BOSTON --
His nose was stuffy, his sinuses were aching and his head was throbbing from a cold he picked up a few days ago when he arrived in Boston from Florida.
But that wasn't the reason Pedro Martinez was fielding questions about his health yesterday.
It is the condition of Pedro's valuable right shoulder that is a major concern in Boston because if the ace right-hander doesn't approach his three-time, Cy-Young-Award self, Boston's 2002 season could nose-dive before it has a chance to take flight.
Pedro's mental health is just as important, if not more so, than the shape of his shoulder, which was strengthened by rigorous offseason workouts that included weight training, ultimately building up his upper body.
So how was Pedro two days after yielding eight runs (seven earned) in three-plus innings on Opening Day in a game Boston lost, 12-11, to the Toronto Blue Jays?
Well, he said he was healthy. But there was none of his customary animation. There was no sparkle in his eye, nor was there a smile on his face, two qualities that Martinez features when all is right with his world.
Subdued. Somber. Those words better describe Martinez's demeanor yesterday. Maybe it was the effects of his cold. Maybe it's the uncertainty that even Martinez feels as he tries to rebound from a frayed right rotator cuff that limited him to 18 starts in 2001.
He was aware, though, that he wasn't his confident swaggering, hit-me-if-you-can self on the mound. There was none of his bravado, but then again, he didn't have Pedro-like stuff, either, even if some of the hits were bloops.
"I pitched better than I expected. It was a cold, windy day," said Martinez bravely. "I felt better. I was relaxed. I was so relaxed that maybe I wasn't as aggressive as I usually am because I felt that good.
"But every day is a test for me now," said Martinez, who turned 30 last October. "I hadn't pitched since last August. I've never been hurt before. I wanted to be the best I could be for the fans out there, but I couldn't. I just couldn't. [I did] all I could do."
Nor does he have any clue as to when he might approach his old self on the mound. But he will have to conquer his mind as much as his command for that last snap of his delivery, the final bit of energy that turns Monday's straight-as-a-string 93-mph fastball into the 93 mph fastball with late movement that helped him become a three-time Cy Young winner.
"That was just my first game. I was healthy. It's a matter of time before it all starts clicking," said Martinez quietly, almost plaintively, without the slightest bit of the fiery competitiveness and cockiness that has been as much a part of his success in the past as his three quality pitches.
Again, maybe it was the effects of the cold. Maybe not.
But he did say, despite ESPN's Baseball Tonight's video evidence, that he hasn't changed his mechanics to a more over-the-top delivery as opposed to his normal three-quarters delivery that put extra torque and stress on his right shoulder.
And he wasn't about to take a look at video of Monday's game.
"I only watch good games to pick up good things," said Martinez. "I don't like to watch bad games because bad habits stick to your mind."
Martinez's sharp mind also has taken note that his brother Ramon's career was curtailed by a rotator cuff injury, one that required surgery. Pedro said Ramon watched Opening Day from the Dominican Republic.
"He said I'm fine, that all I have to do is adjust," said Pedro. "He said my changeups were high, but he said everything looked okay."
Manager Grady Little also is well aware that Monday's performance wasn't vintage Pedro. But Little said yesterday he plans to start Martinez on Sunday in Baltimore, hopefully increasing his pitch total by 10, to between 85-95.
"He's a smart individual. He realizes what's going on. He's not at the top of his game yet. But he will be," said Little. "The number-one concern has been his health. That's becoming less of a concern. The head muscle has a lot to do with the way he feels about his arm. That's the last thing he has to overcome. Once he overcomes that, everything will fall into place."
Of course, Little has no timetable for that mental transition, especially since this is the first time Martinez has been hurt, so he has no means for comparison.
As for Martinez, he's going to have to play it by ear, which is by no means music to the fans' ears.
"All I can do is go out there and work," said Martinez. "Who knows if I'm going to be okay my next outing? Who knows how long it's going to take me? I have no idea."
