Mets' Martinez returns home to be with ailing father

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Pedro Martinez returned to the Dominican Republic to be with his sick father on Wednesday, delaying his plans to test his ailing hamstring.

Martinez had planned to rejoin the New York Mets for a bullpen session Wednesday. But Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Martinez, intending to fly to Atlanta, left a flight in Miami on Wednesday after he received word through an e-mail that his father, Pablo Jaime, sustained a medical setback Wednesday morning.

Jaime, 78, has a form of brain cancer.

Martinez told the Associated Press that he doesn't know how long he will stay in the Dominican Republic.

Mets manager Willie Randolph said the trip to the Dominican Republic may not affect plans for Martinez to return before the end of the month, possibly for a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 29-31.

"He might not skip much of a beat," Randolph said.

Randolph said there's no need to make even tentative plans for Martinez until the pitcher learns more about his father's condition.

"This is a family matter he has to deal with," Randolph said.

Martinez, 36, has been on the disabled list since April 2 with a strained left hamstring. He suffered the injury in his only start on April 1 against the Florida Marlins, when he gave up four hits and four runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Martinez said therapy for his leg injury is going well and that he expects to play soon.

"I'm throwing well and working out," he said. "My arm is in great condition and the speed is good, surpassing more than 90 miles an hour."

Martinez also denied rumors that he will retire soon and said he wants to play for at least another two seasons.

In his latest rehab appearance in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Martinez pitched 4 1/3 innings and yielded two runs, one earned, against St. Louis' minor leaguers. He topped out at 90 mph on the radar gun.

Martinez, a three-time Cy Young winner, was 3-1 with a 2.56 ERA in only five starts last season, after returning in September from surgery on Oct. 5, 2006, to repair his torn right rotator cuff.