Pedro Martinez confirms his pullout

Previously, the Dominican Republic team lost two of its biggest names.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- Pedro Martinez confirmed Thursday he will not pitch in the World Baseball Classic because of his sore toe, leaving the Dominican Republic without three of its biggest stars.
All-Star sluggers Manny Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero also recently withdrew from the Dominican team, expected to be one of the strongest at the inaugural, 16-nation tournament.
Martinez is behind schedule at spring training because of an injury to his right big toe that has hampered him since last season. The New York Mets ace threw from the top of a mound Thursday for only the second time this spring.
The reasons
"They're better off finding someone who can help them rather than taking me, out of shape, risking my career," Martinez said. "It would be totally unfair to the Dominican. I haven't even thrown a breaking ball yet."
Martinez and Dominican Republic manager Manny Acta had hoped the right-hander would be able to join the Dominican team sometime after the first round of the WBC. But the three-time Cy Young Award winner decided against it, saying he did not want to waste a spot on the 30-man roster.
"I actually reported early to try to do something. That was my main goal, to play for the Dominican. They know I would like to be there, but I cannot do it," Martinez said.
The Dominican Republic plays its first game March 7 against Venezuela in Kissimmee.
"I know he would have loved to play and a lot of people would have loved to have seen him play," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "But if you're not physically ready, you're not, and these things happen."
Special shoe
Martinez has been wearing a special Nike shoe designed to alleviate the persistent pain in his toe. He threw 35 pitches Thursday -- all fastballs -- at what he deemed was 60 percent.
Paul Lo Duca, the Mets' new catcher, caught Martinez for the first time this spring.
"It was a good session. He's getting in shape," Lo Duca said. "I'm looking forward to working with him when he gets to full strength."
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