Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Russell Martin Ailing In New York

Departed Dodger Russell Martin started out the year on a tear for the Yankees, but SoSG karina's son seems to have hit a speedbump, scratched from his eighth slot in the lineup yesterday due to lower back stiffness, as well as slumping performance from the plate:

CLEVELAND -- New York Yankees starting catcher Russell Martin was a late scratch from the lineup for Monday night's game against the Cleveland Indians with a recurrence of the lower back stiffness that had sidelined him for four of the past five games.

Martin was batting eighth in the original lineup but was scratched about an hour before first pitch and replaced by Francisco Cervelli. The move was announced after the Yankees clubhouse was closed to reporters.

After missing four straight games, Martin had returned to the lineup on Sunday but went 0-for-4 in the Yankees' 9-1 rout of the Indians. After the game, he said, "It's still there but something I can play with."

Martin suffered the injury during a workout following a game between the Yankees and Red Sox on June 7. He had an MRI last week, which came back negative. But over the past three weeks, Martin -- who started out batting .293 with six home runs in April -- has been slumping. Since May 24, when he had a home run and two RBIs against the Blue Jays, Martin has gone 2-for-31 (.065) and his batting average has fallen to .232.

On Sunday, Martin hit into two double plays and struck out. The Indians were also successful in five-of-five stolen base attempts against Martin and Freddy Garcia.

Displaced starter Jorge Posada is batting .226 on the year, and though the 39-year old has a OPS+ of 90 relative to Martin's OPS+ of 107, I'm sure Martin hears footsteps. Martin is throwing runners out at a 26% rate this year (Posada was at a 28% rate during his career but only 15% in 2010), but I don't seem to recall him being even that effective. A bad back has gotta hurt that throwing motion even more.

14 comments:

Nostradamus said...

I'm sure this observation has been made before, but "suppurate"? Really?

(I'm looking at you, movie studios and motel magnates)

Greg Zakwin said...

It's not like there aren't plenty, plenty of stupid Dodger fans.

You know, the ones who defend James Loney and the like.

Nostradamus said...

*looks around wondering who Greg could be referring to*

*hangs head and mopes away*

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

By which I mean Russell Martin.

MR.F said...

Don't worry Mr. C, you can hang out with LoneLy Fan!

Kyle Baker said...

He's the type of guy to say my lower back is killin' me.

Nostradamus said...

Why you illing, B?

spank said...

Boooooooooooo!

Kyle Baker said...

I knew I could count on you, Mr C.

Steve Sax said...

scooby dooby doo threads

Steve Sax said...

@Mr C, I didn't even know there was a word "suppurate". short u in both cases, however...

Nostradamus said...

*The more you know...

Nostradamus said...

The banner add is now for an instant grammar checker.

I laughed.

rbnlaw said...

Dodger fans are stupid because they don't vote.

Yankee fans are stupid because they support the devil. . .and they vote en mass.