Comments on: Russell Martin withdraws from World Baseball Classic

By: atwatercrushesokoye

atwatercrushesokoye — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:22:01 +0000

He’s never played an inning of shortstop in his MLB career, although he did apparently play 2 innings at second base in the 2011 season. How is it that he thinks he’s entitled to play shortstop at this tournament?

With Lawrie, Votto and Morneau they have a good middle of the lineup, they also have a good bullpen but this starting staff is a definite question mark.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:13:17 +0000

Doubt it.

Maybe he just figured it was a chance to play the game for fun….and to him catching is more like a job…..and as long as it is going to be work, he may as well work with the unfamiliar pitchers on his new team.

By: pisano

pisano — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:05:54 +0000

I’m thinking he doesn’t want anything to interfere with that .211 average he had last year, while he is a good catcher defensively, and he will run into a few fastballs for home runs, but average wise, and his strikeouts, I’m glad he’s in Pittsburgh.

By: yankeehawk

yankeehawk — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 15:36:06 +0000

Yeah cowboy….about the same chance as the U.S….

By: dondada10

dondada10 — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 15:18:16 +0000

I hear you, but would he catch that much more innings than he would at spring training?

By: albertmn

albertmn — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 15:16:45 +0000

This was actually one of the stories that held some interest for me, in regard to the WBC. I don’t have much interest in the WBC, but it will be even less now.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 15:06:42 +0000

Maybe because catchers only have so many games behind the plate in them each year and he’d rather use them in Pittsburgh? But really, who knows?

By: dondada10

dondada10 — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:50:18 +0000

Why not just catch? He’s better than Chris Robinson.

By: mattjg

mattjg — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:47:35 +0000

Russell Martin is clearly concerned about playing for teams that don’t have a chance.

By: cowboysoldiertx

cowboysoldiertx — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:43:15 +0000

I can’t really blame the man. Besides Team C has zero chance anyway.