Today, as the Olympic torch approaches Athens for Friday’s Opening Ceremonies, baseball had its own kind of torch pass. Edgar Martinez announced his retirement, and Jairo Garcia made his major-league debut.

Martinez was on the other end back in September of 1987, debuting while Phil Niekro and Reggie Jackson took their final bows.

Here’s hoping that those first two names join those second two names in the Hall of Fame.

Edgar probably won’t make it; his career got started too late. But he struck HOF-quality fear in the fans of his opposing teams, that’s for sure. My emotional side says he’s a Hall-of-Famer, but my logical side says he’s not.

Dammit, Jim, I’m a human, not a Vulcan! Edgar gets my vote.

Garcia probably won’t make it, either. But holy smokes, 92 strikeouts in 55 IP this year? I can dream, can’t I?