Pedro and Church; One goes into a hospital, the other comes out of one

Pedro Martinez was scheduled to throw a bullpen session today at Turner Field in Atlanta as he inches his way closer to returning to the Mets rotation. Plans for the session were scrapped when Martinez learned via phone call that his ailing father suffered a setback in the Dominican Republic.

Pedro's father, Pablo, is suffering from brain cancer. My thoughts go out to Pedro and his family.

The Mets are looking for Martinez to make his return possibly as early as next week when the LA Dodgers come to Shea.

I'd love to see Pedro back so soon, but I don't want the team to rush anything and possibly lose him for an even longer amount of time.

~~~~~

Ryan Church, most likely still a bit dazed and confused after taking a knee to the skull last night, has been released from the hospital and will report to the stadium on time today, thought almost definitely will not play.

He's currently listed as "day-to-day" or in other words, "sitting on the bench all the time, but not going on the DL, therefore taking up a spot on the roster and not allowing another player to come up even if he can't play."

If you couldn't tell, I hate that term.

Hopefully Church will make a quick recovery. This lineup desperately needs his bat.