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Pain in the ace Red Sox place Martinez on 15-day DL, activate Florie
Updated: Thursday June 28, 2001 9:28 AM
BOSTON (AP) -- 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 consecutive year 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 afterward." 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 Class AAA 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 consecutive game with a knee injury.
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