Pedro Martinez's injury is a big blow to the Mets

Pedro Martinez lasted just 3 1/3 innings in 2008 before suffering another injury. Doug Benc/Getty Images

MAILBAG Got a question or comment for Jon? Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Also in the Daily Scoop...
• Other key injuries.
• Forgiving Bartman.
• The next Jeter?

MIAMI -- Pedro Martinez grabbed his left hamstring with his glove hand, and suddenly all the great feeling from spring training was gone.

Martinez was healthy. He was pain-free. Then suddenly, he wasn't.

The Great Pedro limped off the field in the fourth inning, then limped out of the stadium late in the Mets' 5-4 defeat to the Marlins on Tuesday night, well ahead of the media mass.

Martinez wore a look of sadness and stress when he departed Dolphin Stadium, according to witnesses. He glumly shook his head to indicate he didn't think things were too good.

"He said he felt a little pop in his hamstring,'' Mets manager Willie Randolph reported. Later, Randolph amended it to a "twinge or a pop.''

Martinez is being flown to New York on Wednesday for a medical evaluation, including an MRI. It turns out all the talk about "two aces'' in Queens was a bit premature. Martinez lasted just 57 pitches into the Johan Santana Era.

Jorge Sosa, who replaced Martinez in the game, might join the rotation for now. Journeyman Nelson Figueroa -- a "solid 4A pitcher'' in the words of one scout -- is another option, at least until recovering Orlando Hernandez returns after a spring spent mostly resting his ailing foot.

Martinez gave the Mets five strong starts late last year when he returned after shoulder surgery, and he told us this spring that he felt the best he has in a decade. But now, when supposedly all was right, he could go only 3 1/3 innings -- not even strong innings at that. Before Martinez hurt himself he was torched, allowing home runs to Dan Uggla and Luis Gonzalez. Now Martinez is surely headed for the disabled list. Then what?

At least there's no injury to his arm. Mets people were taking solace in that. Did they have any other choice?

Perhaps he'll stage yet another comeback. But he's 36, and not the guy he once was. This may not be the worst-case scenario. But it's close to it.

More misery

The Mets aren't alone in their misery. It's like an epidemic of injuries out there, and almost exclusively to key people, it seems. Here's a rundown of the important injuries on the contending teams, where they rank on the worry meter based on their prognosis (I'm not a doctor, but I'll play one online) and possible replacements ...

1. Josh Beckett (back), Red Sox pitcher. The Red Sox say there's nothing structurally wrong and that Beckett skipped the Japan trip because the long plane flight would be tough on his back (even in first class). I have heard nothing more than unsubstantiated scuttlebutt that it could be anything more serious. But then, the Red Sox doctor saw nothing wrong with Curt Schilling before he suffered an injury so severe that he's probably out for the year. And the back is a tricky thing. Bartolo Colon has surprised by looking like an OK fill-in, but at this stage, he's no Beckett. There's no replacing one of baseball's two best pitchers if the injury does turn out to be more serious than they're saying. Worry meter: 5 (on a scale of 10).

2. Joel Zumaya (shoulder) and Fernando Rodney (shoulder), Tigers relievers. Zumaya hurt himself lifting boxes while trying to get away from the San Diego fires in the offseason, while Rodney injured himself in the more usual way (by pitching). There are hopes that Zumaya could return by midsummer (probably wishful thinking) and Rodney sometime before then (though his history might suggest otherwise). The Tigers will baby Rodney after not making extra allowances for his past fragility last year. In the meantime the Tigers are relying on journeyman Denny Bautista and a coterie of youngsters to try to put out their fires. Worry Meter: 9.

3. John Lackey (forearm) and Kelvim Escobar (shoulder), Angels pitchers. Lackey is expected to return sometime in May, meaning it's more serious than first believed. And Escobar may not return until next year, meaning it's as serious as can be. On the bright side, the Angels had the foresight to trade for Jon Garland in the offseason and have solid youngsters such as Dustin Moseley and top prospects such as Nick Adenhart. Worry Meter: 8.

4. Andy Pettitte (back, elbow and court), Yankees pitcher. He kept saying he's feeling strong, and I believed him about that, too. But he had to be pushed back for his back, and later he might have to concern himself with a court case he wants no part of. Worry Meter: 3 for the Yankees (and 10 for Pettitte).

5. Brad Lidge (knee), Phillies reliever. He hurt himself almost before unpacking this spring and hasn't been heard from since (though he's expected back soon). In his place, Tom Gordon looks like he's finally showing his age. Worry Meter: 6.

6. Casey Janssen (shoulder), Scott Rolen (finger) and B.J. Ryan (elbow), Blue Jays reliever, third baseman and reliever. The list of Blue Jays injuries doesn't even include the chronically hurt A.J. Burnett, who's healthy ... for the moment. Maybe playing in the division with the Yankees and Red Sox is debilitating. Either that or they're just an injury-prone team. If Ryan doesn't come back strong, they're in trouble since Janssen is already out for the year. Worry Meter: 8.

7. Jason Schmidt (shoulder), Dodgers pitcher. He's lost his fastball and there's no evidence he's going to find it. At least the Dodgers have a very solid starting rotation, with the one potential weakness being No. 5 man Esteban Loaiza (who failed for Torre once already, in New York). So while Schmidt may not make it back; they weren't counting on him and may not need him. Worry Meter: 3.

8. Yovani Gallardo (knee), Brewers pitcher. Gallardo is progressing after knee surgery and could be back in the bigs by May. The Brewers have a lot of young pitchers and have the enviable position of being in a weak division. Worry Meter: 2.

9. Martinez (hamstring). The Mets were touting their co-aces all spring. Now there's just one. Their rotation is strong; though not especially deep. Mike Pelfrey didn't look ready for a big role this spring, and Hernandez is still trying to get back from the DL. Worry Meter: 9.

1 of 2