<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>ATLANTA -- The New York Mets managed to win their first NL East title since 1988 with Pedro Martinez battling injuries all season.Pedro MartinezStarting PitcherNew York MetsProfile2006 SEASON STATISTICSGM W L BB K ERA23 9 8 39 137 4.48They will have to show that same resiliency in the postseason.The Mets announced Thursday that the three-time Cy Young Award winner will miss the entire postseason with a left calf injury. The Mets had hoped to go with Martinez in Game 1 of the National League Division Series but will now use Orlando Hernandez instead.Mets manager Willie Randolph said Thursday Tom Glavine gets the start in Game 2 of the best-of-five series. Martinez headed back to New York on Thursday to get evaluated by team doctors."It's taken a lot away from me: my confidence and the location of my pitches," Martinez said before he left Atlanta. "When you don't have the legs to push off and create velocity and locate your pitches, you're in trouble. And I can't locate right now."Randolph hasn't decided whether to drop Martinez from the 25-man roster for the opening round of the playoffs but did say his ace would not be moved to the bullpen."The only way Pedro will be on the roster is if we're sure he can start for us," Randolph said. "We won't go in saying, 'Maybe he can.' Any uncertainty, he won't be on the roster."Martinez (9-8) has lost four straight starts -- the first when his calf began hurting, the last three since coming off a monthlong stint on the disabled list. He looked downright awful against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night, giving up eight hits, seven runs and two homers in 2 2/3 innings."He couldn't command his pitches," said Atlanta catcher Brian McCann, who hit the first of consecutive homers off Martinez in the third. "He was getting behind in the count."Martinez conceded that it would be tougher for the Mets to advance in the playoffs without him, though they've made it this far without a big contribution from their top starter. He was bothered in spring training by a sore toe, went on the DL at midseason with an ailing hip and fell short of 10 wins for only the second time in his 14-year career."When I'm out or hurting, obviously we're not going to do as good," Martinez said. "Anytime you lose a No. 1 pitcher, one of your five starters, it's going to hurt you a little bit. But these guys are professionals. They know how to do things. They've done really, really well without me. I hope they can do that again and pick me up during the time I'm limited or away."The Mets wrapped up the NL East title with nearly two weeks left in the regular season and looked to be a strong favorite to reach the World Series from a league that will have no other playoff team with 90 wins.But with Martinez looking doubtful, New York would appear to have one glaring weakness: starting pitching. Beyond Hernandez (10-11 going into a start Thursday night) and Glavine (14-7), the other potential starters are Steve Trachsel, whose 15 wins are mitigated by an ERA of nearly 5.00, and six-game winner John Maine, a rookie.Martinez's teammates aren't giving up on their ace making a sudden recovery in time for the playoffs, though they're also preparing for the alternative."I don't think not having Pedro means we can't win," Glavine said. "But there's no question your biggest concern -- ever -- going into a postseason is if you have all your guys healthy. And that's not going to be the case for us. We have to deal with it."Martinez knew he wouldn't be pitching Game 1 of the playoffs after posting a 16.97 ERA over his last four starts, giving up 22 hits and 20 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings."Obviously, the other guys are in better shape than I am right now," he said. "Everybody can see that. I think it would be a bad decision for Willie to put me out there the way I look now."When Martinez first strained his calf muscle, he didn't think it was that big a deal. Now he knows better."It affects my shoulder, it affects my legs, it affects my back. It affects everything, really," he said. "Those legs are everything. Without them, it's impossible to get the result you want."</div>http://x.go.com/cgi/x.pl?goto=http://sport...-092821&srvc=szSo ADrop, still not worried about him? (Pretty sure you were the one saying not to worry, he'll be fine for the playoffs)
Just about to post this.If Houston makes the playoffs, I expect them to take it with the hot hand and cool pitching.
Why would you have been worried about someone who threw 4 No-Hit Innings his previous start? But its obvious that he either re-aggrivated his injury, or it started to bother him again which is sad. Of course im a bit concerned about the pitching now, but we won the NL East despite Pedro missing almost all of the last 3 months on the DL so im not going to panic. El Duque is redicuously clutch come October, Glavine is a future Hall-Of-Famer, and Maine and Trachsel have been alright this season. Plus, having one of the best Lineup's and Bullpen's in baseball help to pick up the slack.
correction - duque was clutch about 7 years ago. glavine is a future HOF, but cmon...glavine? hes like 184. Trachsel....not gonna touch that with a 10 foot pole. maine? a rookie...ok
Per SNY (Mets Channel)Pedro Martinez to have rotator cuff surgury next week, out 8 MonthsIn other words, no Pedro for at least half of next season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Moose87 @ Sep 30 2006, 01:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Rotator cuff?? I thought he hurt his calf??</div>Apparantly, he had more then one injury....not supriseing since first it was his Right Calf, then it was his Hip, now its his left hip and rotator cuff. Somebody get him checked out by a doctor so we can fix it all this offseason.
