BOSTON -- His fastball hummed at 97 mph -- all seven versions of it. His curveball cruised with a hook that would make the Apollo Theater proud. And his changeup, the most potent pitch of all, left grown professionals looking as lost and confused as a group of Little Leaguers facing Danny Almonte.

At least this is what the hardcore believers in the Red Sox nation were hoping to find from Pedro Martinez on Optimism ... check that, Opening Day. Instead, what they got was a very mean April Fools' joke.

	“	If I happen to have a bad season and I'm healthy, that's OK too. I'm human. ”
		— Pedro Martinez

Martinez, who started just 18 games last year because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder, did nothing to ease concerns about the injury, surrendering nine hits and eight runs (seven earned) in just three-plus innings of work.

For Martinez, the performance was perhaps the worst of his Red Sox career. On just two other occasions since coming to Boston -- in 1998 against the Blue Jays and in 1999 against the Marlins -- had Martinez allowed seven earned runs in an outing.

And the fact that it came on Opening Day, after a mediocre spring and injury-shortened 2001 season due to injury, has Red Sox nation worried. Very worried. And rightfully so.

"If they want to panic, then they can panic," Martinez said. "All I can do is go out there and prove them wrong. I felt good today, felt healthy. I just need to make a few adjustments and get better command of my pitches and pitch like I know how."

It may sound like an easy adjustment, but it could be anything but easy. Martinez said he felt fine after his 84-pitch outing, said his confidence is fine, his aura is fine and his pitching will be fine. But then, after most reporters had buzzed off, he left you wondering if everything truly was fine.

Said Martinez, with a brief slip in confidence: "If I happen to have a bad season and I'm healthy, that's OK too," Martinez said. "I'm human."

Bad Pedro

The worst outings of Pedro Martinez's career (at least 7 runs allowed or fewer than two innings pitched): April 2, 2002: 3 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 7 ER vs. Toronto July 18, 1999: 3.2 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 7 ER vs. Florida (went on DL next day) May 25, 1998: 7.2 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 7 ER vs. Toronto Aug. 19, 1996: 1.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER vs. San Diego (with Montreal) July 14, 1994: 5 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER vs. San Fran. (with Montreal)

That's news. In 1999 and 2000, he didn't appear human too often, winning back-to-back Cy Youngs after going a combined 41-10 with a 1.97 ERA. He was the little guy who could throw with the gusto of Nolan Ryan and Bob Gibson and the accuracy of Greg Maddux.

And yet on Monday, he couldn't get a win against Chris Carpenter, who threw 2 1/3 innings and gave up six runs and four home runs.

That's because Pedro's three-plus innings were even uglier. Not only did he allow those eight runs, the second-most in his career, but he also hit two batters and often worked from behind in the count.

After allowing three runs in the first, he allowed six straight hits in the second, which led to five runs. After the sixth hit, a bases-loaded single by Carlos Delgado, you could almost hear the collective gasp of awe from home plate to the right-field corner.

Said one fan, sitting within earshot of the press box, "Well, there goes the season."

Maybe, maybe not. Martinez bounced back to strikeout three straight with the bases loaded, ending the Toronto rally right there. But it was the only Pedro-like part of his day. The next inning, he allowed a triple to No. 9 hitter Felipe Lopez and a sacrifice fly to rookie Eric Hinske.

The final straw was a leadoff single to Carlos Delgado in the fourth, which was followed by a four-pitch walk to Jose Cruz Jr.

"I don't want people to think this is just part of my comeback," Martinez said. "I don't have any excuses. Toronto took it to me today. Next time, I have to make better pitches."

But will it be possible?

In five spring training starts this year, Martinez had a 6.62 ERA, while surrendering a team-high five home runs. The buzz from scouts in the spring was that his velocity was there, but his location wasn't. His fastball, which sometimes had the potential to dance like a Charlie Hough knuckleball, was flat.

Against the Blue Jays on Monday, the velocity wasn't always there, with Pedro hitting 95 on the radar gun just once and usually flashing 90 or 91. The movement was there, too. But the control was gone. So was the consistency.

"His command wasn't there," Toronto slugger Carlos Delgado said. "He's usually real sharp with his command. He's got those three nasty pitches that he can control and put anywhere he wants to. And the control was a bit off. He's usually sharper than that."

Even Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, who rarely chooses to speak on behalf of his superstar pitcher, hinted at control problems.

"At times, yeah, he would hit the exact spot I asked for," Varitek said.

At times.

Toronto's Darrin Fletcher, a career 7-for-28 against Martinez, said the biggest difference he noticed from Pedro was a lack of breaking pitches. Some suggested prior to Monday if Martinez didn't throw many breaking pitches it would mean he wasn't yet 100 percent.

"He's a power guy, but he's always gotten me out with his breaking ball," Fletcher said. "So to me, I'm wondering why he didn't throw more breaking pitches. Now, I'm not in that clubhouse and I can't tell you what their plans are, but I'm surprised at the lack of breaking stuff."

The good news for Red Sox fans was that Monday was just one game. Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and Varitek, who also missed most of last year with injuries, both look close to 100 percent. And free-agent acquisition Tony Clark (3-for-5 with a home run), looks as if he'll fit in if he avoids the injuries that plagued him in Detroit.

Also of good news was that Pedro is scheduled to go on Sunday against Baltimore as planned. According to him, he feels at or near 100 percent.

But the bad news ... what if he's not? With Pedro -- healthy and effective -- the Red Sox at least have a prayer of making some kind of postseason noise. Without him, they may resemble the Texas Rangers -- a team with a ton of pop on offense, but little pitching.

"I'm fine. My confidence is fine," Martinez said. "My next outing, I'm going to go out there and pitch with a positive attitude. If it was July or August and I had an outing like this, I'd be worried. But it's not. So I'm not."

Wayne Drehs is a staff writer for ESPN.com.