the man is about. You might say the player, the competitor, but the man? You guys have abused my name. You guys have said so many things, have written so many things.”
During a wide-ranging press conference yesterday, Martinez blamed the media for his contentious relationship with Yankees fans. That hatred (sorry, Pedro) will be on display tonight when a sellout crowd serenades him with boos as he takes the mound for Philadelphia.
“The way people perceive me in New York, I don’t know if they got to know me a little bit better after I got to the Mets,” Martinez said. “It’s totally different than the way I am. I just compete. And yes, I will do whatever it takes to beat you. But I’m a human being after I take my clothes off. A lot of people can witness that any time, anywhere, any moment.”
Martinez traced the root of the perception problem back to the 2003 ALCS incident where he threw Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground at Fenway Park.
“Zim charged me, and I think he’s going to say something, but his reaction was totally the opposite, was trying to punch my mouth and told me a couple of bad words about my mom,” Martinez said.
“I just had to react and defend myself kind of. But the tweak that it took made me look like a monster that just came in to play Yankee Stadium. And you know what I did, go out there, compete, and nothing else. I remember getting back to my dugout and seeing middle fingers. My mom, poor mom. I’m glad she’s blessed by God because all those curses were, I mean, unbelievable.”
Martinez also had news for Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron and every other player at Yankee Stadium.
“I don’t know if you realize this, but because of you guys in some ways, I might be at times the most influential player that ever stepped in Yankee Stadium,” Martinez said. “I can honestly say that.
“For some reason with all the hype and different players that have passed by, maybe because I played for the Red Sox is probably why you guys made it such a big deal every time I came in, but you know, I have a good bond with the people.
“I have all the respect in the world for the way they enjoy being fans. Sometimes they might be giving you the middle finger, just like they will be cursing you and telling you what color underwear you’re wearing,” Martinez added. “All those things you can hear when you’re a fan. But at the end of the day, they’re just great fans that want to see the team win. I don’t have any problem with that.”