The Mets offered updates on their two eldest and ailing pitchers today, and the news was alternately good and bad about Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez. Martinez, sidelined since April 1 by a strained left hamstring, is now about two weeks away from throwing off the mound again after being examined by team doctors Monday in New York.
Although that was encouraging, the Mets still plan to be cautious with Pedro. He remains unlikely to pitch in a major-league game until late May or early June.
El Duque, meanwhile, was examined today in New York and is still experiencing pain in his ailing right foot. Hernandez will remain in a protective walking boot for another two weeks, then be re-examined.
In short, don’t look for the 40-something El Duque to pitch again anytime soon — if ever.