St. Louis Cardinals Gameday – June 2018

90 CARDINALS MAGAZINE @CardsMagazine

only 1 percent since last year, he has been

hitting considerably fewer fly balls while

his groundball rate has climbed from 42.1

to 50 percent. While his batting average

remained steady, his power followed more

of an up-and-down trajectory. He started

the season with 12 extra-base hits through

April, managed just six in May, then swung

into June with three doubles and a homer

in his first five games.

“He’s evolving as a player,” Mabry says.

“Pitchers are pitching him tougher, and

he’s taking what they are giving him. He’s

making the adjustments he needs to make.”

BEYOND THE BAT

After all he’s been through to make

it to the majors, shifting through three

organizations (White Sox; Braves, twice;

Royals) and a stint in independent ball,

Martinez wants to spend the rest of his

career in St. Louis.

“They gave me my first shot in the big

leagues,” he says. “Now I have a chance to

be playing every day. This is what I always

dreamed for.”

Catch his act before a game, where his

animated exchanges with teammates are

a floor show all their own, and there’s no

doubt he’s living the dream. But challenges

remain for a player accustomed to them.

His limited experience at first base prior

to this season translated into seven errors

through his first 53 games there in 2018.

He played only 43 games at the position

over his 11 minor league seasons – he

was primarily a right fielder – but the

Cardinals are giving him the chance to get

comfortable at first, hopeful of narrowing

the gulf between his glove and his bat.

Martinez has owned up to every miscue,

acknowledging plays that should have been

made and pledging to work harder.

“I will not let it get me down,” he says.

“I have been waiting a lot of years for this

opportunity, and I will do everything I can

to help the team win and stay in the lineup.”

So far, he’s moving in the right

directions.

Stan McNeal is senior writer for Cardinals

Magazine. Get more inside access from Stan

all season on Twitter @CardsMagazine and

on the Cardinals Insider television show.

While Martinez’s bat is keeping him in the lineup, it’s no stretch to see that he’s a work in

progress at first base. His inexperience played a part in an NL-high seven errors at first by June.

Martinez has mastered the “launch angle”

of his special deliveries to fans up high.

Even when he’s not at the plate, Jose

Martinez aims high – very high – to please

fans at the ballpark.

Shortly before the first pitch at home

games, after he has warmed up playing

catch, the first baseman wanders out to

foul territory in shallow right field. He peers

toward the ballpark’s upper deck and, with

Kolten Wong’s assistance, picks out a fan

• dozens have usually begun to wave their
  arms. With a few windmill windups for good
  effect, Martinez then lets loose with a mighty
  heave, a souvenir baseball bound for seats
  that rarely see them.
  Talk about a long toss. But it’s worth it to
  make someone’s day.
  “That is for the fans – and maybe to loosen
  my arm a little,” Martinez says. “I will continue
  unless Mike (Matheny) says something. If
  Mike tells me to stop, I will stop.”
  Asked if any such edict would be
  forthcoming, the manager grinned. “I don’t
  know what you’re talking about,” he replied.
  Just what fans, perched on high and
  hoping for a souvenir from Jose, want to hear.

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