Pedro Martinez declined an invitation to yesterday’s pregame press conference, but fill-in Kevin Millar answered the only question most people cared about.

“Well, I’m his daddy; not the Yankees,” Millar said to guffaws from media members. “So he answers to me first.”

Once again, Martinez maintained radio, television and print silence on the eve of a playoff start. Boston’s notorious righty did the same thing before his Game 2 ALDS start against Anaheim, although he did speak after earning an 8-3 victory last Wednesday.

Regardless, his infamous “call the Yankees my daddies” concession speech on Sept. 24 continues to be the talk of two towns. Major League Baseball even allowed a licensed T-shirt playing on the quote before reconsidering this week.

Martinez, who once possessed unlimited swagger and confidence, hit rock bottom when he wished the Yanks “would [bleeping] disappear” following a 6-4 loss.

“I wasn’t playing mind games with anybody, I just said what I said,” Martinez said last week. “I am responsible for it, but I wish everybody would fall asleep for that one and let me go out there and do my thing.”

The real story is how Martinez threw against the Angels after finishing the regular season on a four-game losing streak – including two defeats to the Bombers.

Martinez (16-9, 3.90 in the regular season) was magnificent at times, touching 95 mph on the radar gun to finish his seven-inning stint with a flourish. Whether that’s the mental edge he needs to overcome his failures against the Yanks remains to be seen.

“Pedro is one of the best big game pitchers out there,” Millar said. “I don’t think there’s a baseball club in the world that would not want Pedro in a big game.

“We have as much confidence in him, you know, as ever.”

Millar laughed off the “daddies” comment.

“He goes out and wins the game and throws the way he’s capable, it looks like he’s a genius,” Millar said.

Boston manager Terry Francona never took much credence in what Martinez said and didn’t think the pitcher missing a press conference was a big deal.

“He’s going to show up on the mound; that’s what I care about,” Francona said.

Club relations senior vice president Phyllis Merhige was asked whether Martinez would be fined for the no-show. Merhige said that unlike the NBA, players aren’t disciplined if they choose not to address the media.

“What’s the point in having someone come in and sit stony-faced if he doesn’t want to be here?” Merhige said.

Whether or not Martinez wants to be here tonight, his team needs him now after the Yankees’ 10-7 Game 1 win over Curt Schilling and the Sox last night. If he makes the Yankees disappear, a trip to the World Series will await.

Head-to-head

Pedro Martinez vs. Yankees, 2004

GS IP H ER HR BB SO Avg. W-L ERA

4 26 1/3 25 16 6 9 24 .245 1-2 5.47

Jon Lieber vs. Red Sox, 2004

GS IP H ER HR BB SO Avg. W-L ERA

3 19 1/3 18 9 5 3 14 .240 1-0 4.19

On the air

GAME 2

Tonight, 8:00

TV – Fox

Radio – WCBS

Weather

63 degrees

partly cloudy