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With that friendly reminder out of the way, here are some notes from around baseball …

* Pedro Martinez's season debut started poorly and got significantly worse Tuesday night, as he gave up four early runs to the Marlins and then exited the game with a left hamstring injury. Prior to leaving Martinez relied heavily on his fastball despite topping out at 88-89 miles per hour and served up a pair of homers to Dan Uggla and Luis Gonzalez when he left pitches over the heart of the plate.

Then he came up lame while delivering a fourth-inning pitch, grimacing and grabbing his leg as the training staff rushed to the mound. Martinez limped off the field and will reportedly head to New York for an MRI, with manager Willie Randolph seemingly indicating afterward that the injury could be serious. "He said he felt a little twinge or pop," Randolph said. "That's not always good, but we'll let it calm down and get an MRI."

Even if Martinez avoids a significant injury he seems almost assured of a trip to the disabled list. Because Orlando Hernandez pitched in an official spring game Friday before being placed on the DL he's not eligible to return for nearly two more weeks, which leaves Jorge Sosa as the most likely fill-in candidate. Sosa pitched 2.2 scoreless innings Tuesday in relief of Martinez, but would be at most a marginal short-term option in deep NL-only leagues.

* Chad Cordero was warming up Sunday night when his shoulder stiffened and he's expected to be shut down for several games after receiving a cortisone shot Tuesday. According to manager Manny Acta the Nationals "aren't even considering the disabled list yet" for Cordero, but they may learn more about his status Wednesday. Jon Rauch stepped in for Cordero in the season opener and blew the save, but later picked up the win and is capable of handling ninth-inning duties.

A one-time top prospect as a starter who shifted to the bullpen because of his own arm injuries, Rauch appeared in 85 games last season and 88 games in 2006. He's saved just a half-dozen career games, but has a 3.48 ERA and 180-to-68 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 209.2 innings with the Nationals. That includes a 3.61 ERA, 71-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and .230 opponent's batting average in 87.1 innings as Cordero's primary setup man last season, so he's a solid fill in.

* If you're searching for reasons to be optimistic about Dontrelle Willis potentially turning things around in Detroit after posting a 5.17 ERA last season in Florida, don't ask his new manager Jim Leyland. Willis started an extended spring training game Sunday in an effort to work on his shaky control. Asked to review the performance, Leyland gave his usual honest assessment and more or less confirmed that Willis is a huge question mark at this point.

"There were some good signs and some not so good," Leyland said. "The velocity was real good. At times his command was pretty good, at other times it wasn't. We're talking about a lot of encouragement because the arm strength is there and the health is there. Now it's just a matter of trying to iron some things out." It won't take great pitching for Willis to win games with the Tigers' lineup providing his run support, but he's a bad bet to post an ERA under 4.50.

* Victor Martinez left Opening Day with a hamstring injury and the Indians announced Tuesday that he's day-to-day with what's being called a mild strain. Further details are expected to be released Wednesday, but for now at least it looks like he could avoid a stint on the disabled list. For however long Martinez is sidelined, Kelly Shoppach will step in as the Indians' starter behind the plate and makes for a nice short-term pickup if you're starved for catching help already.

Shoppach strikes out a ton and will never approach the .301 career batting average that Martinez boasts, but had back-to-back 20-homer seasons at Triple-A prior to be traded to the Indians and has gone deep 10 times in just 315 career plate appearances in the majors. He's a must-grab in every AL-only league and is worth keeping an eye on in mixed leagues in case Martinez's injury proves more serious than initially thought.

* Josh Beckett started a minor-league intrasquad game Tuesday, striking out six Single-A hitters and handing out zero walks while allowing one run over five innings. He threw 64 pitches and is now reportedly on track to come off the disabled list Sunday. If he can avoid a setback between now and then, Beckett will face Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays in Toronto. That's an unfavorable first matchup, but it'll be tough to avoid immediately sticking Beckett back into any fantasy lineup.

AL Quick Hits: J.J. Putz didn't blow his first save until July 25 last season, but coughed up the lead Tuesday night when Josh Hamilton turned around a first-pitch fastball and deposited a two-run homer into the right-field seats … Torii Hunter was the lone Angels starter without a hit in Tuesday's blowout win over the Twins and is now 0-for-8 in his return to the Metrodome … With his health status uncertain and an April 1 deadline forcing a decision, the Rays declined their $6 million option on Rocco Baldelli for 2009, making him a free agent after this season … Compared to last year Joba Chamberlain's velocity was down a few miles per hour Tuesday, but he got back-to-back strikeouts against Vernon Wells and Frank Thomas to wriggle out of trouble while setting Mariano Rivera up for a save … After striking out in all four of his plate appearances Tuesday, Travis Buck is now 0-for-14 on the year … Jerry Owens has 50-steal speed and a spot in the White Sox's outfield all but waiting for him, but he's expected to miss at least the first few weeks while recovering from a groin injury.

NL Quick Hits: Yovani Gallardo's recovery from knee surgery is reportedly going well and he's on track to join the Brewers' rotation by the end of the month … Manager John Russell announced Tuesday that Ryan Doumit and Ronny Paulino will form a "tandem" behind the plate, with Doumit likely to start against most right-handers and Paulino to face primarily southpaws … Marcus Giles reportedly decided to back out of a minor-league contract with the Dodgers while driving to the Triple-A ballpark Tuesday and the 30-year-old may be considering retirement … Adam LaRoche and the Pirates are said to be at an impasse in long-term contract negotiations, but he's still under the team's control for two more seasons … Kelly Johnson is considered day-to-day after leaving Monday's game with a strained left knee and said earlier this week that he's been playing through pain in the knee since last spring, which makes his breakout season all the more impressive … Omar Vizquel (knee) reportedly could begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as Thursday and is hoping to return from the disabled list on April 7.