Time for Russell Martin's annual excuse for why his play with the Dodgers went south

Oh, so that was the problem. Silly us.

It wasn't that Russell Martin was too thin, or too heavy; it wasn't that he was trying too hard to pull the ball or go to the opposite field.

The poor guy was distracted.

Why didn't we realize this? Surely the signs were everywhere. Don't you just feel so stupid?

Yep, our favorite ex-Dodgers catcher has his excuse 2011: He was lacking subconscious motivation because of his personal life.

"I had some distractions that maybe led me not to have that same drive that I've had in the past," Martin told Canada's National Post. "Really, that's all it is, honestly. I didn't train quite as -- I trained hard, but before, nobody trained as hard as I did."

That's it!

It was personal issues. You know, because no one else has those. It's the explanation he gave for why he went from budding star to pure mediocrity.

Mostly, anyway. He didn't exactly explain to the National Post what those distractions were.

"There's some things that you keep for yourself," Martin said. "Those distractions, they're personal -- personal issues in my life that not everybody needs to know about."

That's understandable, of course. If they choose, celebrities are entitled to a sense of privacy in their personal life.

Just don't elect to keep it private, and then try to hide behind it.

This way, of course, Martin is simply leaving those "distractions" open to speculation, which can be a tough gambit.

Once there was a concern in some quarters that he was too much the Hollywood party guy. Then it was his relationship with ridiculously hot Canadian supermodel Marikym Hervieux.

Whatever, it seems a tad too convenient that Martin has an annual excuse for why he went from having an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of .843 in 2007 to .680 the last two seasons. He doesn't turn 28 until next month.

Wrote the National Post: "Whatever those west-coast distractions were, he insists they are behind him. 'I feel like I'm back where I need to be. Just mentally, I feel better.'"

Good for him, I guess. Good for the Yankees. New York is known for its own distractions, so good luck with that.

Should he struggle in the Big Apple, though, why do I suspect he'll have an excuse?

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[Randy]

Time to realize you are just a crappy player.

[Labeldude]

Tommy Boy.

Besides, now we have Barajas, Navarro and Ellis. What could possibly go wrong?

[SaintNick]

Lotza Haters out there! Including you, DilBoy! Let's wish Russell well...if he can make it in New York (there may be a 'distraction' or three)...well, he can make it anywhere. I, for one, appreciate his honesty and belated self-insight. There's a similar player or 'heffer' on the Dodgers that will likely never be so forthcoming about similar issues...And, if not (and no turn-around is apparent), he may also find himself playing elsewhere by the July trading deadline...

[K]

I'm among those who think he was juiced for the first two or three years, then got off it and either didn't realize that he had to re-learn to hit without his chemical friends, or just didn't think he had to.

I'm reminded of what happened to Paul LoDuca. We now know that LoDuca was not major league material without the juice, so after he stopped it, he couldn't make things happen the same way anymore. I don't know how much adjustment, if any, he tried to make or if his work ethic changed post-roids, but as far as I know, LoDuca is now out of baseball. Is Russ headed down this same road?

[ryan]

i never noticed this trend of his but it is pretty true. im not sad to see him go

[don juan]

He must have been distracted when he forgot how to slide into home plate.

[Higgins]

My friend saw Russell Martin at the House of Blues in Anaheim last March while he was supposedly "rehabbing" from the injury during Spring Training. I guess it all makes sense now. While the rest of the team was busting ass in Arizona, Russ was playing around in bars around L.A. and O.C. Here's the pic to prove it, dated March 9, 2010:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?fbid=348774978779&set=a.348774508779.150299.537623779&theater

Thanks for putting some effort in for the Dodgers, Russ. Good riddance.

[StanL]

What could a single guy making millions and playing MLB have as a distraction?
This guy is a phony and will be another LoDuca or Gagne.

The old saying "It always comes out in the wash" and you always put dirty clothes in the wash.

[Mark]

Best of luck to Russell Martin.

As a life long Dodger fan, we have bigger issues...yes you got it, FOX and Frank McCourt are in bed together and as history repeats itself we are in for some trying times.
It was a cluster back then when FOX was calling the shots and so far all indicators are headed in the same direction. Frank is broke, nobody wants to partner with him and this is truly going to continue overshadow the Dodgers in 2011 and for years to come.
ML

[Chuckie P.]

Boycott Dodger games this coming season.Until they get a owner in there that will put the Dodgers in a position to win and compeate for a World Series Championship. This owner is all about his pockets as he raises prices and now gets in bed with FOX. The fan base for baseball is in L.A. but quite frankly the fans are being cheated by Frankie M. He is a gangster from Boston. He dont belong in L.A.

[Ty]

I hope Martin fails miserably in NY. I can't believe he left a place that drafted him and kept playing him after years of mediocre production. It'd be fine if he left us for a giant boat load of cash but he didn't. Both contracts were pretty comparable.

With that said, paying Rod Barajas 3 million to hit .240 with a .290 OBP has got to be one of the stupidest short term contracts in recent years.

[bob cuomo]

Ah, so that was it...that's just great. Listen, I know everyone has some sort of personal issue to deal with from time to time, but this guy is a professional. I don't buy this as an "excuse". A pro is supposed to leave personal stuff behind when he (or she) puts on the uniform...for practices or games.

[Marikym]

Hi Steve,
If you had me waiting at home for you like I wait at home for Russell I am confident you, too, would make for an easy out in every game so you could get back home to me.

[LA42]

Russell Martin is in the city where Mattingly wished he, and his team were in.A city that is COLD, because COLD weather is suppose to make you tough.Lucky Martin.I'm sure that COLD weather in the SPRING will eliminate any personal distractions....Think of all those teams that have to play in that COLD weather in the SPRING.The yankees are competitive and mentally tough because it's COLD in the SPRING.Which always makes me wonder why their payroll is so high.Can't they rely on the COLD weather to help them win?

The Dodgers will probably start SPRING training working out in those giant freezers or something.Maybe turn on the sprinkler system on the field while their practicing.It's too bad Martin won't be around to see how Mattingly is gonna take out that laid back California weather to make the team mentally tough.......How did the Lakers win all those championships with that laid back weather?Maybe their Organization and Hall of Fame coaches had something to do with it.

[Chumpy Kemp]

Russell Martin is even more of a chump than Matt Kemp. One thing we can all agree on: he is no professional.

In fact, he is on the same level as the Black Sox who threw the 1919 World Series. Make that worse: the Black Sox were protesting the greed of Calvin Griffiths. Chumpy Martin was paid millions and was nothing but a whiny little girl.

I agree with others on this board who hope that he fails in a collosal manner in New York.

Please test him daily for drugs, too.

[Joe the Plumber]

If Martin does not perform,, he will hear it from the NY fans unlike LA.

[FormerLifelongDodgerFan]

"Pure mediocrity", as you put it, is FAR too kind. Martin flat-out sucked. End of story. He's also a tool. Hated him before. Hate him exponentially now. Glad he's gone. So glad.

[Enrique]

I think these excuse over the last two years plus last season are lame. He needs to grow up and be a man and say you know what i didnt care or i wanted to be in the hollywood scene more or like Kemp i didnt play my hardest, i coasted at times. You fooled me and as well as the dodger nation and now i say good riddance to you! Plus the contract the dodgers offered was also a sign of disrespect? Please, you are coming off a pretty bad hip injury and you want more money then what they wanted to offer!! The dodgers dont need another player making millions and then not produce AGAIN for them, we have had enough of those.

[Enrique]

Just wanted to say Steve great blogs! But I really need you to do something for me and all the Dodger fans, PLEASE write that all Dodger fans should boycott the team until Frank is gone and we have a new owner!!! Im like everyone else who has to tighten his finances because times call for it. I have not been to a game in over 3years because of all the price hikes. I think its way over due that MLB stwp in and cut Frank out and help bring in a new owner. So if you can ---WE NEED A BOYCOTT FROM ALL THE GREAT DODGER NATION FANS TO NOT ATTEND THE GAMES UNTIL Frank IS GONE---. Please get the word out.

[Rick]

Steve Dilbeck;
I used to like you. What's your problem with Russell Martin? Are you able to get inside peoples heads and condem them because they claim problems off the field affected them and possibly caused them problems on the field? You never had 'personal issues'? Russell Martin never struck me as a guy who dogged the game. Quite the opposite, he was a team leader and caught more innings than any other catcher. Hey, I don't LOVE the guy, but maybe he deserves a better send off and thanks for his efforts while being a Dodger. No?

[Hollywood Dodger Mark]

Steroids. Liquor. Women.

[West Coast Ram]

Booze and babes...what a life, Russell.

[slododger]

It is very distracting when you can't find your juice bottle...I think he might find a new one in the NY clubhouse.

[Philbert]

I'm sorry folks, when a guy who turned down a generous offer from his team (for whom he admittedly underperformed for two years) to accept the same deal from another organization, then turns around and cries that his original employers didn't show enough respect to him...and THEN uses the excuse that his poor performance was due to "distractions" so he didn't feel up to working as hard as he should, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO??? Wish him well?

Russell, old boy, we rooted for you and hoped you'd find your old groove again because we assumed you were trying to play as well as you could and wanted the team to win... it pained us as fans to watch you struggle. Had you accepted Ned's generous offer, which basically rewarded you for two crappy years, we would have cheered for you again. But, you chose a different route.

Russell Martin is the embodiment of the current Los Angeles Dodgers. He may be gone, but his legacy lives on. What a disappointment.

[N.P.Krohn]

Dead on Philbert.

[wendy]

please , he is no longer with miss thang, Marikym, they broke up long time ago

[Dino]

Calvin Griffith was 8 years old in 1919. The 1919 Chicago White Sox were owned by Charles Comiskey.