NL NOTEBOOK
Martínez's Return Might Be Delayed
Mets pitcher Pedro Martínez, who has been bothered by a groin injury, might not start Tuesday night as planned.
(By Tom Mihalek -- Associated Press)
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The Mets decided to wait until next weekend to let Pedro Martínez take the mound again, giving him more time to recover from a groin injury. That means he won't pitch during a three-game series against the Phillies that starts at Shea Stadium on Tuesday.
Martínez, 36, strained his groin while running the bases on July 7. Five days later, he left his start against Colorado after only four innings because of tightness in his shoulder -- he assumed he had changed his delivery to compensate for the groin injury.
He got a cortisone shot on Thursday in New York to help the groin heal. He flew to Cincinnati yesterday and threw in the Mets' bullpen during the sixth inning of a 7-2 loss to the Reds, seeing how the shoulder and groin reacted.
"Okay, for the time being," Martínez said. "I'd say it's a positive day. We're going to see how it feels tomorrow."
Originally, Manager Jerry Manuel planned to have Martínez throw in the bullpen yesterday, see how he did, then decide whether to let him open the series against the Phillies on Tuesday. Manuel was already having second thoughts before Martinez arrived in town.
"I understand his [bullpen] session was excellent," Manuel said.
· BACK: RHP Brett Myers rejoined the Phillies after starting four games in the minor leagues trying to shake a season-long slump. "I had to get my swagger back," Myers said. "I felt like I accomplished that."
Myers has not been activated, but he is expected to start one of the Phillies' games this week against the Mets in New York. He started twice for Class AAA Lehigh Valley and once for AA Reading.
-- From News Services
