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01-28-2005, 07:38 PM
BostonGM.com Q&A: Tim Wakefield
By Jerry Beach (javascript:location.href='http://search.scout.com/a.z?s=254&p=4&c=1&search=1&sskey=%22' + escape('Jerry Beach') + '%22&sssiteid=254';)
Date: Jan 28, 2005
Tim Wakefield spoke to reporters prior to the Boston Baseball Writers Association of America dinner earlier this month. Here's part one of the transcript of that conversation:
Q: Do you worry about age and health issues in the rotation?
A: Who, me? I’m almost as old as [David] Wells. [Laughs] I’m not worried about my health issues, and really, I’m not too worried about David. He’s been pitching for a long time, so he knows how to get ready and he knows how to stay in shape.
Q: Were you disappointed to see Pedro Martinez leave?
A: I was disappointed, not for the reason that he left. I’m just disappointed because he was a great teammate for me and respected me a lot. [He was a] great teammate to have for the past seven years.
Q: Were you disappointed with the way he went out?
A: Yes and no. Each player has the right to voice his own opinion, and I totally understand his decision to exercise that right. That’s just Pedro. Whatever he says usually comes from his heart, and that’s the way he felt. I just think it’s unfortunate that we lost a good player, but the organization did a great job replacing him.
Q: How many more years would you like to pitch?
A: I’d like to pitch for as long as I can. I don’t want to put a set number on it. I’ll be 39 at the end of this contract [at the end of 2005]. I see guys like David Wells (http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=254&p=8&c=1&nid=1102257) and those guys pitching into their early 40s, and being a knuckleballer, I think I can pitch a lot longer. It’s just a matter of how much longer I want to play, I think.
Q: How do you feel now?
A: I feel better physically now than I did three-to-four years ago. So it’s just a matter of trying to get an extension done. Last year at the writer’s dinner, [CEO] Larry [Lucchino] and [chairman] Tom [Werner] said I could be a Red Sox for the rest of my life. That’s what I want to do. It’s up to them whether or not they want me here.
Q: What has your offseason been like?
A: It’s been a hectic offseason with a lot of appearances to do. It still hasn’t really sunk in for me yet, personally. It did a little bit in the parade, knowing what we accomplishied and how many people we touched in the New England area. I don’t think it’ll really hit me til I get to spring training and maybe the start of the season, to know that we’re defending world champions.
I’m just glad I was here long enough to experience it and have it happen when I was here. A lot of people don’t get an opportunity to stay with one team as long as I have. I’m very fortunate that I was able to be here when we won the World Series.
By Jerry Beach (javascript:location.href='http://search.scout.com/a.z?s=254&p=4&c=1&search=1&sskey=%22' + escape('Jerry Beach') + '%22&sssiteid=254';)
Date: Jan 28, 2005
Tim Wakefield spoke to reporters prior to the Boston Baseball Writers Association of America dinner earlier this month. Here's part one of the transcript of that conversation:
Q: Do you worry about age and health issues in the rotation?
A: Who, me? I’m almost as old as [David] Wells. [Laughs] I’m not worried about my health issues, and really, I’m not too worried about David. He’s been pitching for a long time, so he knows how to get ready and he knows how to stay in shape.
Q: Were you disappointed to see Pedro Martinez leave?
A: I was disappointed, not for the reason that he left. I’m just disappointed because he was a great teammate for me and respected me a lot. [He was a] great teammate to have for the past seven years.
Q: Were you disappointed with the way he went out?
A: Yes and no. Each player has the right to voice his own opinion, and I totally understand his decision to exercise that right. That’s just Pedro. Whatever he says usually comes from his heart, and that’s the way he felt. I just think it’s unfortunate that we lost a good player, but the organization did a great job replacing him.
Q: How many more years would you like to pitch?
A: I’d like to pitch for as long as I can. I don’t want to put a set number on it. I’ll be 39 at the end of this contract [at the end of 2005]. I see guys like David Wells (http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=254&p=8&c=1&nid=1102257) and those guys pitching into their early 40s, and being a knuckleballer, I think I can pitch a lot longer. It’s just a matter of how much longer I want to play, I think.
Q: How do you feel now?
A: I feel better physically now than I did three-to-four years ago. So it’s just a matter of trying to get an extension done. Last year at the writer’s dinner, [CEO] Larry [Lucchino] and [chairman] Tom [Werner] said I could be a Red Sox for the rest of my life. That’s what I want to do. It’s up to them whether or not they want me here.
Q: What has your offseason been like?
A: It’s been a hectic offseason with a lot of appearances to do. It still hasn’t really sunk in for me yet, personally. It did a little bit in the parade, knowing what we accomplishied and how many people we touched in the New England area. I don’t think it’ll really hit me til I get to spring training and maybe the start of the season, to know that we’re defending world champions.
I’m just glad I was here long enough to experience it and have it happen when I was here. A lot of people don’t get an opportunity to stay with one team as long as I have. I’m very fortunate that I was able to be here when we won the World Series.