Pedro A Scratch For Monday

[bhs4life]

PEDRO OUT OF MONDAYS START (hip)

[TMAC951]

Yeah I saw that.. My fantasy team would like to thank this asshole for not starting because he puss was a little sore..

[wayne1218]

Who is starting???

[TMAC951]

Randolph said left-hander Darren Oliver, the team's long reliever, would probably start Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Shea Stadium if he wasn't used Sunday night in the Subway Series finale against the Yankees.

One of a franchise-record six Mets selected to the NL All-Star team on Sunday, Martinez is 7-4 with a 3.45 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings this season.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner said it was an honor to be chosen again, but he wouldn't comment on his health.

If Martinez feels better soon, his turn might only get pushed back a bit to later in the week. If his hip is still bothering him, the Mets, with a big lead in the NL East, could choose to let their ace rest all the way through the All-Star break.

"It's tempting. But Pedro wants the ball, he wants to pitch," Randolph said. "We're not going to put a time frame. Just when he feels good."

[bhs4life]

Darren Oliver

NEW YORK -- Mets skipper Willie Randolph confirmed the rumors that Pedro Martinez would miss his next scheduled start on Monday against the Pirates. Randolph said Martinez's right hip had been bothering him since he took a spill two weeks ago in Florida. The manager added it would be better to err on the side of caution instead of chancing it with the Mets' ace.
"I'd rather protect him from that one start instead of taking any chances," said Randolph, who added that Martinez could still pitch a day or two later, on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Martinez had a cortisone shot in his right hip in late May and aggravated the condition when he fell on a slippery floor in the Dolphin Stadium clubhouse during his May 26 start against the Marlins. The humid weather in Miami forced Martinez to change his sweat-soaked shirt in the locker room between innings and, on his way back to the field, he slipped and fell.

"It's just one of those freaky type of injuries," said Randolph.

Martinez has suffered his two worst outings of the year following the injury, but Randolph said he is not too concerned that it will linger.

"I'm not saying it's affected the way he's performed," said Randolph, who added that Darren Oliver is a possibility to start on Monday in Martinez's place. "But, after his last start, it felt more sore than it had previously, and we decided it would be best to let him rest three or four more days."

On Wednesday, Martinez lasted only three innings in his return to Boston in the Mets' 10-2 loss to the Red Sox. He gave up seven hits and eight runs, six earned, with two walks and one strikeout. Martinez, who went 2-3 with a 6.23 ERA in June, had another poor outing on June 6, 11 days after the incident in Florida. In that game, against the Dodgers, Martinez gave up eight hits and seven runs, six earned, with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings in the Mets' 8-5 loss.

General manager Omar Minaya said several different candidates are in line to start in place of Martinez, including Oliver, Mike Pelfrey, and John Maine. Minaya and Randolph both said a decision would be made following Sunday's game against the Yankees.

"Oliver's done well enough to start, so he's the most likely, but we'll see," said Randolph, who said he would leave it up to Martinez to determine when the righty will return.

The decision to play in the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh on July 11 would come from Martinez as well.

"He's one of the top starters in the game and, if he wants the ball, he'll pitch," said Randolph, who said Martinez would continue with his regular rehab exercise and massage to recover. "It's up to him for the All-Star Game."