Comments on: Pirates and Russell Martin agree to two-year, $17 million contract

By: anxovies

anxovies — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:18:46 +0000

That’s probably why he signed with the Pirates.

By: anxovies

anxovies — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:11:55 +0000

Yogi looks pretty fit for his age.

By: jerze2387

jerze2387 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:47:56 +0000

Looks like the pirates have their new Shortstop…

By: ejannetta

ejannetta — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:44:09 +0000

Yanks fan here and glad to see Martin go. Just couldn’t take watching him strikeout with runners on base….Horrible offensively and not worth $8.5 mil a year….not even close to those numbers.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:30:10 +0000

I really don’t understand the Pirates thought process here. They don’t have much money to spend…making this a really weird contract…kind of like signing Barmes last year.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:05:19 +0000

Thanks for doing the homework PL, but as Yankee and Dodger fans know a team without Martin is a team heading in the right direction.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:01:28 +0000

Hate to say “I told you so”, UYF, my friend, but…

By: deathmonkey41

deathmonkey41 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:10:12 +0000

I think it was an animated show by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels- wasn’t very funny. Oh wait, that was King of the Hill, nevermind, I’m not really sure what he’s talking about.

By: ugglasforearms

ugglasforearms — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:14:03 +0000

“If you play against him, you hate him. If you play with him, you hate him a little less.” – Ozzie Guillen

By: jayscarpa

jayscarpa — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:10:46 +0000

Yankees have a lot of good, young, not ready catching prospects. They’re just going to fill in the gap this year.

Russell gets to catch AJ B again.

By: seahawks80

seahawks80 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:54:46 +0000

LOL, the Pirates? RIP Russell.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:22:30 +0000

When was the last time Martin’s offense was above average for catchers? (answer 2008), over the last 2 years he’s been a below average offensive catcher (in terms of OBP, SLG, wOBA, and wRC+), and he’s had a negative UZR and below average DRS. Martin hasn’t been a good player since 2008…not sure why anyone would think that would change as he passes 30.

Among the catchers that were more productive than Martin last year….McKenry, of the Pirates.

By: henryd3rd

henryd3rd — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:31:02 +0000

Yeah, his .211 batting average and his many strike outs with a runners on base and less then two outs should really make this move pay off for the Pirates.

Having said that I will miss Yankee radio announcer John Sterling’s calls when Russell hits a home run: It is long is is far it is gone! Russell shows mussel! Monsieur Martin you’re some kinda of grand.

Good Luck!

By: dcfan4life

dcfan4life — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:07:28 +0000

The Yankees being so quiet. Cashman and the new Steinbrenners appear very serious about reducing payroll. I wouldn’t not be surprised if they dont sign anyone that would cost them a great deal.

By: lazlosother

lazlosother — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:50:04 +0000

Good signing for the Pirates. Going by fWAR, Martin was a bargain for NY. He’d have to perform considerably worse for the contract not to be worth it for the Pirates. Very good D, and average offense for the position at the worst. I’d love to know if this caught NY by surprise.

At only two years and 8.5 Mil annual value, I wonder if he didn’t sign a little early.

By: pisano

pisano — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:29:21 +0000

No big loss, he can take his .211 BA with him. He was good with the pitching staff, but he left a lot of runners on base and struck out a lot. I don’t think he’ll be that hard to replace, especially for that kind of money. C-ya Russell.

By: protius

protius — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:53:25 +0000

How do you mean “over the hill?”

By: richwizl

richwizl — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:41:55 +0000

Nice signing for Pirates.

By: crisisjunky

crisisjunky — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:18:06 +0000

McCarver?

By: crisisjunky

crisisjunky — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:15:52 +0000

well, rhetorically Iguess he is…….

By: crisisjunky

crisisjunky — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:13:28 +0000

not any more.

By: uscthom78

uscthom78 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:02:56 +0000

Desperation time. Sounds like they will try to persuade another player to come out of retirement.

By: bostonboy82

bostonboy82 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:00:41 +0000

Whatever

By: pdowdy83

pdowdy83 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:50:36 +0000

Soto is a Ranger.

By: tashkalucy

tashkalucy — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:44:37 +0000

Clubhouse cancer?

Not with the team he’s playing for.

AJ has a veteran leader for the Sox since he got there.

Man, sit down with People Magazine and then play computer baseball.

By: frank433

frank433 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:43:07 +0000

AJ is the kind of guy you hate, unless he’s on your team.

By: whatthehellisansky

whatthehellisansky — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:34:47 +0000

Pierzynski is a clubhouse cancer – think i saw he was voted biggest asshole in the league or something like that. Dont want that guy in the clubhouse.

Not happy we lost martin but for 8.5 mil a yr we can live without him.

I say let Romine have a shot. Also I heard Soto may be cut from the cubbies – maybe we can scoop him up? We got martin after he was non-tendered by the Dodgers, maybe we can catch lightning in a bottle again..

By: giantboy99

giantboy99 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:32:30 +0000

Too bad the Yanks didn’t hold onto Montero

By: yanks33

yanks33 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:27:50 +0000

If anything i hope they take a run at Pierzynski, he’s still a pretty good defensive catcher and he can still hit, i never like Martin so good riddance to him

By: tashkalucy

tashkalucy — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:23:58 +0000

Good to see that Martin is appreciated!

Branch Rickey – himself a former catcher – taught baseball people that the priorities for a catcher were:

1a and 1b. Call a game and handle the individual pitchers (not mentioned in this article)

2. Play defense – block balls and throw out runners

3. Hit (any hitting was gravy)

Yanks will go after AJ.