Pedro Martinez's days as a hard-throwing ace may be behind him, but that doesn't mean the Hall of Famer can't still toss a few fireballs.
Last week, the former Red Sox superstar took to the radio on WEEI in Boston to express his frustration over the club's current lack of veteran leadership -- and he saved the worst of it for Hanley Ramirez.
"I think they're lacking that leader who could pull them aside and say, 'We're not playing the kind of baseball we're used to playing.' Hanley hasn't been that guy," Martinez said on the station's Ordway, Merloni & Fauria program. "Hanley is not reflecting the same energy he was showing last year. The team is different this year.
"Very little to rely on when it comes to being that guy."
Seven TDs in a quarter
Daunte Martin, a running back for Mt. Union (Pa.) High School, ran for 328 yards and 7 touchdowns in a 56-20 victory over Everett, Pa., on Friday night -- in the first quarter.
Mt. Union built a 49-0 lead after the first quarter with the 6-foot, 200-pound senior needing 12 carries to amass 328 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Martin compiled more than 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior seasons at Mt. Union.
Ringmaster
The Tennessee Titans signed Brandon Weeden last week because Marcus Mariota is nursing a hamstring injury.
While co-hosting his radio show Jared & The GM on 102.5 The Game, ex-Titans general manager Floyd Reese said the first reason Tennessee didn't consider Colin Kaepernick is he doesn't fit the offensive scheme.
Reese added that Weeden can conform to whatever offense the Titans are running, whereas he feels the team would need to cater a specific scheme to Kaepernick. He also acknowledged that Kaepernick's political views are a factor.
"You don't want this circus. We just talked last week about how you thought Delanie Walker getting a death threat cost them the game," Reese said. "Well, you can imagine what's coming with this."
Letterman's one-liner
While Eli Manning and the New York Giants are looking to win their first game of the season, Eli's big brother, Peyton, was being honored by the Indianapolis Colts, with the unveiling of a huge bronze statue outside of Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday.
A surprise speaker in the form of Indianapolis native David Letterman got a turn at the podium.
"By the way, if you like football trivia, so far this year, Eli and Peyton have won the same number of games," Letterman said. "I'm sorry, I was told this was a roast."
Want to get away?
From Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com:
"Nick Folk might have had the kicking night from hell. But he's got to be a top candidate for a Southwest commercial."
Sports quiz
What NFL team drafted Brandon Weeden in 2012?
Sports answer
The Cleveland Browns
Sports on 10/08/2017