Pedro calls latest rehab start 'great improvement'

knick4life1218 · Post #1 » by **knick4life1218** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:48 pm

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Pedro Martinez pitched three perfect innings in his second rehabilitation start Tuesday before allowing three runs in the fourth.

Martinez, who has been working his way back from right shoulder surgery in October, threw 60 pitches for the New York Mets' Rookie-level Gulf Coast League team and then another 20 fastballs in the bullpen.

"I like this outing a lot more than the other one," Martinez said. "I am more in command, and I actually felt like I pitched a little bit, making pitches where I wanted to, and overall it was a jump ahead. It was a great improvement."

On Aug. 8, the three-time Cy Young winner struggled through three innings and was pulled before reaching his target pitch count, allowing five runs and six hits in a Class A start.

On Tuesday, Martinez gave up a three-run home run to Pedro Baez with two outs in the fourth after allowing a single and a walk.

"I hung a couple," Martinez said. "I threw a couple that worked pretty good. Some of the curveballs were really good. The changeup was good. They are coming along. It just takes a little while."

I like this outing a lot more than the other one. I am more in command, and I actually felt like I pitched a little bit, making pitches where I wanted to, and overall it was a jump ahead. It was a great improvement.
Pedro Martinez

Martinez, who had four strikeouts, could have gone out for another inning but his teammates forced a pitching change and he cooled down on the bench.

"It felt pretty good," Martinez said. "I just came out here and threw the last 20 pitches -- the game was taking too long -- and it felt pretty good."

Martinez said he expects to make another start in the minors before possibly joining New York. Until then, Martinez said he's going to work on location and not results.

"I feel like my pitches are improving, but I can't tell you how good I am until I get a big-league hitter out," Martinez said. "This is Rookie ball and A ball, and they are scoring three, four, five runs on me. I am not really looking for strikeouts. I am actually working on pitches, where do I want pitches to fall, what specific zone I want in my pitches and forget about the kids."

jrsmith1 · Post #2 » by **jrsmith1** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:52 pm

Nice.

Post #3 » by **mjhp911** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:45 am

I am NOT encouraged by Pedro's outings at all...

mets87 · Post #4 » by **mets87** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:22 pm

mjhp911 wrote:I am NOT encouraged by Pedro's outings at all...

guy hasn't pitched for a year...what were you expecting? 7 IP, 0 H, 8 k's?

any word on his velocity from this start?

bringinhinkie · Post #5 » by **bringinhinkie** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:16 pm

mjhp911 wrote:I am NOT encouraged by Pedro's outings at all...

rehab assignments are just for getting a feel for all his pitches and improving stamina.. hes not exactly there to do what it takes to sit batters down, hes working on all his pitches and rotations on breaking pitches/cutters,etc

Post #6 » by **mjhp911** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:10 am

No earned runs in his third outing! :thumbsup:

Jose7 · Post #7 » by **Jose7** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:00 pm

latest outting, 5 IP, 52/72 strikes/balls, 2 hits, 4ks, 1BB, o ER, 2 runs

he woulda pitched more had the SS not made 2 back 2 back errors as well as he had a sore neck from the way he slept it said on mlb.com

:clap:

mets87 · Post #8 » by **mets87** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:49 pm

he got it up to 89 mph which is good to hear. a few more rehab starts!

disgruntledknicksfan · Post #9 » by **disgruntledknicksfan** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:55 pm

in other news, endy hit 3-4 and scored a run at St. Lucie's.

the troops are on their way back, just in time!