The One Where Shank Pretends To Like Pedro Martinez

Pedro Martinez has written a book about his baseball career. Shank got an advanced copy and devotes today's column to the book he wishes he could have co-wrote with him.

Pedro.

The book.

At last.

He wrote it with the Herald's Mike Silverman. The official publication date is Tuesday. He's got a signing at the Barnes & Noble at the Prudential on Thursday. And you might be able to hunt him down to sign your copy if you make the trek to Cooperstown in July. It will be worth it.

Unless you are old enough and lucky enough to have seen Sandy Koufax in the first half of the 1960s, Pedro's performance with the Red Sox in 1999 and 2000 is probably the best pitching you have ever seen. For those of us who got to cover him every day, he will always be one of the most fascinating, interesting, charming, and downright fun characters who ever walked across the ancient clubhouse at Fenway Park.

At least this column isn't an obvious, transparent attempt on Shank's part to rewrite history.