Pedro Martinez returned to the Dominican Republic to be with his sick father on Wednesday, delaying plans to test his ailing hamstring. Martinez had planned to rejoin the New York Mets for a bullpen session Wednesday. But Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Martinez, intending to fly to Atlanta, left a flight in Miami on Wednesday after he received word through an e-mail that his father, Pablo Jaime, sustained a medical setback that morning. Jaime, 78, has a form of brain cancer. Martinez told The Associated Press that he doesn't know how long he will stay in the Dominican Republic. Mets manager Willie Randolph said the trip to the Dominican Republic may not affect plans for Martinez to return before the end of the month, possibly for a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 29-31. "He might not skip much of a beat," Randolph said. Randolph said there's no need to make even tentative plans for Martinez until the pitcher learns more about his father's condition. "This is a family matter he has to deal with," Randolph said. Martinez, 36, has been on the disabled list since April 2 with a strained left hamstring. He suffered the injury in his only start on April 1 against the Florida Marlins, when he gave up four hits and four runs in 3 1-3 innings. Continued... |