Talking With: Russell Martin
The 2006 Dodgers has been nothing if not interesting, and you can take a pick from a variety of reasons. If you like your teams absurdly streaky, the Dodgers had you covered and then some. If you enjoy the return of local products done (and still doing) good, Nomar Garciaparra certainly fits the bill. Junkie for roster turnover? First-year GM Ned Colletti pulled that off. Twice. For that matter, Colletti's arrival itself, along with new skipper Grady Little, have given fans plenty to keep their eye on.
But for my money, the most enjoyable and exciting part of this season has been watching a plethora of rookie talent develop and make its presence felt. And make a difference, often carrying the team through various stretches when the veterans were either injured or simply under-performing. They've become a huge part of this team's present and future, and for that, Dodgers fans should be very optimistic.
There have been a lot of first year guys making contributions all season, but the five guys who've spent the most time up are Chad Billingsley, Jonathon Broxton, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin and Takashi Saito (36 years old, but a rookie nonetheless). I caught up with all five at various times last week and will be posting a series of interviews with each. The first is with Russell Martin, one of the most mature young athletes I've ever met. He's also a born leader, which comes across both from talking with him and hearing others talk about him. I didn't have a ton of time with Martin, as we talked on the day of Nomar's "salami," so the clubhouse was predictably chaotic. But in talking about his rookie season, making himself an equal with the vets, and being proud of his dad, the words make it clear that the dish is in good hands. Here's what he had to say.
Andrew Kamenetzky: Have you had a chance to take a moment and reflect upon your rookie season? Just thinking about it?
Russell Martin: Well, I don't really think about personal statistics or anything like that. Is that what you're talking about?
AK: No, I mean just the entire experience in general.
RM: Oh, OK. It kind of happened quickly. I came up, got my opportunity and I just tried to make the best of it. My attitude is just out there and play hard every day. Just try to take of the things that I can take care of. Things that I don't have control of, I don't worry about. It's been fun, the whole season, and I'm just happy to be here. Now we're in a playoff run and it's the reason I play baseball.
AK: Did you have any expectations coming into the season? Thoughts that you might spend a certain amount of time up with the club?
RM: Well, I knew that if I had a decent season, I had a chance to get called up at some point. I kind of happened a little quicker than I thought it would, but I was always ready for it. And when I got that opportunity, I tried to make the best of it. And I did.
AK: What, if anything, has been the hardest transition when it comes to playing at this level? And the Major League lifestyle?
RM: Um, I don't know if anything's been "difficult." You know, everything in the Major League, pitching's a little better, defense is a little better, so you kind of have to adjust to those things. And pitchers make adjustments. If they see some things, a weakness that you have, they try to exploit it. So I've had to make some adjustments myself, and that's probably the biggest thing. To adjust to what other people are trying to do.
AK: Has there been anything that's come a little easier than you expected or has been more comfortable than you would have thought?
RM: The more I catch, the more I get comfortable with the pitchers and stuff. When I first got called up, you always need a couple starts, just to get the feel for what a pitcher likes to do and stuff. And that's probably one of the things that was the hardest. But now, this late in the season, I'm perfectly comfortable with every single pitcher out there. I know exactly what they want to do.
AK: Every pitcher has talked about the instant respect that they both had for you and that you commanded for yourself. How long did it take before you felt asserting yourself on any level as a rookie?
RM: Well, when I play, I never play like, "Oh, I'm a rookie. I'm gonna play like one." I just play like I'm part of the team and that's the way they guys treated me. They don't treat me like I'm a rookie. They treat me like anybody else on the team. I just go out there and try to do my job, whatever it takes, to help the pitching staff. And that's my main concern, for our pitchers to do well. That's the most important job as a catcher.
AK: Was there ever a feeling of intimidation on your end, wondering if you were at a point where you could say something to these guys with so much more experience?
RM: No, not really. I just say whatever I think is right and I don't really think about it.
AK: There's always talk about you, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Jonathon Broxton, Chad Billingsley, etc. being a part of this "core" for the next five years. The next seven years. What does it feel like to be mentioned in those kind of descriptions?
RM: That's awesome. You know, Los Angeles is the place to be to play baseball and I have confidence in all those guys that you just named, because they're tremendous players. Every single one of those guys had pretty good rookie seasons. If we can keep us together, I'm pretty sure we'll be solid years for come.
AK: And on the same token, when they traded Dioner Navarro, also a well regarded young player, the front office was essentially handing you the keys to the car after a very short amount of time. Is that in any way overwhelming or does it just add confidence?
RM: Well, I always had the mindset of, "I want this to be my job." I've worked really hard and it's not like it was just given to me. I had to earn it. If it was a job that they just gave me, there would be some pressure there. But I felt like I played hard and I did all the right things to earn it.
AK: And finally, what was it like to see your dad (Russell Martin Sr) playing the national anthem on his sax for the Dodger fans?
RM: That was awesome. I was nervous for him, but he nailed it. He looked just calm and composed like he had done it a million times before.
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i think russel is my favorite player...it helps that he looks like turtle from entourage
Posted by: bmurph | September 27, 2006 at 10:13 AM
AK,
Thanks for writing such a great profile and interview about the person who will undoubtedly be the bedrock of Dodger Blue for some years to come. I think I was first impressed with Russ when I read the Fathers Day LA Times column about Russell and his Dad.
What really impresses me about Russell's character is that, NOT ONCE have we heard him complain about living in Los Angeles because he can't find good Gravy Fries like he had back in Montreal.
It bears repeating: these two guys are seperated at birth!
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2005/09/17/hEbJ9ToD.jpg
&
http://us.tv1.yimg.com/tv.yahoo.com/images/he/photo/tv_pix/hbo/entourage/jerry_ferrara/entourage05.jpg
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | September 27, 2006 at 10:34 AM
GOTTA LOVE THE CLASS OF 2006. EACH AND EVERYONE.
RUSS, BROX, ANDRE, SAITO , BILLZ AND KUO.
THE CLASS OF 2007 WILL INCLUDE LONEY AND KEMP
AND WE CAN ONLY HOPE MORE GREAT PLAYERS LIKE
WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR.
Posted by: stargazin | September 27, 2006 at 10:58 AM
I feel like AK/BK are comatose after all this redbird stuff. Seriously, If the cards miss the playoffs i'll be legitamately worried about them.
Posted by: bmurph | September 27, 2006 at 11:09 AM
DodgerBlueBalls-
I'll be okay, but it is pretty depressing to watch a team fall apart like they have. Sort of like watching a slow motion car accident. Thanks for thinking of us, though.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 27, 2006 at 11:51 AM
BM -THE TURTLE LOOK IS IN.
Posted by: stargazin | September 27, 2006 at 11:55 AM
THE CARDS FALL APART. THE BLOG FALLS APART.
COINCIDENCE?? I DON'T THINK SO.
A CARD WIN TONITE WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE DODGERS,
GOOD FOR THE K BROTHERS(AK,BK AND DK), GOOD
FOR THE BLOG AND GOOD FOR AMERICA.
INVEST IN AMERICA. ITS YOUR FUTURE.
Posted by: stargazin | September 27, 2006 at 11:58 AM
YESTERDAY I HAD THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH FEELING.
TODAY I GOT THE "ROCKY MOVIE" FEELING.
LIKE I SAID, NOMAR WITH CASTS ON BOTH LEGS HITTIN
THAT FINAL WALK OFF HOMER.
Posted by: stargazin | September 27, 2006 at 12:01 PM
BK AND AK ON A BUMMER AND LOLO ON THE FRITZ.
THE BLOG IS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN NOMAR.
BUT IN THE END THE BLOG(AK AND BK)
WILL HIT A WALK OFF HOMER ALSO.
Posted by: stargazin | September 27, 2006 at 12:03 PM
BK,
Are you having Gravy Fries withdrawls, too? I actually think it was Bmurph who was more conserned for you than I. But I understand. Watching St. Louis try to beat the Madres has been like watching Popeye eat a can of E.
Coli Spinach before trying to fight Bluto and save Olive Oil: poor guy just get pushed all over like a rag-doll before he sh!ts all over the bed and the girl!
(Thanks for that video, MTI)
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | September 27, 2006 at 12:33 PM
i really like how dodger blue balls and i have been thinking the exact same thing. at what point is this going to completely catch on? like the robert horry looking like will smith.
Posted by: bmurph | September 27, 2006 at 12:36 PM
AK/BK,
Are you guys OK? It's not like you to disregard your blog activities. And when you do you usually give us a heads up. I got caught off-guard by the "in the air" thing so I know something is up.
Posted by: LoLo | September 27, 2006 at 01:37 PM
Hey all,
Just to clarify, BK and I will be on a plane later this evening. We've been on an ESPN assignment the last couple days and driving around NY, so it's been difficult for us to update the comments as often as we want. We're certainly not trying to leave anyone hanging. But we're back in L.A. tomorrow, and everything goes back to normal.
FYI - If you want the comments to go straight through without a mandatory screening, write the Times and let them know in enthusiastic tones. You won't hurt BK or my feelings.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | September 27, 2006 at 02:29 PM
AK,
I guess we sometimes forget that you two have day jobs. HAHA!!
Posted by: LoLo | September 27, 2006 at 02:55 PM
Where is all the sympathy for the cardinals coming from. Does no one remember 1985. How can you watch Ozzie go down to get that ball and hear "Go crazy folks, go crazy!" without wanting to throw the remote at the wall.
Every Dodger fan should route against the cardinals as a matter of principle as we do the yankees. They should fall just below the giants in terms of loathing and disgust. They wore light blue freaking uniforms.
I enjoyed seeing the Red Sox win a world series, good for them. The best part, the best part, not only did the cards get swept, cardinal fans will have to watch the sox win the championship at Busch for the next hundred years.
Posted by: A lonely boy in blue | September 27, 2006 at 03:54 PM
2-1 Nats!
Posted by: Limited7 | September 27, 2006 at 04:38 PM
a lonely boy in blue,
in general i root against the cardinals but when they are playing the padres, i have to root for them. and if you look back i was more looking out for the health of ak/bk, than rooting for the cardinals.
Posted by: bmurph | September 27, 2006 at 04:49 PM
4-1 Nats....hope they can keep it up!
Posted by: Limited7 | September 27, 2006 at 04:57 PM
We have to win today...Penny pitching tomorrow...so it is a automatic loss.
Posted by: Tom | September 27, 2006 at 06:52 PM
Dodger Blue...On the Goo...JD Drew!!!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | September 27, 2006 at 07:59 PM
madres lost! WOOT!
Posted by: Jen | September 27, 2006 at 08:06 PM
SAITO Arigato...Arigato...Arigato SAYONARA!!!
Padres are losing while Phillies are struggling.
VIVA AZUL! Viva Vince Scully!! Goodluck to Penny-pinching!!!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | September 27, 2006 at 08:16 PM
Saito for President. Calm under pressure. Plus, his English is about as good as our current President, anyway. And our Governator as well, come to think of it.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | September 27, 2006 at 08:19 PM
I LOVE RUSSELL MARTIN! AND NOT JUST BECAUSE HES HOT, BUT BECAUSE HES A GOOD PLAYER AND HE TRIES HIS BEST EVERYTIME HE COMES UP TO BAT. AND I THINK HEs PART OF WHATS GONNA TAKE THE DODGERS TO THE PLAY-OFFS BABY!
Posted by: MONICA-14 YEARS OLD | September 27, 2006 at 10:09 PM
Is it me or does it seem that everytime the Dodger's win with Saito and Martin closing, Saito is happy and appears so everytime he congratulates Martin, but Martin sometimes barely cracks a smile. Yet some few games Saito doesn't close it out, with another pitcher chosen to end the game, Martin then seems to show more emotion to the pitcher he congratulates with. Don't get me wrong as I LOVE the Dodger's and Martin as he definitely is a Rookie of the Year Candidate, but is it me or has anyone else caught that too???
Posted by: Elton Chang | September 28, 2006 at 12:21 AM
Elton,
I think what you are seeing is that Saito closing out a game has become so anti-climatic. The dude is just nails. Shut down a powerful offense and close out an important game. Just another day at the office.
When any other pitcher has to close the game, you and I and everyone else knows that is NOT a guarentee with this staff. So much more pressure. So much more relief!
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | September 28, 2006 at 07:03 AM
Maybe Martin is used to Saito's great performances. Not that he doesn't appreciate them, but he expects Sammy to do the job. He shows more emotion when someone else closes a game out because others are much less predictably good. Maybe Martin, like the rest of us, has some elation inspired by relief when he is able to congratulate another member of the bullpen at the end of the game. He is extra-happy for another guy because many of the other guys have struggled so much.
Posted by: hodges14 | September 28, 2006 at 07:20 AM
Darn, the Phillies pulled it out last night. 15 innings. Penny going today against Kim makes me less than optimistic. Do we get Penny or Penko? Penny needs to come up with a good performance today. He has really dropped the ball in the second half. Hell, if he had just pitched .500 ball after the break we'd already be in the playoffs. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Posted by: Jim | September 28, 2006 at 07:56 AM
im usually not as worried with penny because we give him a ton of run support. i mean the guy has almost a 5 era and he's the nl leader in wins (along with lowe).
Posted by: bmurph | September 28, 2006 at 08:54 AM
Hello Dodgerville,
I too was dissappointed that the Phillies came back and won that game in 14! If we could have been 2 up, I think we're in the playoffs, no questions. But that's OK, we'll take this down to the wire. More excitement for us all.
I think Penny is going to come through today, and here's why:
Before anything, I also have ZERO confidence in Penny, I think he is our No. 5 starter (or should be) -- HOWEVER, we all know what an egotistical man Penny is and now that Lowe also has 16 wins, I think Penny comes out with a great performance just to one up Derek. Hear me out. I don't have any stats to back me up, but I can recall two other times this year (it may be more) when Derek caught up with Penny in that win column, Penny's next game was a stellar performance. Again, I'm speaking out of recollection, but I honestly think there is something to this. Look for a dominant Penny tonight --- Not for the team, not for the penant, NO! For HIMSELF.
But hey, I'll take it.
Go PENNY.
And YEAH, GO DODGERS!
PLAYOFFS BABY!!!!!
Posted by: DODGER FREAK | September 28, 2006 at 09:01 AM
D-Freak,
I hope your right. I'll take a stellar performance from Penny any way we can get it.
If Lowe wins when he pitches this weekend and we make the playoffs, he will be a leading candidate for the Cy Young. Especially since he has come up huge down the stretch.
Posted by: Jim | September 28, 2006 at 09:27 AM
OK, before anybody calls me out on this, I'll call myself out. My recollection as stated previously was wrong. What I actually remembered and what actually happened, was Derek getting within 1 game in the win column and then Penny coming out with a great game.
The most recent was the September 13 game against Chicago. Penny pitched 7 SHUTOUT innings to win that game. Derek only trailed him by one game at that time.
I'm beginning to convince myself now that this is not a very credible stat. Oh well. I still think though that Penny can't stand to have Lowe tied with him for most wins. HE WILL COME OUT THROWING HIS BEST STUFF TONIGHT, albeit for personal reasons.
I'm hoping and believing!
GO BLUE!
Posted by: DODGER FREAK | September 28, 2006 at 09:37 AM
It has become apparent from posts above that stargazin is actually a 14 year old girl.
Posted by: bmurph | September 28, 2006 at 09:49 AM
Dodgers will win all four games left in the schedule. They will win the west because the Madres will have a hard time in Phoenix. They will play the cardinals in the first round and beat the Mets to get the World Series. Dodgers will beat the Yankees in 7 games. You read it here first.
Posted by: Gerardo | September 28, 2006 at 10:16 AM
MORE LIKE A 500 POUND GORILLA.
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 10:52 AM
GERARDO- YOU TELL EM.
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 11:11 AM
LONELY BOY- WE ROOT FOR WHO WE WANT, WHEN WE WANT.
WE'RE THE DODGER BLOG. ANYONE PLAYING THE PADRES
ARE ON OUR FRIENDLY LIST. DAHHHHH- THATS A NO BRAINER. WE GOIN ROOT FOR A PADRE SWEEP????
I DON'T THINK SO.
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 11:14 AM
MONICA- GOOD POINTS. I LIKE YOUR RALLY CAPS.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
DODGERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 11:30 AM