Lil Bit Special Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/nym/y2008/m05/d04/c2640702.jsp 05/04/2008 5:01 PM ETBy Anthony DiComo / MLB.com PHOENIX -- Slowly, Pedro Martinez is pushing toward a return. Having spent the past month rehabbing at the Mets' Spring Training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Martinez has thrown several unstructured side sessions off a bullpen mound, and he could soon face hitters for the first time since straining his left hamstring. "Each time he gets up there to see how it feels, they push it a little further," assistant general manager John Ricco said of the team's training staff. "Then he'll tell them, 'Listen, I'm ready to go face hitters.'" Martinez will throw at least one more side session before that happens, still needing multiple days to recover between throwing workouts. He'll then face hitters either in a simulated game or an extended Spring Training game, at which point, the Mets will determine his Minor League rehab schedule. That could come as soon as next week. Until then, Martinez will remain somewhat limited. He's only thrown fastballs and changeups in his side sessions to date, though the Mets haven't saddled him with strict pitch counts. "With Pedro, it's going to depend on how he feels," Ricco said. "He knows what he needs to do to get ready. Once he's out there and faces hitters, he's probably going to dictate as much as anybody how much time he needs to get back to where he feels comfortable coming back and pitching in the Major Leagues." Martinez strained his hamstring during his first start of the season, leaving in the fourth inning of the team's second game in Miami. He's made only six starts for the Mets since undergoing right rotator cuff surgery at the end of the 2006 season. Originally, the Mets stated that Martinez would be out four to six weeks, though it now seems inevitable that he'll miss some additional time. This week will mark his sixth on the disabled list, and Martinez still needs to make multiple Minor League rehab starts before he can even consider rejoining the Mets. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiLMiCKMANTLE Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 to bad hes not facing retirement!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 to bad hes not facing retirement!!! I think he should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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