Despite winning 96 games this season, the Cleveland Indians didn’t have an obvious MVP candidate.
That doesn’t mean everybody missed what catcher Victor Martinez accomplished.
The switch-hitting slugger batted .301 with 25 home runs, 40 doubles and 114 RBIs while providing stability and leadership behind the plate. At 28, he’s already established himself as one of the rarest and most valuable commodities in baseball—a durable backstop with a big bat.
“I think he’s one of the best catchers in the game. Especially if you look at the all-around game—he was second or third in regard to throwing out runners this year,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said Sunday. “That was the only thing he was ever really criticized for. So you talk about a guy going after something and getting better. Offensively, he is without a doubt one of the best hitting catchers in the game.”
Martinez got off to a great start in the playoffs, too, going 3-for-8 with a homer, a double and two RBIs in Cleveland’s first two games against the New York Yankees. That was a big reason the Indians entered Sunday looking for a three-game sweep in the best-of-five series.
“I can’t say enough about us being able to count on him this year,” Wedge said. “Does he get the respect he deserves? I don’t know. I don’t get too caught up in it. His teammates and his peers in the game respect him, and there is nothing more important than that.”
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NIFTY ‘PEN:@ Indians relievers Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez and Jensen Lewis combined to throw six scoreless innings in the first two games of their AL division series against the Yankees.
Betancourt was the only one to allow a hit—Jason Giambi’s pinch-hit single in the ninth inning of Game 1.
Cleveland was sixth in the majors with a 3.73 bullpen ERA this season. Manager Eric Wedge was quick to credit the influence of closer Joe Borowski, who finished with an AL-best 45 saves.
“I think it’s important for people to understand that it does start with a closer because it allowed other people to maintain and have success in roles that they need to have success in,” Wedge said. “And if you can do that, it will hopefully establish some consistency for you.”
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GAGNE’S JOY:@ Reliever Eric Gagne has had a difficult time since joining Boston in midseason, but he seemed as happy as anyone in the Red Sox clubhouse after their series-clinching victory.
“It’s very special,” he said. “I mean, I’ve been there with the Dodgers, but this is something else. This team’s unbelievable and it’s just an honor to be a part of it.”
Gagne saved 152 games for the Dodgers between 2002-04, but has only 27 since that time. He was 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 20 games with the Red Sox after they acquired him from the Texas Rangers on July 31.
The 31-year-old right-hander, who signed with the Rangers as a free agent, allowed the only Angels’ run Sunday in Boston’s 9-1 victory.
We know we’re going to hit and score runs, but this team’s been all about pitching,” he said. “Alex Cora told me that they had a great team atmosphere and great chemistry here. That’s what it’s all about and that’s why I wanted to come here.”
Gagne and Cora were teammates with the Dodgers.
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BAKER’S BIG HIT:@ Stay back, don’t be too anxious and take what the pitcher gives.
With that approach at the plate, Colorado outfielder Jeff Baker became an unlikely hero.
His single off Philadelphia’s J.C. Romero with two outs in the eighth brought home the winning run Saturday night in the Rockies’ 2-1 win to complete a three-game sweep of the Phillies.
“I wasn’t trying to do too much,” said Baker, who hit just .222 in the regular season. “We didn’t need a home run there, I was just trying to get a base hit.”
Baker has bounced back after being struck in the helmet by a pitch from Chicago Cubs starter Jason Marquis on Aug. 10.
He was placed on the disabled list the next day with a mild concussion, but reinstated when rosters were expanded in early September.
“When I got hit in the face, that kind of put things in perspective and slowed me down a bit,” Baker said. “I’ve been pressing all year and obviously it’s not where I want to be.”
Baker played a limited role following his return—mostly coming off the bench as a pinch hitter—but had a home run against Florida on Sept. 14.
Garrett Atkins, who scored the winning run on Baker’s single through the right side, said he had a feeling Baker would come through.
“There’s not a better guy that I want up in that spot,” Atkins said. “He got hurt, but we always believed he could hit.”
That’s why manager Clint Hurdle had him on the postseason roster.
“I think he’s a great kid,” Hurdle said. “The guys in here have embraced him. They (were) pulling for him like mad when he went up to the plate. We’re very happy for him.”
