Bronx Briefing: Russell Martin Is The Man
By Neil Keefe
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When it became obvious that Jorge Posada was no longer going to be behind the plate for the Yankees, I was overwhelmed with joy for the start of the Jesus Montero era in the Bronx. But after the Yankees missed out on Cliff Lee and with Andy Pettitte still an unknown at the time, the Yankees couldn't risk going into 2011 with a rotation being held together by Scotch Tape and a 21-year-old rookie catcher to compliment that rotation. So, Brian Cashman brought in the 28-year-old Russell Martin, a two-time All-Star and former Gold Glove winner recovering from a season-ending hip injury and needing offseason knee surgery after being examined by the Yankees, who was non-tendered by the Dodgers.
I was OK with the move since trying to compete with a rookie catcher isn't exactly a formula for success, and when Cashman talked so highly about Martin at the breakfast at the Hard Rock Café in January, comparing him to Thurman Munson, you couldn't help but think that maybe Brian Cashman had done some good in an offseason that had gone so badly. But when my friends from Los Angeles started calling me and sending me emails and texts wishing me luck with Martin, I began to think Cashman's recommendation was too good to be true.
Through the first three-plus weeks of the season, Martin has been better than Cashman made him out to be at that January breakfast. He has excelled offensively (he's tied for second on the team in home runs with six and tied for second in RBIs with 16) and defensively, and you have to believe the Dodgers, despite their front office dilemma, are upset that they didn't retain Martin.
On Saturday, Martin hit his fifth and sixth home runs of the season and passed his home run total (5) from 2010. On Sunday, the Orioles intentionally walked Eric Chavez to face Martin in the 11th inning with one out and Robinson Cano on third in hopes of retiring Martin or inducing a double play. The Orioles got their ground ball, but it was a single into the hole at short that scored the go-ahead run and led to a throwing error that eventually led to the Yankees putting up a crooked number. This coming after hitting a big home run on Sunday Night Baseball a week ago against the Rangers and after breaking into the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry with a shot over the Green Monster in a Yankees win at Fenway Park two weeks ago.
Coming off a shortened 2010 from hip injury and offseason knee surgery, and being unable to catch the entire time in spring training, it was expected that Martin would require a decent amount of rest and days off during the season. But with the Yankees having played just 18 games in 25 days this season thanks to off-days and three rainouts, Martin has been able to play in every game but one. However, with the Yankees scheduled to play 16 games in a row starting this past Saturday in Baltimore, Martin will get some time off during that stretch.
Sure, the Yankees' season is only 18 games old and there's plenty of time for Martin to make me forget about his unbelievable start to his Yankees tenure, but for now, you can't help but love the guy. He hasn't given anyone a reason not to.
