Do the Mets have a chance without Pedro?

[PrimeX]

This has got to be the suck for Met fan...

Pedro Martinez out for the postseason with calf injury

By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer
September 28, 2006

ATLANTA (AP) -- Pedro Martinez is out for the postseason after an exam Thursday showed the New York Mets ace has a torn tendon in his left calf muscle.

The Mets, who won their first NL East title since 1988 with Martinez battling injuries most of the season, won't have the three-time Cy Young Award winner at all in the playoffs.

Martinez returned to New York after getting knocked around badly in his final start of the regular season Wednesday night, a 13-1 loss to Atlanta. An MRI showed a tear in the left calf -- different from the right calf injury that recently put him on the disabled list for a month and was thought to be his major concern.

"He did mention (Wednesday) that he felt some pain in the other leg," general manager Omar Minaya said Thursday night during the finale of a three-game series in Atlanta. "The bottom line is he's not going to be available."

Martinez will need four to six weeks to recover from the final setback of an injury-plagued season. Surgery will not be required.

Orlando Hernandez will start Game 1 next week in the best-of-five division series, the slot that was supposed to go to Martinez. Tom Glavine will go in Game 2.

Martinez (9-8) lost his last four starts -- the first when his right calf began hurting, the last three after coming off the DL. He looked downright awful against the Braves on Wednesday night, giving up eight hits, seven runs and two homers in 2 2-3 innings.

"It's taken a lot away from me: my confidence and the location of my pitches," Martinez said before leaving 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."

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 out, 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 playoff starters are Steve Trachsel, whose 15 wins are mitigated by an ERA of nearly 5.00, and six-game winner John Maine, a rookie.

Even before getting the news that Martinez was out, his teammates were preparing to be without him in the playoffs.

"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 posted 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."

[Bizzarofelice]

Depends upon who they are playing. They still have Reyes Wright Beltran and Delgado hitting for them even if only one starting pitcher is somebody of note.

[atomicdad]

I don't think the Mets will make it through the first round. They have been having problems up and down their rotation of late and having clinched so early they are just skating into the playoffs. Their only chance is a match up with St. Louis if they even make it. Otherwise LA, Houston, Philly, and SD are firing on all cylinders at this point, any of these teams should be able to take the Mets in a short series the way they are playing now.

[jiminphilly]

Mets can't hit left handed pitching. It's a shame that the Phillies probably won't make it because I think they would give the Mets a series.

[Shoalzie]

I still consider the Mets the favorite in the NL simply because of their lineup. They've still got the hammer in the back end of their pen and a couple decent starters. They are more like the Yankees from the standpoint where they have more than enough offense to offset their lack of starting pitching. I wouldn't discount any team at this point...I just think the gap between the Mets and the rest of the NL just got even small.

[WolverineSteve]

Pedro hasn't done shit for 2/3 of the season. They'll still come out of the NL. If there's a potential problem, it would be that they clinched so early and have been on cruise control for a month.

[The Assassin]

Yes

[JCT]

Torn rotator cuff. Peeeedro out 8 months.

[Mikey]

RACK the NL West.

[The Assassin]

Do the Mets have a chance without Pedro?

Now that they are playing the Dodgers in round one.....NO.

[The Assassin]

Shit.


Rack the Mets