From the Associated Press :

The injured right toe that cost Pedro Martinez his final outing last season with the New York Mets is still hurting the pitching star.

Martinez said Monday evening that he has used a protective shoe among other remedies but still feels a little pain and hasn’t yet received permission from the Mets to begin training.

“This worries me a little because generally by this time of the year I’m already throwing,” he said at a gala dinner offered by Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez for his nation’s major-league players.

Any pronouncement regarding Martinez’ health is bound to be received with panic at this point in time, so it might be wise to take a long walk around the block, while remembering that medical science is doing amazing things with prosthetic limbs these days.