FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Victor Martinez was thrown into the fire of an American League East pennant race after joining the Red Sox as a trading deadline acquisition last season.
It was difficult when the catcher first joined Boston. Leaving the Indians, the organization that signed him as a 17-year-old out of Venezuela, adapting to a new team, a new city, and a new pitching staff were major adjustments.
Martinez, who turned 31 in December, now gets the opportunity to learn those subtleties without the heat of a pennant race bearing down on him.
The pitchers must also become comfortable with Martinez.
Earlier this week Martinez caught Josh Beckett's outing against the Cardinals. On a scale of 1 to 10, Beckett said his comfort with Martinez behind the plate is about a 7.
