Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Pat Hentgen and Montreal Expos pitcher Dennis Martinez were inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys on Saturday.
Hentgen was a late call-up to the Jays in September of '91 and then won the World Series the next two years. He says he thought they'd win it every year, but seven years later he was playing in St. Louis and they didn't even make the playoffs.
He says today's players put a lot of pressure on themselves to be better every day, and that can take a toll over a career. He doesn't believe pitching has changed much since he was a player except there aren't as many complete games anymore. He adds it's very much a team game.
Hentgen says he really likes the current edition of the Blue Jays, and believes if they can stay healthy they'll win their division.
Martinez says he had heard about Montreal fans not understanding supporting baseball, but says they were always good to him and to the team. He adds like fans everywhere, they don't show up as much if the team isn't playing well and that's as it should be.
Martinez believes pitching has changed in that complete games are rare today and he also believes pitchers have to do more homework so they know the hitters and don't rely so much on their catchers to call the game. He also believes pitchers, particularly young pitchers, are too focused on strike outs and don't appreciate the outs that are the result of a fly or a ground ball.
Martinez says when he pitched he was expected to finish what he started but he doesn't hear that anymore.
Montreal Expos star pitcher Dennis Martinez, at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Mary's.
Pat Hentgen pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays.
