RSN: You're sometimes referred to as "El Guapo, Jr," What are your thoughts on that?
EM: I like it. If someone played in the big leagues, you are happy to be compared to them. Rich Garces played with the Red Sox, and I like how he pitched, so I have fun with it. He's from my city in Venezuela, too. I've talked to him a lot.
RSN: How would you assess your 2006 season?
EM: It’s been pretty good. The team has had a winning year, and we have played hard and the best we can. My numbers have been good. I have pitched more innings than before, but I still feel strong. I feel hard and strong, and am throwing 93-94-95 like I have all year.
RSN: You only allowed 15 hits to left-handed-hitters in 34 innings this year in the regular season. Why were you so successful against lefty-swingers?
EM: I wasn't aware of that. I think that I feel more comfortable against left-handers, but I don't really know why the numbers are like that.
RSN: How differently do you attack right-handed and left-handed hitters?
EM: Against left-handed-hitters I throw mostly 4-seamers. This year I have added a 2-seamer, which is new for me. It is not quite as hard as my 4-seamer -- it's around 91 -- and I throw it to right-handers. I also like to throw my slider to right-handers. Against left-handers I throw my change-up, because it moves away from them. Sometimes I throw it to right-handers, but not as much.
RSN: How happy are you with your secondary-pitches this year?
EM: Last year I wasn't comfortable with my off-speed pitches, but now they are much better. My change-up is my second-best pitch. My slider is good enough, but not as good as my change-up.
RSN: You allowed nine home runs this year. Were those primarily on poorly-located-fastballs or hanging breaking balls?
EM: It has mostly been bad location with my fastball -- leaving it up and too much down the middle. And sometimes you make a pitch but the hitter puts on a good swing and hits it anyway. That happens, and when it does you just have to tip your cap to him.
RSN: Last year you said that you almost never shake off your catcher. Has that changed at all this season?
EM: No. I have been on the same page with my catchers this year. Sometimes I want to confuse the hitters and Alberto (Concepcion) or Browny (Dusty Brown) aren't thinking the same, but that doesn't happen very much.
RSN: Your English is good now, but I'm guessing that you didn't speak it quite as well a few years ago when you were coming through the system as a catcher. How much of an issue was that when you went to the mound to talk to pitchers who didn't speak Spanish?
EM: It was harder, but if you aren't on the same page you have to go out there to talk. Maybe one of the infielders speaks both languages and can help. But many times you're just going out there to slow things down or saying to just throw strikes. You learn how to communicate, but it is definitely easier now than it was before.
RSN: What are your plans for this winter?
EM: My wife is in Venezuela, and I think I will go home after the season for a week. Then I have to go to Ft. Myers to work out from September 26 to October 10. After that I will go back to Venezuela to play winter ball. I will pitch for Pastoria. The Red Sox allowed me throw 25 innings there last winter, but I don’t know how many it will be this year.
RSN: You were roommates with Anibal Sanchez when he was in the Red Sox organization. Have you spoken to him since he threw the no-hitter for the Marlins?
EM: Yes, he called me that night. We talk almost every day. When he called after the game he cried because he was so happy. He said he never thought he would do that in the major leagues. I almost cried, too. I was so happy for him.
RSN: Did you speak to Anibal when he got called up earlier in the year?
EM: I did. I called him, and he said, "I'm in Yankee Stadium now." He didn't have time to talk then, but we did later. He made it, man. He made it to the big leagues. Hopefully someday I do, too.