Pedro Martinez: How Quickly Everything Changes

As of my last writing, Mets ace pitcher Pedro Martinez was scheduled to make his MLB season debut on Saturday, September 8th at Shea Studium against the Houston Astros.

After throwing a bullpen session on August 31st in Atlanta, Martinez deemed to the fans, media, and most importantly Mets management that he was ready to make his season debut . . . albiet a week early.

Opting to forego his last minor league rehab start, Martinez made his return to a major league mound for the first time in 11 months, today, on Labor Day. In an odd, symbolic sort of way it was sweet vindication for Martinez, returning on a day where work . . . and the pay off for it all is celebrated. Martinez, a 35 year-old pitcher with a history of injuries battled back from what is the most serious injury any pitcher can face. No pitcher that has ever suffered a torn rotart cuff has ever pitched again within a year, Martinez did it in just 11 months.

Pedro, on a pitch count of 75, showed flashes of the pitcher that leads all active pitchers in career ERA (2.81,) mixing in a nasty changeup with a fastball that reached in upwards of 91mph, consistantly hitting 88mph. The first inning was more of a feeling out process for Martinez, he looked cautious and his first few fastballs failed to reach 85mph. But as the inning progressed, Martinez gained confidence, cranking his fastball up to 89mph, while mixing in his assortment of nasty breaking pitches. Martinez, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits in the first inning looked poised as ever, and grateful just to be out on the mound.

After the first inning, Martinez settled in nicely, retiring the next nine Reds he faced. In the midst of that streak, Martinez was able to record strikeout 3,000 in the 2nd inning when he struck out opposing pitcher Aaron Harang on a high, inside 88mph fastball.

After giving up two in the 1st, Martinez would only give up one more run. That run came in the 4th inning on a base hit that turned into a field error, which allowed Adam Dunn to score from first base, by the usually sure handed Carlos Beltran in center field.

The 5th inning would be the last of the day for Martinez; tiring quickly and close to his pitch limit, Martinez quickly allowed two baserunners with just one out. Martinez would get Brandon Phillips to fly out deep to right field for the 2nd out, moving Adrian Gonzales to third. With two on and two out, Martinez had to get one more out . . . and that out came in the form of the power hitting horse Adam Dunn. Martinez, reaching down deep, even without his best stuff, got the dangerous Dunn to ground weakly into the defensive shift at 2nd base for the third out of the fifth inning.

A fist pump from Martinez ensued, and after five innings, giving up just two earned runs on 76 pitches Martinez made a successful return to the major leagues. Martinez had far from his best stuff, but that was to be expected in the wake of surgery and painstaking rehibilitation that Martinez fought his way back from over the last 11 months.

From just barely throwing off the mound three months ago, to the long road back of pitching in Class-A ball in Port St. Lucie Florida, it took Perdo Martinez just four starts to get back to the major league level. A huge boost for a Mets team that is clinging to a five game lead in the National League East . . . and even further proof of how quickly in professional sports everything can change in the blink of an eye.