Pedro sharp, so is a broken bat

If there's one thing that could really give the Mets an advantage this season, it would be a return to form for Pedro Martinez. Pitching in the last year of his contract behind newly anointed ace Johan Santana, and in his first full season after shoulder surgery, Pedro has ample incentive to become a dominant starter again, and having a formidable 1-2 punch of Pedro and Santana ahead of quality starters like John Maine and Oliver Perez would go a long way toward the Mets' goal of winning the division and making the World Series.

Martinez looked like the Pedro of old in his first live-game action of the spring on Sunday, throwing four innings and allowing four hits and a walk, while striking out four. He pitched out of a couple of jams and hit 91 on the radar gun, so you couldn't have asked for a better performance.

You could have asked for less injuries, but they keep on coming. Carlos Delgado, who has been showing signs of awakening at the plate, was cut by a shattered bat while standing on third base. He left the game and took four stitches.

Ramon Castro, meanwhile, took himself out of the game against the Tigers with a hamstring injury. He said it was precautionary, although it was the same right hamstring that had kept him out of action since March 9. That's two catchers down with hurt hammys, as Brian Schneider has had only 5 at-bats because of his sore leg.