Ex-Scrapper Martinez is now 'total package'
The Indians' catcher has come a long way in one season.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Victor Martinez has made the transition from rookie to All-Star in just one year.
How good is the young catcher and former Mahoning Valley Scrapper? Just ask the Indians' last All-Star catcher, Sandy Alomar Jr.
Alomar started paying attention to Martinez last year when he went on a rehabilitation assignment and played against Buffalo, the Indians' top farm club.
When Alomar watched Martinez, he saw a catcher struggling defensively and letting those problems hurt his offense. What Alomar has seen this year is far different.
"He has everything you want in a catcher," Alomar said. "He's the total package."
Martinez is hitting .290 with 25 doubles, 12 homers and 63 RBIs. He ranks eighth in the American League in RBIs and has more than any catcher in the big leagues.
Alomar, long and lean at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, moved gracefully behind the plate, threw out base-runners from his knees and knew how to hit.
Was hit by Injuries
His career in Cleveland never became what it should have been because of injuries. But from 1990 when he won the American League rookie for the year award to his last season in Cleveland in 2000, he was a strong voice on some of the best teams in Indians' history.
Martinez, 25, is already communicating well with teammates and could surpass Alomar's best statistical season. He's on pace to hit 22 homers and drive in 113 runs in a 500 at-bat season. In Alomar's best year, he hit .324 with 21 homers and 83 RBIs in leading the Indians to the 1997 World Series.
"I'm a big guy and so is Victor," Alomar said. "He's 6-2, but he has an advantage I don't have. He's a switch hitter. He doesn't have to see breaking balls going away from him. I had to learn how to hit sliders and stuff like that because I hit only from the right side. Plus he has more power than I have."
Responds at cleanup spot
Since manager Eric Wedge put Martinez in the cleanup spot May 3, he has responded by hitting .298 with 23 doubles, eight homers and 53 RBIs.
"Victor is beyond his years when it comes to hitting," Wedge said.
Chris Bando and Joel Skinner, both former Tribe catchers, have helped Martinez defensively. Bando worked on shortening Martinez's throwing motion and quickening his release last year in Buffalo. Skinner found a flaw in Martinez's footwork, which has allowed him to make truer throws to second and third base.
"He has a much quicker release," Alomar said. "When I saw him in Buffalo, he was standing up and his ball didn't have a lot of carry on it."
The correction has brought confidence.
"Now, I want the runners to go," said Martinez, who has thrown out 14 of the last 46 runners to challenge him.
Not only has Martinez's throwing improved, but so has his game calling, ball blocking and handling of the pitching staff.
May get multi-year deal
The Indians may offer Martinez a multi-year deal this winter. With money tight and attendance down, the Indians are careful about making such offers.
"Right now, I just want to play baseball," Martinez said. "I don't want to think about a multi-year deal. After the season, I'll go home to Venezuela, lay down and think about what happened this year."
The Indians control Martinez for five more years whether they sign him to a multi-year deal or not this winter.
"I don't think the Indians are going to be looking for a catcher for a long time," Alomar said.