Laurila: Q&A with Dennis Martinez, El Presidente
From SABR member David Laurila at FanGraphs on May 15, 2013:
Dennis Martinez is among the least-appreciated pitchers in recent generations. Fans in Montreal certainly remember “El Presidente,” but the Nicaraguan-born right-hander is far from a household name in most baseball circles. He should be.
Martinez won 245 games from 1976 to 1998, despite never winning more than 16 in any one season. He pitched 3,999.2 innings and logged a 3.70 ERA. In 1991, at the age of 37, he threw a perfect game. That same season he led the National League in ERA, complete games and shutouts.
In nine full seasons with the Orioles, Martinez was a talented-yet-frustrating pitcher. From 1986 to 1993, with the Expos, he was a bona fide, and beloved, ace. He finished his career with three solid seasons in Cleveland, plus cameos in Atlanta and in Seattle. He’s now the bullpen coach for the Houston Astros.
Martinez talked about his long career — including his approach to pitching and his unwillingness to be anyone but himself — on a recent visit to Fenway Park.
Read the full article here: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/qa-dennis-martinez-el-presidente-legacy/
Originally published: May 15, 2013. Last Updated: May 15, 2013.