Petey, Under the Weather, Lowers Expectations

[Guest Rotblatt]

from the Post.

]GROUCHY PEDRO WILL TOE THE LINE By MICHAEL MORRISSEY and BRIAN COSTELLO April 6, 2006 -- MET NOTES Pedro Martinez not only complained about the weather, but he's under it, too. In a candid conversation with reporters before last night's game with the Nationals, the Mets ace did his best to dampen expectations of tonight's season debut and cautioned that he still needs to get in shape. Later, he said pitchers were masochists and being a pitcher was not fun. Vegas, hedge your bets. Martinez described flulike symptoms, saying his body felt "grouchy" and that he had little energy and no appetite. His sore right big toe limited him to seven innings in spring training, and temperatures tonight will be in the 40s. "I hope I make miracles happen out there," he said. "If I can pull out a miracle, I'll be like I used to be." Though the three-time Cy Young winner has made a career performing miracles, he thinks a lack of spring work has affected him. On the bright side, he said his toe won't be an issue. "I will just go out there and take this game like a spring training game," he said. "Just do whatever I can. "As the season goes on, hopefully get myself into baseball shape and pitching shape, and do what I have to do." Willie Randolph said Martinez won't be on a strict pitch count. * Reporters surrounded Billy Wagner yesterday afternoon the minute the clubhouse opened. "It's just a song," Wagner said of the "Enter Sandman" controversy. "It's really nothing more than that. "If you like, I can call Mariano [Rivera] and we can discuss it and see if I can get his blessing. He's a baseball player like me. "We don't even hear the music when we're out there, we're so nervous." Wagner said Tom Glavine had the best idea. "He thinks we should all use it," he said. Paul Lo Duca threw out his first runner of the year, erasing Brandon Watson in the third. Victor Zambrano (strained left hamstring) plans to throw a bullpen today and is scheduled to start Sunday vs. Florida.

With Oliver our long man, I'm not optimistic about tonight.

Frankly, I'd rather see Petey go 4 innings, use Heilman for 4, then play it by ear.

[Elster88]

]Later, he said pitchers were masochists and being a pitcher was not fun.

He said that last year too.

[Guest cooby]

Ouch. Pedro in a bad mood is not good

[metirish]

Bad Pedro.

[soupcan]

Funny Glavine.

]Wagner said Tom Glavine had the best idea. "He thinks we should all use it," he said.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Is Jane Jarvis still alive? Maybe when Wagner pitches at Shea, Jane Jarvis can play her version on the Thomas Organ.

[Guest old original jb]

For some reason, I'm not really that worried. Pedro likes to mix it up. If he had nothing to say, then I'd worry.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Julio Franco is disappointed in the sag in Pedro's ass.