Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Tranquility orstress test? No contest

By JOHN ROMANO

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 25, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Standing in the visitor's dugout, his morning cup of coffee still in hand, Buck Martinez was taking abuse.

It was early Saturday and the Blue Jays manager was watching the Rays go through fielding drills at Florida Power Park. Rays coach Hal McRae shouted to Martinez that he better get used to the idea of gray hair. Frank Howard stopped in front of the dugout to call Martinez a few unprintable names and offer some unsolicited managing hints.

"That," Martinez said, minutes later, "is why I came back."

Martinez left a high-comfort, low-stress job in the Toronto broadcast booth to take his first shot at managing this season.

"It's the passion for the game. That's why I'm doing it. We played it as kids and it's still a part of me," Martinez said. "As a broadcaster, you're neutral. There's no passion. Win or lose, there's no adrenaline. I was around baseball, but it's not the same as being on the field."

Martinez, 52, was pursued by the Blue Jays for the manager's position in 1998, but says in retrospect that he would not have been ready. Martinez had promised to work with son Casey, who was playing baseball at Sacramento State and he followed through on that commitment.

"Being a baseball family, I had been away from him for most of his childhood, so this was a unique opportunity to be with him for three years," Martinez said. "I'm glad I did it. At that point, I don't think I would have been as emotionally committed to managing."

The opportunity came around again last fall when Jim Fregosi was dismissed as manager. This time, Martinez showed no ambivalence and was hired shortly after the World Series. He and Arizona's Bob Brenly came down from the broadcast booth to manage this season, following Larry Dierker, who won three straight division titles in Houston after leaving a TV job.

A catcher with the Royals, Brewers and Blue Jays in the 1970s and '80s and a broadcaster since 1987, Martinez has been around the majors for more than 30 years. While he has never done the job, he won't be unprepared for on-field drills and game situations.

Martinez's real test as a manager is going to come in the clubhouse in his dealings with players.

"You have to gain the respect of the players. Prove to them that you have an idea of what you're doing," he said. "These players don't know that I played 17 years in the major leagues. I'm a broadcaster to them. To them, I was a nice guy who used to hang around some.

"Now I have to win their respect. Make them believe we're totally focused toward coaching them and winning their confidence."

There was another bonus in the job for Martinez.

The Blue Jays found him a roommate during his spring training stay in Dunedin. Son Casey was drafted in the 47th round last summer and is in Toronto's minor-league system.

"I'm having a blast," Martinez said. "Couldn't be happier."

JUST WONDERING: Now that David Wells has strongly hinted that his ailing back may force him to retire after this season, should the White Sox contact the commissioner's office to seek additional compensation from the Blue Jays?

LIVING WITH PAIN: Todd Stottlemyre, who has persevered through a rotator cuff injury and elbow surgery, could miss two months or more with nerve problems in his shoulder. "Every time I have had to go through one of these things I've said, "This is the last time I'm going to do it,' " Stottlemyre said. "Here I am again, saying this is the last time I'm going to do it."

IN BED BY MIDNIGHT: Hinting that he did not help himself by partying with veterans like Mark Grace, Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood said he is ready to settle down and start performing up to his potential. "I've taken a different approach, a serious approach," Wood said. "I know it's time to put up some numbers. I've been in the big leagues for three years and won 20-something games. I'm tired of losing. Losing (stinks) and, when you do it two years in a row, it gets old."

NEARING THE END: A frustrated Jay Buhner suggested last week that it might be time to retire. Buhner later backed off those comments, but his future remains muddled. Buhner is suffering from plantar fasciitis, the same arch injury that wiped out large chunks of playing time for Tim Salmon, Mark McGwire and John Jaha in the past. Buhner, 36, already has said this would be his last season.

SUDDENLY SUSPECT: It is bad enough that John Smoltz appears headed to the disabled list, but the Braves also are worried about Kevin Millwood's effectiveness. Pitching coach Leo Mazzone asked broadcaster Don Sutton, a 300-game winner, to work with Millwood last week. Sutton suggested Millwood shorten his stride in 1999 and the pitcher went 17-5 after the adjustment.

LINE OF THE WEEK: Pirates pitcher Kris Benson was in the news for a risque interview he did in Penthouse magazine with his wife, Anna. Manager Lloyd McClendon was not overly concerned: "All I care about is what Kris Benson does between the lines, not what he does between the sheets."

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright