NEW YORK - — NEW YORK - - When the gates opened Tuesday to Yankee Stadium's Great Hall where Philadelphia Phillies players and coaches sat at tables waiting to be interviewed, hundreds of media members ran to Pedro Martinez's station.
It had all the makings of a stampede. Reporters and photographers couldn't get to Martinez fast enough. Everyone wanted his reaction to getting the ball in Game 2 on Thursday for the Phillies.
"This might be my last game on the big stage," said Martinez, who is pitching in his second World Series. "I'm going to enjoy it no matter what happens. I'll always be proud and tell myself I did what I was supposed to do. This is my reward for everything I've been through the last three years.
"This isn't a dream, it's a reality. Very few have the opportunity, and I'm one of the blessed ones who have done it more than once."
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee chose right-handed Martinez over left-hander Cole Hamels, who has been the team's No. 2 starter since Cliff Lee joined the staff in July and became the go-to guy. Lee gets the start in Game 1 tonight against Yankees ace CC Sabathia.
It's easy to see why Martinez got the call for Game 2.
In 16 career starts at the old Yankee Stadium, Martinez was 8-4 with a 2.95 ERA. In the 110 innings he pitched there, the soon-to-be 38-year-old walked just 25 and struck out 134. Opponents hit just .211 against him, and he had a WHIP of 0.982.
In addition to wanting to throw a right-hander between lefties Lee and Hamels, Manuel and Dubee wanted Martinez out there because of his stuff and his experience.
"I felt like Pedro was the ideal guy to go in between them because of the type of pitcher he is, and his command and how he can change speeds and the fact that he's been here before," Manuel said.
Dubee was on the same page as Manuel. He has no doubts Martinez will be able to ignore the boos, taunting and mystique of pitching in the Bronx.
"He's so solid in his approach and mentality that this type of atmosphere won't get in his head at all," Dubee said.
