PHILADELPHIA — Pedro Martinez stood on the mound in The House That Ruth Built many times during big games, listening to the taunts, jeers and insults from Yankees fans.

If New York advances to the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Martinez, 38, would love to get the ball again at Yankee Stadium, the new $1.5 billion version. He won't be intimidated by the crowd, that's for sure.

"To have 60,000 people looking at one guy to deliver that ball and all of them chanting 'Pay-dro! Pay-dro!' is a great honor," Martinez said. "To pitch at Yankee Stadium on one of the greatest stages to play on, it's an unbelievable feeling."

The defending champion Phillies haven't set their rotation for the World Series, which starts Wednesday in New York or Anaheim, Calif. Cliff Lee, who is 2-0 with a sparkling 0.74 ERA in three postseason starts, almost certainly will start the opener. Martinez or Cole Hamels would start Game 2 on the road.

Martinez pitched seven shutout innings in a 2-1 loss at Los Angeles in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. Hamels is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three playoff starts.

Manager Charlie Manuel could base his decision on the opponent. Martinez might get the nod for the road start if the Phillies play the Yankees because he's used to pitching important games in New York.

"I respect the Yankees. I love the Yankees. But I would love to beat them as bad as I look forward to them," Martinez said after the Phillies won the NLCS.

Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, went 8-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 16 regular-season starts at the old Yankee Stadium. He is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two postseason starts in the Bronx as a member of the Boston Red Sox.

"He's been in the big moment, and I think that his performance the other day in Dodger Stadium, how good he pitched, he deserves another chance to go back out there," Manuel said.

ELSEWHERE

Padres: A person with knowledge of the situation said the San Diego Padres have hired Jed Hoyer as their new general manager.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the formal announcement won't be until tomorrow.

Hoyer, who had been an assistant to Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, is due in San Diego today.

He emerged as a favorite soon after Kevin Towers was fired during the last weekend of the regular season.

Yankees: New York City Buildings Department engineers say the ramps at Yankee Stadium are sound in spite of large cracks in the cement.

Buildings Commissioner Robert Limandri said yesterday that engineers determined that the cracks do not affect the structural stability of the ramps at the $1.5 billion ballpark.