Baseball Guru
06-28-2001, 03:51 PM
BOSTON -- The bad news for the Boston Red Sox was having to put ace
Pedro Martinez on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. The silver lining was
resolving the situation with reliever Bryce Florie -- for now.
Martinez, who hasn't won since May 30 and gave up four runs in less than five
innings in Boston's 7-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday,
will be out at least through the All-Star break.
The team said the three-time Cy Young winner was being evaluated for right
shoulder soreness and inflammation Wednesday at the University of
Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.
The Red Sox filled Martinez's roster spot with Florie, a reliever who returns is
returning to the majors for the first time since he was hit in the eye last Sept.
8 by a line drive off the bat of the New York Yankees' Ryan Thompson.
It's the third straight season Martinez has been injured at approximately this
point in the season.
"It seems to be a tough stretch for him," Red Sox catcher Scott Hatteberg
said on Wednesday. "But he always seems to come back stronger
afterwards."
Martinez is 7-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 15 starts this season.
Florie's activation came just a day after he said his days with the team were
over.
Boston offered the right-hander a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A
Pawtucket on Tuesday, but Florie said he would likely refuse it because he
was ready to pitch in the majors.
Florie had also complained that the team and general manager Dan Duquette
communicated poorly with him throughout his nine-month rehabilitation.
Refusing to accept the assignment would have forced the Red Sox to either
activate him or place him on waivers -- for the purpose of an outright
assignment or unconditional release.
Because Florie has more than three years of major league service, he had the
right to reject an outright assignment and become a free agent.
The point became moot with Martinez's injury.
"I'm not asking any questions," Florie said. "I just know that for nine months
I've hoped and dreamed of getting back into the Boston locker room. I walked
in today, and I'm playing."
Florie said he was ready to pitch and put the matter behind him.
"I don't have any hard feelings," he said. "Basically they made a decision to
do what they thought was right. I don't know what the night's sleep did for that
decision, but they changed their mind."
Reliever Rolando Arrojo will take Martinez's spot in the starting rotation.
Red Sox manager Jimy Williams praised Florie for coming back from the
injury, which required surgery to repair broken facial bones and contact lenses
to correct impaired vision.
"Just a tremendous battle, a tremendous amount of courage," Williams said.
"I don't know if there are a lot of players who could have come back."
The Red Sox have been hit by injuries to major players all season.
All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and catcher Jason Varitek are already
on the disabled list, and center fielder Carl Everett was out of the lineup
Wednesday for the sixth straight game with a knee injury.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
------------------
"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run."
LETS GO METS!!!
HELP BE AN ADDICT AND CLICK ON AN AD!!
Pedro Martinez on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. The silver lining was
resolving the situation with reliever Bryce Florie -- for now.
Martinez, who hasn't won since May 30 and gave up four runs in less than five
innings in Boston's 7-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday,
will be out at least through the All-Star break.
The team said the three-time Cy Young winner was being evaluated for right
shoulder soreness and inflammation Wednesday at the University of
Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.
The Red Sox filled Martinez's roster spot with Florie, a reliever who returns is
returning to the majors for the first time since he was hit in the eye last Sept.
8 by a line drive off the bat of the New York Yankees' Ryan Thompson.
It's the third straight season Martinez has been injured at approximately this
point in the season.
"It seems to be a tough stretch for him," Red Sox catcher Scott Hatteberg
said on Wednesday. "But he always seems to come back stronger
afterwards."
Martinez is 7-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 15 starts this season.
Florie's activation came just a day after he said his days with the team were
over.
Boston offered the right-hander a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A
Pawtucket on Tuesday, but Florie said he would likely refuse it because he
was ready to pitch in the majors.
Florie had also complained that the team and general manager Dan Duquette
communicated poorly with him throughout his nine-month rehabilitation.
Refusing to accept the assignment would have forced the Red Sox to either
activate him or place him on waivers -- for the purpose of an outright
assignment or unconditional release.
Because Florie has more than three years of major league service, he had the
right to reject an outright assignment and become a free agent.
The point became moot with Martinez's injury.
"I'm not asking any questions," Florie said. "I just know that for nine months
I've hoped and dreamed of getting back into the Boston locker room. I walked
in today, and I'm playing."
Florie said he was ready to pitch and put the matter behind him.
"I don't have any hard feelings," he said. "Basically they made a decision to
do what they thought was right. I don't know what the night's sleep did for that
decision, but they changed their mind."
Reliever Rolando Arrojo will take Martinez's spot in the starting rotation.
Red Sox manager Jimy Williams praised Florie for coming back from the
injury, which required surgery to repair broken facial bones and contact lenses
to correct impaired vision.
"Just a tremendous battle, a tremendous amount of courage," Williams said.
"I don't know if there are a lot of players who could have come back."
The Red Sox have been hit by injuries to major players all season.
All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and catcher Jason Varitek are already
on the disabled list, and center fielder Carl Everett was out of the lineup
Wednesday for the sixth straight game with a knee injury.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
------------------
"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run."
LETS GO METS!!!
HELP BE AN ADDICT AND CLICK ON AN AD!!