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Martinez stands alone as Indians All-Star envoy
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(In a recent game against the Tigers, Victor Martinez does what seems like a monumental task for the Indians in recent weeks- get an out. AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
The MLB has reached its 2009 mid-way recess as the majority of teams and players get a break from the diamond for a couple days after three months of almost non-stop baseball action.
Though the majority of players and coaches will be spending the minute down time with their families and just kicking back, 64 players and the coaching staffs of the defending AL and NL champions will continue the action on the field in St. Louis at the 2009 All-Star Game. Victor Martinez will be one of those players.
Martinez, the lone Indian on the AL roster, is making his third appearance at the All-Star festivities; with other appearances occurring in 2004 and 2007 (he also gained a spot on the All-Star Futures roster in 2003). As a back-up at catcher, Martinez will likely split time with Twins hitting dynamo Joe Mauer. Martinez could, because to his versatility, take a turn at first, though that is less likely due to the four other 1B’s on the roster.
In his other two All-Star Game appearances, Martinez holds a robust all-time batting average of .500- though that’s a bit of misrepresentation considering Victor has only had two all-time at-bats.
With that being said, Martinez has still been very productive in his two All-Star AB’s, considering his one and only hit was a two-run home run in 2007 that iced the game for the American League, helping them continue what is now (with the 2002 tie notwithstanding) an 11 year winning streak.
When it comes to his third all-star appearance in an Indians uniform, Victor Martinez has certainly earned his spot this season and, if not for the amazing season had by Mauer, would have likely land him a starting role at catcher.
Though he has had some issues in the last month or so, including a .19 drop in batting average in the last 10 games, Martinez is still batting a stellar .294 with 14 home runs and 59 RBI’s. These numbers seem to dispel complaints that some fans have about how, since each team has to have an all-star participant, lackluster all-star selections are made from bad teams just to appease the roster restrictions.
Though Cliff Lee and Shin-Soo Choo could have a gripe about not being to join Martinez in St. Louis, they are the only other members of the tribe that have legitimate reason to be on the AL All-Star team. At the season mid-point, the Indians are a paltry 35-54 and went 2-5 in the last seven games before the break.
Putting this record up against last year’s 41-53, also considered to be a major disappointment, makes it look that much worse and it will take a rebound ever greater than 2008’s 40-28 post All-Star break record if they Indians want to do anything more than lose even more fans and watch as a still weak Central Division leaves them in the dust.
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