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Tino remains irreplaceable

The Yankees first baseman and Tampa schoolboy again is silencing rumors with a splendid season.

By MIKE READLING

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 9, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- This season started the same as each of the past three for Tino Martinez: buried under talk of the person who was supposed to replace him as the Yankees starting first baseman.

Just as he has the past three seasons, Martinez ignored the rumblings. This season, he is on track to record one of his best as a pro.

During his five years as a Yankee, Martinez has had to endure being the man who took over for fan favorite Don Mattingly, then fight through trade rumors that have had Mo Vaughn, Jason Giambi and even Fred McGriff taking his position.

Then there's the shadow of Nick Johnson, one of the Yankees' top prospects who is the perennial spring favorite to push Martinez to the bench.

Despite the talk, nothing ever happens, and Martinez, a graduate of Jefferson High and a three-time All-American at the University of Tampa, finds a way to make the Yankees appreciate his presence.

"When you read all that stuff it's basically just people's opinions, and I don't believe it," Martinez said. "I just let them write what they want, say what they want and focus on my game and stay positive and know what I can do.

"Playing in New York, it's like that year in and year out. Some years they want Mo Vaughn, some years they want Giambi. They want Nick Johnson or whoever it may be. It's something different every year."

One thing that hasn't been different every year has been his offense. Last season was arguably his worst, but he still finished with 16 home runs and 91 RBI. In his other four seasons in pinstripes he has averaged 31 home runs and 112 RBI.

This season, it looked as if the talk of the 33-year-old's demise was correct. Martinez was struggling badly and didn't show any signs of breaking out. Then he came to Tropicana Field.

It was June 24, the last game of a three-game series, and he was facing Doug Creek in the eighth. He was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a sacrifice fly, and his slump seemed headed even lower.

Then he drew a walk.

"I just saw the ball well," Martinez said. "I stayed back and felt like I could drive the ball, and once I left here it took off from there."

When he got back to the Bronx, Martinez hit home runs in four straight games. He had a career-high five RBI June 27 against Cleveland and has raised his average to .262. He leads the Yankees with 26 home runs and 86 RBI. Perhaps the most telling sign of his success is the unwavering allegiance of Yankee Stadium fans, famous for voicing their disapproval of any player. They're also famous for appreciating an all-around ballplayer, and Martinez has proven himself to be one.

"The fans accepted him rather quickly considering who he was playing instead of (Mattingly)," manager Joe Torre said. "It's tough not to accept him just the way he plays the game. He plays hard."

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