(AP) Ann Arbor - For the second time in three seasons in Ann Arbor,
the AllKnighters are putting SP Pedro Martinez on the disabled list for
an extended period of time.
In the AllKnighters inaugural 1999 campaign, the team was forced to
place Martinez on the disabled list with arm troubles for the season's
final two months. The star pitcher's injury came at a crucial time as
the AllKnighters were leading the wildcard race. After Martinez went
down the team seemed to run out of gas and let to the New Diggens
Budweiser Frogs leap over them on the season's final weekend and into
the playoffs.
This year's injury, while less harmful to a team steeped in mediocrity
at 31-35 and losers of 3 of their last 10, is more serious and will put
Martinez on the shelf for at last 2-3 months. Martinez suffered a
stretched ulnar nerve in his pitching arm, the same arm he injured in
1999. Doctors are hopefull for a full recovery.
"We really hate to lose one of our better players this way. Pedro,
despite the team's struggles, was having another stellar year. It is a
real possibility that we will be shutting him down for the year. We
aren't going to take any chances with our team's golden arm", said GM
Michael Kennedy.
"Well, this situation will move Scott (Sanders) back into the rotation.
He will take over Pedro's slot as the team's stopper and goto guy. The
rest of the team is just going to have to pickup the slack. We will be
trying some young guys out and moving some people around to fill this
unexpected void", commented field manager Buddy Bell. Sanders returns
from a brief stint in the closer role. Sanders appeared in only one game
in relief, a perfect inning, and had no save oppurtunity.
