The only answer the Mets have about what they can expect from Pedro Martinez following his outing in Wednesday night’s 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres is that they can’t know what to expect. As he has throughout his short season, Martinez provided both reasons for optimism and gloom during his 6 1/3-inning appearance. It was his second start back from a layoff caused by a groin injury and extended by his father’s death.

“Well, I can’t be satisfied with the loss,” Martinez (who does not hide his disappointment over poor outings) told a group of reporters in front of his locker following Wednesday’s game.  read more »

When Pedro Martinez exited his July 12 start against the Rockies after four innings, the Mets were quick to downplay his injury, which Martinez said was tightness in his shoulder as a result of compensating for a groin injury. Manager Jerry Manuel said there was “no doubt” Martinez would make his next scheduled start, which would have been this past Sunday.

But Martinez did not make that Sunday start, nor is he starting Tuesday against the Phillies, which had been the announced fallback position. The Mets have been increasingly quiet on the Martinez front, though he did receive a cortisone shot—not in his shoulder, nor in his groin, but in his hip.  read more »

Martinez is Least of Mets’ Worries There are no shortage of problems for the Mets, from Ryan Church’s concussive complications, to Moises Alou’s inability to heal, and even Billy Wagner’s ability to save his only poor performances for the worst possible moments, as he did Sunday, giving up a home run to Tony Clark as the Mets lost their fourth straight to the San Diego Padres, 8-6.  read more »

With Pedro Martinez eyeing a late-April return, the Mets would appear set to move forward with their planned five-man rotation intact. But if New York wants to make the decision best for the team now, later in the season and even for 2009, they ought to consider a wacky idea: expanding to a six-man rotation as soon as Martinez or Orlando Hernandez is healthy enough to take the mound.

While the starting rotation has been a strength thus far, much of that success has come from the young Mike Pelfrey’s development, and from surprise success story Nelson Figueroa.  read more »

The results of Pedro Martinez’s return to a major league mound were heartening to New York Mets fans.

He pitched well, giving up two runs in five innings, and got a win. But the numbers don’t begin to tell the story.  read more »