ATLANTA – Pedro Martinez officially is a go to start for the Mets for tomorrow afternoon in Cincinnati, with a catch: He’ll be limited to 75 pitches and won’t be allowed to throw more than 35 in any inning.
“It will be hard for me, but it’s in the team’s best interest,” Martinez said yesterday before the Mets beat the Braves 5-1 at Turner Field. “I’ll just do as they ask me. I gave my word.”
After an impressive bullpen session by Martinez on Friday, GM Omar Minaya gave the right-hander the option of pitching a full game for Single-A Brooklyn or the abbreviated session for the Mets. Selecting the start against the Reds was a no-brainer for Martinez, who has made four minor league rehab starts in his comeback from right rotator-cuff surgery.
“I’m just happy that I’m finally going to get tested at the big league level and see what I can do to help this team,” Martinez said.
Willie Randolph said Martinez will take normal turns in the rotation following Monday. If that’s the case, Martinez would make his 2007 Shea Stadium debut next Sunday against the Astros.
“Now, hopefully, I’ll come back for the next few years and not struggle as much as I have for the last couple of years,” Martinez said.
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Orlando Hernandez rejoined the Mets yesterday after leaving the team Friday to receive a cortisone shot in his sore right foot. Randolph said Hernandez probably will pitch next weekend against the Astros, but the veteran righty didn’t sound sure.
“I don’t know,” Hernandez said, when asked about pitching next weekend. “Maybe in two days I’ll have a better answer.”
Hernandez said the foot has bothered him for the last 10 days or so, but worsened as he was running to first base Thursday in Philadelphia.
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Julio Franco celebrated his addition to the Braves’ roster yesterday by entering the Mets clubhouse before the game and hugging several of his former teammates.
The 49-year-old was released by the Mets in July. The Braves had him on their roster for two weeks before designating him for assignment on Aug. 1. He spent the last month in the minor leagues.
Randolph normally disapproves of players fraternizing with members of the other team, but had no problem with Franco’s cameo. Franco stepped into the manager’s office to greet Randolph.
Franco came to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and flied out against Pedro Feliciano.
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Tom Glavine, who will face John Smoltz in today’s series finale, hasn’t given much thought to the idea he’ll be making perhaps his last appearance in Atlanta. Glavine has said he may retire after this season.
“I still certainly am entertaining the idea of playing next year so I have not reached the, ‘This could be my last time [thoughts]’ too much,” Glavine said.