rockin500
03-16-2003, 10:20 PM
MESA, Ariz. -- You won't notice Ramon Martinez in the clubhouse. He sits quietly near his locker, close to Sammy Sosa's boombox, observing.
The only time Martinez gets attention is on the field, when he makes an outstanding defensive play. Or maybe he'll move a runner over. Just do the little things. And that's fine with him.
"You don't notice Ramon because he doesn't talk much," Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker said of the utility infielder who has played for him since 1998. "He doesn't run fast but he throws good, he hits good, he fields good.
"You ask the guys who play with him and he's one of the guys who doesn't make mistakes or rarely makes mistakes. That's tough for a guy his age and a guy who hasn't ever really been a regular."
The 30-year-old Martinez is happy with his role. But in a perfect world, would he want a regular gig?
"Yes," he said, shyly.
At shortstop?
"It doesn't matter to me," he said. "Just as long as I'm in the lineup, it's fine with me. But that's not up to me."
In his career, Martinez has played in 132 games at second (73 starts), 120 games at shortstop (74 starts), 85 games at third base (68 starts), six games at first (four starts) and three games in left field (two starts).
The Cubs opened camp with Mark Bellhorn projected as the starting third baseman. Martinez's name has been mentioned as a sub there. He could fill in at short to give Alex Gonzalez a breather or at second if Bobby Hill struggles. Martinez just checks the lineup card and waits for his chance.
"Dusty knows me," Martinez said. "Whenever he needs me, I'm going to be ready and I'll give him 100 percent. He knows that. I'm working all three positions (second, short and third). I'm going to be ready."
Baker's reputation of using his entire bench was attractive to Martinez and helped him decide to sign with the Cubs. Martinez started 44 games last season with the Giants, filling in more than adequately at shortstop when Rich Aurilla was injured.
"That's probably the main reason I came here," Martinez said of Baker's everybody plays attitude. "All the day games and he likes to use his bench a lot. I know him and he knows me. He's definitely a player's coach."
And Martinez is a nearly perfect manager's player. He will accept his role as a bench player and focus on being solid defensively rather than try to make the "Sportscenter" highlights. Baker likes to call him a starter with no place to start.
"He deserves a shot, too," Baker said. "He only had one bonafide shot in San Francisco. He's not here as a threat, he's here to give us depth that the Cubs haven't had for awhile."
"I've been known for my defense since I signed pro," said Martinez, who has made just 23 errors in 1,025 total chances for a .978 fielding percentage. "You hear everybody and you take the good things and you keep them and work at it.
"What I try to do is watch (Omar) Vizquel or (Rey) Ordonez, really good defensive players. I try to look at them and take something out of that."
But players don't get much credit for being solid defensively.
"Nowadays, everybody wants to hit home runs," said Martinez, who, for the record, has hit 20 homers over his four-plus big league seasons. "I'm a situational guy, I hit the ball the other way. That's my main game. I'm going to stick with it and it's been good so far."
He feels comfortable at second, short and third, and recognizes the differences. At third, players have to react quickly. At second, players have a little more time. He'll use the same glove for all three, which also helps his comfort zone.
"If I know I'm playing somewhere, I'll try to work at that position a couple days in advance so I get used to it," Martinez said. "I think the whole key is you have to get used to that position, the angle and everything. If I know I'm going to play that position in a couple days, I try to stay ready and sharp at that position."
So, if you never see Martinez on the TV highlights, that's OK. He's just doing his job.
"Ever since I got to the big leagues, (defense) is one thing I've worked hard at," he said. "Hopefully this year will be another good year and we'll see what happens."
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/chc/news/chc_news.jsp?ymd=20030316&content_id=222122&vkey=spt2003news&fext=.jsp
The only time Martinez gets attention is on the field, when he makes an outstanding defensive play. Or maybe he'll move a runner over. Just do the little things. And that's fine with him.
"You don't notice Ramon because he doesn't talk much," Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker said of the utility infielder who has played for him since 1998. "He doesn't run fast but he throws good, he hits good, he fields good.
"You ask the guys who play with him and he's one of the guys who doesn't make mistakes or rarely makes mistakes. That's tough for a guy his age and a guy who hasn't ever really been a regular."
The 30-year-old Martinez is happy with his role. But in a perfect world, would he want a regular gig?
"Yes," he said, shyly.
At shortstop?
"It doesn't matter to me," he said. "Just as long as I'm in the lineup, it's fine with me. But that's not up to me."
In his career, Martinez has played in 132 games at second (73 starts), 120 games at shortstop (74 starts), 85 games at third base (68 starts), six games at first (four starts) and three games in left field (two starts).
The Cubs opened camp with Mark Bellhorn projected as the starting third baseman. Martinez's name has been mentioned as a sub there. He could fill in at short to give Alex Gonzalez a breather or at second if Bobby Hill struggles. Martinez just checks the lineup card and waits for his chance.
"Dusty knows me," Martinez said. "Whenever he needs me, I'm going to be ready and I'll give him 100 percent. He knows that. I'm working all three positions (second, short and third). I'm going to be ready."
Baker's reputation of using his entire bench was attractive to Martinez and helped him decide to sign with the Cubs. Martinez started 44 games last season with the Giants, filling in more than adequately at shortstop when Rich Aurilla was injured.
"That's probably the main reason I came here," Martinez said of Baker's everybody plays attitude. "All the day games and he likes to use his bench a lot. I know him and he knows me. He's definitely a player's coach."
And Martinez is a nearly perfect manager's player. He will accept his role as a bench player and focus on being solid defensively rather than try to make the "Sportscenter" highlights. Baker likes to call him a starter with no place to start.
"He deserves a shot, too," Baker said. "He only had one bonafide shot in San Francisco. He's not here as a threat, he's here to give us depth that the Cubs haven't had for awhile."
"I've been known for my defense since I signed pro," said Martinez, who has made just 23 errors in 1,025 total chances for a .978 fielding percentage. "You hear everybody and you take the good things and you keep them and work at it.
"What I try to do is watch (Omar) Vizquel or (Rey) Ordonez, really good defensive players. I try to look at them and take something out of that."
But players don't get much credit for being solid defensively.
"Nowadays, everybody wants to hit home runs," said Martinez, who, for the record, has hit 20 homers over his four-plus big league seasons. "I'm a situational guy, I hit the ball the other way. That's my main game. I'm going to stick with it and it's been good so far."
He feels comfortable at second, short and third, and recognizes the differences. At third, players have to react quickly. At second, players have a little more time. He'll use the same glove for all three, which also helps his comfort zone.
"If I know I'm playing somewhere, I'll try to work at that position a couple days in advance so I get used to it," Martinez said. "I think the whole key is you have to get used to that position, the angle and everything. If I know I'm going to play that position in a couple days, I try to stay ready and sharp at that position."
So, if you never see Martinez on the TV highlights, that's OK. He's just doing his job.
"Ever since I got to the big leagues, (defense) is one thing I've worked hard at," he said. "Hopefully this year will be another good year and we'll see what happens."
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/chc/news/chc_news.jsp?ymd=20030316&content_id=222122&vkey=spt2003news&fext=.jsp