Russell Martin: I wanted to see if the Dodgers still believed in me

Russell Martin, New York Yankee.

Could take some time to get used to. For Martin, too, it seems.

In a conference call Thursday, however, he made it clear that he wanted to know where he stood with the Dodgers. And they gave him their response when they elected not to tender him a contract, allowing him to become a free agent.

"I wanted to see how much they really wanted me, because if they did, they would have tendered me a contract," Martin said. "That was really it. I wanted to see how bad the Dodgers wanted me and if they still believed in me. By doing that, they kind of gave me the answer."

Martin also said his injured hip was behind him; that the need for knee surgery -- discovered during his physical with the Yankees -- won’t prevent him from being ready to start camp; that although he signed for similar money to what the Dodgers offered, he doesn’t feel he misread the market; and that he’s confident talent doesn’t go away and he can still hit.

Here are the topics he covered Thursday:

On the status of his injured hip: "It feels great. I haven’t had anything wrong with it for at least a month now. With the new thing [knee], now it’s making it get even more rest. Now it’s going to be ready for sure. There’s absolutely no problem with it. Before I hurt my knee, I was really pushing it pretty hard in training and didn’t have any side effects. I had full range of motion and everything. My hip is over with, man, so I’m happy about that.’’

On his meniscus tear and looming surgery: "It’s the first time I’ve had any problem with my knees, so I really don’t know what to expect. I’ve never had any surgery. From what I’ve heard, it’s a pretty simple operation. I think CC [Sabathia] had it done at the end of the year. It’s a three-week recovery and then rehab. I’m not too concerned with it. Obviously the timing is bad, because it will affect my off-season training a little bit. But my main goal is to be healthy for the season, and from what I’ve heard, I will be ready by spring training."

Explaining his drop-off the past two seasons: "I think it’s me trying to make adjustments to be even better. I made adjustments in my training. I tried to be a little more athletic, a little faster, instead of just staying with the basics that got me to the big leagues and what made me successful in the beginning. I think I got almost in my own way.

"That’s offensively. Defensively I felt like I was getting better every year. I’m learning more, understanding pitchers better, understanding hitters better. In that regard, I feel like I’ve advanced. For me, it’s the most important job I have."

On whether he was surprised by the Dodgers' decision to non-tender him: "Not necessarily surprised. I always knew there was a possibility. It was definitely a tough call for them. You have a guy who hasn’t been doing that good the last couple years, and you’re giving him a raise again. So not surprised."

If he felt his group of rising stars met expectations as Dodgers: "We got a taste of what we wanted to accomplish. But there’s only one winner, and the goal is to win the World Series. But we got to the playoffs, we had some good seasons. As a team we fell short a couple years. It was a great experience, a good learning process. But the goal is to win the whole thing, so a little disappointed. As for myself, I’m obviously disappointed the way it all ended.

"But those guys are like family to me. Coming up through the minors with them and winning in the minors and having some success in the big leagues was fine, but I guess I’m starting to learn about the business side a little now."

Hard to accept his time as a Dodger is over: "I think it’s going to hit more once I’m in a different uniform. Right now I’m still in the offseason doing the same things I usually do. I’m in my routine. Once it gets a little closer to spring training, I’ll start realizing that I’m with a new family now.

"I enjoyed my time with the Dodgers. Those are still my boys over there, and I wish them the best of luck."

On whether he felt he misread the market and has any regrets about not signing with the Dodgers: "Not really. I just really wanted to find out, and sometimes the only way to find out how much a team wants you is to take a risk. Obviously there was a risk there. I took a chance. It’s tough not being with the guys I’ve always played with, but my main goal is just having a chance to win. And if you want to pick a place to win, I don’t think there’s any better place than New York with the Yankees."

Reasons he picked the Yankees: "I’ve heard so many good things about the Yankees organization, a winning organization, and it’s been that way forever. And I’m excited to be closer to home on the East Coast and be able to have some family come and see me play. But really the main thing is having an opportunity to win and have a chance to go to the World Series."

His expected role with the Yankees: "They’ve told me that I’m the starting catcher. That’s what I expect to be, that’s what I’m training to be. I feel like I have to earn that."

If he’s found that ideal, elusive training program: "The workout I’m doing now is pretty intense. I’m probably going to be in the best shape of my life going into spring training. I’m expecting what I’ve done in the past, but hopefully even better. I’m going to do everything I can to get back to those ways. Talent just doesn’t go away. I know I can hit. I just want to get back to that consistency."

Said he currently weighs 213 and wants to go to camp between 215 and 220: "Last year was just ...  I thought I was in shape, but I guess I wasn’t compared to the shape I’m in right now. That was my fault. Then I injured my groin in spring training, and that kinda slowed my spring training down. I have no excuses. All I know is, I’m doing everything I can to be in the best shape that I can be."

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[BlueSangre]

Someone shut that idiot up. Wanted to see how bad they wanted him? Dude....YOU WERE ALREADY ON A TWO SEASON DECLINE OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY. YOU BUSTED UP YOUR HIP BECAUSE YOU WERE TOO LAZY TO SLIDE AND YOU WERE TOO CHICKEN TO PLOW THE GUY AT THE PLATE. Talent just doesn't go away? What happened to it? Did you throw it out with a syringe or is your head really that bad of a mess? GOOD RIDDANCE.

[Joe]

I don't understand how he felt he deserved a raise this coming year. If he really wanted to be with the Dodgers he would have signed. It's a shame how it all ended. I can tell say this much...he ain't no Mike Piazza. Sell the team McCourts!!!!!!!!!!!

[KoufaxFan]

Martin will do just fine with the pinstripes. He's with a winning organization, with winning players around him, and an ownership that gets things done to win. He's saying good riddance to the McCrap's Disgraced Dodgers.

[skyharbor]

Russell Martin is just being polite. He is doing what Kemp, Ethier, Loney, et al would love to do....walking away from the travesty created by the McCourats. I love the Dodgers and hate the Yankees but only a fool would choose to play for Ned and Donnie over Cashman and Girardi. The old Russell Martin will be back in 2011...unfortunately he'll never play another game in Dodger Stadium.

[OldBrooklynFan]

I'm wondering if he hadn't injured his hip, if the Dodgers would've tendered him.
Maybe if either the sub-par years or the injuries wouldn't've both happened he would've been retained. I'm saying if his injury didn't follow his two poor seasons would they've tendered him? Well it's in the past now, I wish him luck and hope we face him in the World Series. I'll be following his daily progress in my home town paper, New York's Daily News.

[JC]

If you would of slid home like you were suppose to; you would still be a Dodger. There is no room for slauches in this game. Some learn it the hard way.

[Tony]

I wanted to believe that the weak ground balls and pop ups would cease the last few seasons, but they didn't and so with that said best of luck to Russ in NY. I'll be pulling for Barajas this year, local guy that seems to enjoy playing for the Dodgers. . I think he had more HR's in the last few months with the Dodgers than Russ did all year right?

[John]

Perfectly said, BlueSangre!
This guy is a joke. I've been saying it for years. Russell "J." Martin. He's about 5'7" and walks around cocky like he's a somebody. He's a nobody.
Hey New York, thanks for picking up our garbage.

[Shawn]

It sounds like Russell is a little self-absorbed with the comments about the Dodgers "wanting " him. Is it really too much to ask a player to accept a pay cut to help assume some risk after his back-to-back poor seasons and a potential career threatening injury? I personally think he was more interested in dating models and the L.A. nightlife than his baseball career.

[Since '58]

Gee, thanks Russ for letting us know it took you two full seasons to realize you were doing the wrong work outs, as well as not realizing what you did to get to the Bigs in the first place, not being yourself, and getting in your own way. Wow! Two stinking years to realize all you had to do was to back to the things that made you successful in the first place. Amazing. All you did was screw us and your team mates in the process. Enjoy yourself in NY. What a bunch of B.S.

[Nick]

Yeah -- they believe you're a stiff. They're right. Four years of suckitude and you want to be 'believed in'? Baseball players amaze me.

[Randy Burch]

Well....When was it exactly that players stopped taking R-E-S-P-O-N-I-B-I-L-I-T-Y for their poor play and/or lack of PREPARATION? As a Dodger fan since the days of Koufax, I am sick of (some) of these guys bellyaching and making excuses as to why they deserved "better" or "respect" from their former team. Grow-up and realize that you had it GREAT as a DODGER and you "peed it away" (to put it nicely) Russell!!! You had very accomodating and PATIENT FANS in LA these past two seasons....soooo....have a nice time with the New York fans!!! And....."Don't let the clubhouse door hit you on your lazy backside on the way out!!!!! P.S...I'm writng this INSPITE of the fact that my wife (of 30 years) is a Yankee Fan!!! (But she loves the Dodgers in the NL so it's ok!!!)

[Jim McVeigh]

I agree he ain`t no Mike Piazza, but no catcher ever was and probably never will be. Mike put his numbers on the board while playing in pitcher parks. Russell had to go elswhere, he was done, well done . Now if we could only stick that proverbial fork in the cheapskates. I do not think the Dodgers will ever win a
World Series under present ownership. The skates will only spend so much, and he knows that we will continue to go out to the ball park. They rave about how much more money they have spent this year, so what. In this, the second largest market, he spends less than Bostn or Philadelphia. What are they, 5th and 6th largest markets. They aren`t bragging or crying about how much they have spent. HEY BOZO it is the cost of doing business. If we ever get lucky and get rid of these two bums, I pity the next owner, he or she will have to overspend to get the quality players, you know the ones we used to get, the ones who couldn`t wait to be in SOCAL. And play for the Dodgers. When the time comes, unless he deteriates(sic), he will let Ethier walk. He will not pay fair market value......

[Ben S]

Martin certainly did not deserve a raise. His defense and working with pitchers is okay, but last season he killed the team in the first half. A month before the all star break he had something like a dozen RBI. He was the easiest out in the lineup, a real rally killer. Now that's he's gone to the AL I wish him the best for a comeback. Players should get paid for what they did the last two years, and he was a $2 million tops player by that criteria.

[eeebayou]

J. Martin can thank horse-owner deadbeat ex-Dodger Paul LoDuca for all of the needle whispers. Is it any wonder that LoDuca employs a drug-cheat horse trainer as well!!

[Steve]

No way this guy deserved a raise. How self absorbed can you be. The Dodgers showed you they believed in you when they offered you a 4+mil contract. Pull your head out Martin.

[FormerLifelongDodgerFan]

This guy's an utter moron and a crappy player.

[Hollywood Dodger Mark]

I remember Russell Martin. I remember when he hadn't spoken on the phone to Joe Torre the first off-season Torre arrived. I remember when he said he had to move out of Hollywood down to Huntington Beach because he said he was coming to the games hung over and straight from the tinsletown nightlife. I remember when he was detained at 3 am riding with Nyjer Morgan of the Pirates in Pittsburgh when we were getting swept by them late in the season. I remember 5-3, 6-3, 5-3, 6-3, 5-3, 6-3 ground outs over and over again. I remember the goalie-like passed balls that went past his dirt swiping glove. I remember the incredible drop off of a player who had all-star numbers and hustled. Oh, yes, I remember. And I won't forget.

[Dodger Fan]

Let me get this straight; Russell Martin has had two and half below average years (offensively and defensively) , then has an injury that no one knows if he can overcome and the Dodgers are supposed to tender him a contract that would result in a healthy raise? And then the club offers him 4.2 million guaranteed, plus incentives and he feels they don't want him? But then he says he's not surprised. Clear as mud!

The question I wished someone would have asked, and he would have answered honestly, is "how much did the ownership situation play in his decision?" If he had answered that it was the driving force behind his leaving it would have been a look from inside the organization as to the damage the McCourt's ownership is having. Had he alluded to a number of other players thinking the same thing maybe it would have some impact at MLB headquarters. Or am I am I just dreaming?

[These Dodgers Suck!!]

Man oh man, is this guy in for a rude reception ... in Boston and in the Bronx!
(that's summing that he ever suits up this summer)

[Tripod]

Grow up Russell. The money you have right now would be enough to get average person through life. It makes me sick to think you feel you were not loved. Get a life you Jackwagon.

[Jonny Dodger]

What an ass Martin turned out to be. The Dodgers offer him the same deal he basically got with the Yankees and he said, "No." So that obviously means that THEY rejected HIM even though HE rejected THEIR offer. The same one he said "Yes" to with the Yankees. Amazing how these guys think. After two injury plagued seasons they made a fair market offer on him and even put incentives in there for him whether he plays the catcher position or not. "Sometimes you gotta take a risk"? Correct. And he lost that risk. No doubt he will do well in NY with that line-up there. I will miss him but he really should think before he makes such incredulous comments.

[Native Angeleno]

Another team having a bad winter: the Yankees. Paying Jeter way too much not to make him look bad. Losing out on every big free agent they were after. Signing Martin as the starting catcher. I hope Martin can come back, not to save face for Brian Cashman, i really don't want to hear the boos in the Bronx when he taps out to short for April, and they cut him in June. Spare me that, Russ, i'm pulling for you, bring some of it back, do better for them than you did for us.

How much you wanna bet Cashman asked Torre his opinion and Joe told him unequivocally "Sign him".

[Alan Tanaka]

The fact that Martin was never benched despite his poor performance makes me wonder why he thinks the Yankee fans and management will believe in him when he starts to slump. For an overly sensitive person like Martin, he signs with the one team where the pressure to perform well during the post season will not be kind when he goes into a slump. Russell, you made a mistake signing with the Yankees. You are just going to take it out on the Yankee fans and management when they realize that you are no longer an All-Star.

[Gaggmee]

He will find out real soon that Yankee fans do not tolerate underperformance like Dodger fans....

[greg]

lets see, weak hip, weak knee and a very weak bat
c-ya dude, don't let the door hit ya in the rear