Associated Press 18y

Pedro could be out until All-Star break with sore hip

MLB, New York Mets

NEW YORK -- Pedro Martinez will get treatment for his sore
hip and throw a light side session before a decision is made on
whether he'll get another start for the New York Mets before the
All-Star break.

Olney's take
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src="http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/olney_buster_m.jpg" width=65 height=90
border=0 alt="Buster Olney">

Nobody is going to catch the Mets in the NL East. Philadelphia is bogged down in Brett Myers hell, 11 games out of first, and club executives probably will spend the next 28 days deciding whether it makes sense to dump Bobby Abreu's salary now or in the winter. The Florida Marlins have been an amazing story, but the trademark of young teams is inconsistent; they won't have enough to make up the 11½-game deficit.

The Braves looked like Scarlett's horse from "Gone With The Wind", foaming at the mouth, ready to drop at any second; they're 13½ games out. And the Nationals are in garage sale mode, with general manager Jim Bowden effectively holding out Alfonso Soriano and Jose Guillen and saying, "Make me your best offer."

No, the Mets will win the division; they'll make the playoffs. And they also have a serious problem.

To read the rest of Buster's blog, click here.

Martinez, who was selected for the NL All-Star team on Sunday,
missed his scheduled start on Monday night. The team originally
planned to give a spot start to long reliever Darren Oliver in his
place, but switched gears before the game and recalled right-hander
John Maine from Triple-A Norfolk to pitch against the Pittsburgh
Pirates.

Martinez's next turn in the rotation would be Saturday's
doubleheader against the Florida Marlins. Mets manager Willie
Randolph said he could start as early as Wednesday if he comes to
him and says he's ready or he may not get another start before the
break.

"He's probably going to just miss a start like he is and he
might be able to pitch before the week is out so I'm not concerned
at all," Randolph said.

Randolph said Martinez slipped in the bathroom and fell on his
hip while he was changing his shirt during a series in Florida in
May.

The Mets entered play Monday with an 11-game lead in the NL East
and can afford to be cautious with their ace right-hander, who is
7-4 with a 3.45 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings this
season.

"I don't think it's long term," catcher Paul Lo Duca said. "I
think it's give him a day off, give him a spot off in the rotation,
get him to come back healthy. I think it's good for him, pitch one
time and then have the extra time during the break too."

Randolph said if Martinez can't go before Saturday the team will
place him on the disabled list retroactive to his last start.

New York optioned right-hander Alay Soler to Norfolk to make
room for Maine, who allowed four runs and six hits against the
Washington Nationals on May 2 in his first appearance with the
Mets. He went on the disabled list four days later with
inflammation in his right middle finger.

Soler gave up seven hits and eight runs in 2 2/3 innings against
the Yankees on Sunday night. He said Monday that he has experienced
some tightness in his right calf for the last couple of weeks.
Soler will be examined by a team doctor and will go to Norfolk if
he's OK.

"We just need arms," Randolph said. "The bottom line is that
with Pedro being out that really clouds things."

Oliver warmed up during the Yankees' 16-7 win over the Mets on
Sunday but never entered the game. Randolph said Oliver could have
started Monday but he made the decision to keep the team's bullpen
and rotation intact to try to set up a big push heading into next
week's All-Star game.

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