Pedro Martinez Done

Pedro Martinez is done for the year.  Pedro Martinez's injury-plagued season came to an end Thursday - less than a week before the start of the postseason when an exam showed he has a torn tendon in his left calf muscle, reports the Associated Press.

Pedro Martinez Done

Martinez (9-8) has battled injuries most of the season.

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After getting knocked around in his final start of the regular season, a 13-1 loss to the Braves on Wednesday night, Martinez returned to New York for an MRI exam. It showed a muscle tear in his left calf.

"He did mention (Wednesday) that he felt some pain in the other leg," general manager Omar Minaya said.  An Associated Press report details that instead of pitching Game 1 in next week's NL division series, Martinez will be in the early days of a four- to six-week recovery period. While surgery won't be necessary, there's no chance of the three-time Cy Young Award winner pitching again in 2006, even if the Mets make it all the way to the World Series.

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Columnist Nicholas Stix wrote in mid-September in the National Ledger that it has been a rough season for the future Hall of Famer.

The 34-year-old right-hander was sidelined for much of spring training with a toe injury. Due to a strained right calf, Friday was his first start since August 14. And due to a freak, midseason hip injury, he had missed a month.

Stix pretty much predicted it by writing that Pedro is an old 34. Note that with aging pitchers, “freak” injuries are signs of a body that is breaking down, in Martinez’ case, after over 2600 innings on the mound has taken a toll.

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Martinez 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, 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."

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Martinez finished the season with a 9-8 record.  It's only the second time in 14 seasons that he has failed to win 10 games.
 
His exit means Orlando Hernandez will start Game 1 in the best-of-five division series, the slot that was supposed to go to Martinez. Tom Glavine will go in Game 2 in the NL division series.

--Michael Amsterdam writes from Scottsdale