By Ken Rosenthal

updated 7:34 p.m. ET April 5, 2004

Oh, he can still pitch. That is not the issue, and never will be the issue as long as Pedro Martinez is healthy enough to throw a baseball.

No, the issue is whether Martinez can still dominate. And even though the answer evolved into "yes" in his season-opening loss to the Orioles — "yes" on a cold, windy night when Martinez needed 47 pitches to get through the first two innings — the issue will remain sensitive until the Red Sox decide whether to award him a contract extension.

See, Martinez no longer throws 95 mph. At least he didn't in spring training, nor in the Red Sox's 7-2 loss to the Orioles. He might get there eventually once the weather warms and his arm strength builds. But for the moment, his fastball registers between 87 and 91. That's good enough when his other pitches, particularly his changeup, remain outstanding. The Red Sox, though, might not want to pay $15 million or so per season to retain a 32-year-old free agent who might be entering the downside of his brilliant career.

"There's certainly a difference if you can't throw 95 like you used to regardless of how good your other stuff is," Orioles pitching coach Mark Wiley said. "You can still be a good pitcher, a really good pitcher. I don't know about overpowering and dominating guys. There's a window in there every (great) pitcher has when he can dominate. He was the best ever, for a number of years."

Wiley isn't saying that Martinez no longer can pitch at an elite level — only a fool would say as much after the right-hander's remarkable turnaround Sunday night. Martinez trailed 3-0 in the second inning and was in danger of falling behind worse as he faced runners on first and third and none out. At that point, he had faced nine hitters and retired only two. And then, suddenly, he snapped out of it.

To escape the second, he struck out Brian Roberts on a 91-mph fastball and Melvin Mora on a changeup, then got Miguel Tejada to fly out. Over his final 17 hitters, he allowed only two infield hits and a walk, and departed after six innings having allowed only three runs, one of which was unearned due to his own throwing error. It was a most unusual quality start. And if the Red Sox hadn't wasted most of their 18 baserunners, Martinez might have left with a lead instead of trailing, 3-1.

Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek spoke for Martinez afterward — Elvis had left the building, without comment. Varitek stressed repeatedly that Martinez did his job, giving the Sox a chance to win. Manager Terry Francona was just as emphatic after losing his first game as Grady Little's replacement. "Every time he throws, I don't want to talk about his velocity," Francona said. "I want to talk about him competing. He had a tough second inning. Other than that, he was very, very good."

Said Orioles designated hitter David Segui, a former teammate of Martinez's with the Expos: "Everybody is making a big to-do over his velocity, which I think is ridiculous. I know Pedro. He can throw 95 to please all you guys if he wanted. What purpose does that serve? If he can get you out with 88 to 91, why rare back and try to throw 100 every pitch? He's matured. He's smart. He should be given credit. Maybe he's smarter than you guys are giving him credit for."

Actually, few question Martinez's intelligence, knowing that he brings an artist's sensibility to the mound. What's more, the concern over his velocity might indeed be overstated. Roberts thought back to his 3-2 count with a base open and none out in the second. He hadn't the faintest idea what Martinez would throw him, and wound up swinging through a 91-mph fastball on the outside corner. "A lot of guys can hit 95," Roberts said. "It's a lot tougher to hit 92 sinking away and cutting in."

Segui said that Martinez's changeup was "as good as I've ever seen." The cold weather prevented Martinez from getting a feel for his curveball, but Wiley marveled at the pitcher's ability to throw a few nasty ones anyway, noting that Varitek couldn't catch them. Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro warned that Martinez still might throw harder, emphasizing, "I wouldn't count Pedro out."

No one should; Martinez is too great a warrior. The Red Sox's decision on whether to re-sign him, however, is a separate issue. If they keep Martinez, the risk is that he will either break down or decline into a more ordinary pitcher. If they snub him, the risk is that it could take Martinez approximately three seconds to become a member of the hated Yankees.

He can still pitch, all right. The issue now is his value.

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