Sometimes it will go down 8 or 10 inches. Throw in a curveball that's probably one of the best five curveballs in the American League - it has great depth and buckles righthanders. He's starting to learn to use it against lefthanders because he's more confident. Kerrigan claims the changeup is Martinez's best pitch. Hitters can't detect the pitch because it's released at the same point and Martinez's arm speed doesn't vary.
Spring training offers a rare opportunity for major league players.
In mid-February, Sox hitters Mike Stanley, John Valentin, Trot Nixon, and Troy O'Leary experienced the unbearable heaviness of hitting against Pedro Martinez. Intimidation is the best thing he's got going for him. Then his stuff. Any offspeed pitch that's thrown in a good spot is hard to hit. Pedro's command makes him tough.