Comments on: Time To Move Martinez To The Bullpen (For Now)

By: Jamey

Jamey — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:18:04 +0000

Just so everyone knows, Carlos is worn down from this long season. But don’t put any stock whatsoever in these last starts he has or the last few he has had, the Cardinals aren’t worried, there is a reason he has gotten “tagged” recently. The Plan for Carlos next year is to start the 1st month in A-advanced and then be promoted to AA.

By: pitch and hit

pitch and hit — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:09:24 +0000

It is not a stat they want you to see. Some team don’t even have it in their AA box scores.

By: RCHIII

RCHIII — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:23:33 +0000

This is why I complain about lower leagues not having pitch counts in the box scores……

By: pitch and hit

pitch and hit — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:09:52 +0000

I agree, is he going deep into counts?

By: Tackle Box

Tackle Box — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:59:48 +0000

I never said he was homesick, I just said it’d be okay and understandable if he was. It was just speculation, just like the rest of the comments since nothing has actually been said on the record. It’s what happens.

Anyway, as for the quote I picked out of your comment, I don’t know how it could be taken any differently than how I took it. I’m thinking Dan in Haiti took it the same way I did….so…..

It looks to me as if you are dismissing the notion of added stress of a foreign home on him since he’s in a place where people speak Spanish.

By: cariocacardinal

cariocacardinal — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:44:27 +0000

That is an excellent point.

By: Forsch31

Forsch31 — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:50:39 +0000

Another good question would be how many pitches has he thrown in comparison to the DSL, where he dominated? It isn’t really just increased innings that cause wear, its what he’s doing in those innings.

By: Cardinals645

Cardinals645 — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:04:05 +0000

I’m not talking about mental stress, I’m saying it’s more stressful on their bodies.

It may apply to hitters too, but keep in mind that pitchers are more injury prone to begin with.

My point is that if I go out an play ball with some elementary school kids, it probably wouldn’t tax my body as much as if I played against my peers. Similarly, I’m postulating that it is less physically taxing for an advanced player to breeze through a Low A lineup, than it would be to pitch against a team closer to his own skill level (even controlling for the number of pitches).

By: pitch and hit

pitch and hit — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:35:11 +0000

Last year Martinez pitched 59 innings, he’s just at 71, he certainly has not had a major work load. The rule of thumb is Verducci’s rule, no more than 30 for young pitchers. 5 innings for 3 more games will bring him to the end of the season, most likely with a good count, a bit more a bit less.

There is a completely different routine for starters as releivers, it can amount to even more innings per week, and if they don’t throw in a game they have to throw on the side regularly, it’s not an easy transition either. I don’t see unless he is injured why make special concessions, unless his work load has been overwhelming.

I agree with 100% with Cariocacardinal. :)

By: bc

bc — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:21:58 +0000

Do you even know that he’s actually “homesick”? Is there some interview where Carlos Martinez has said “I’m culturally uncomfortable here in Palm Beach and it just might be affecting my pitching.”

As for your comment below – my original comment wasn’t “insensitive.” Your issue, “to be quite frank,” is apparently one created by a lack of reading comprehension. My comment addressed the OP’s speculation regarding Martinez not “speak[ing] much (if at all) of the language” and implying that his teammates spoke Spanish but not the larger community. I didn’t even mention “culture,” Dominican culture, South Florida culture, or anything in between — and I don’t assume it’s relevant anyway.