THEY'RE READY IN A PINCH SAENZ, MARTINEZ GIVE DODGERS QUALITY OFF BENCH.Byline: TONY JACKSON
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer The headlines didn't exactly scream. It was Jan. 31, the dead of a winter in which the Dodgers seemed to announce one player move or another almost daily. This one involved a couple of minor-league contract signings. One was a pitcher named Kurt Ainsworth Kurt Harold Ainsworth (born September 9, 1978, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He previously played for the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles and went to Louisiana State University where he played alongside Jake Esteves, who was , who hasn't been heard from since. The other was a utility infielder A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually someone who does not have a regular starting role on the team, who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base. named Ramon Martinez Ramon Martinez is the name of several people:
Newly hired Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti Ned Louis Colletti, Jr. is the General Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Colletti graduated from East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, Illinois and Northern Illinois University. Colletti began his Major League Career in 1982 with the Chicago Cubs. knew all about Martinez, a valuable member of the Giants' bench during Colletti's tenure in San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden and perfectly suited to being a role player. That was the main reason he was signed. ``Early in his career, he wasn't playing a lot, and he became very frustrated, as any young player tends to do,'' Colletti said. ``But as he got older, I think he realized he could excel at Verb 1. excel at - be good at; "She shines at math" shine at excel, surpass, stand out - distinguish oneself; "She excelled in math" the role he was playing.'' But Martinez, 33, has never excelled like this year. A line-drive hitter with little pop, he is hitting a staggering .340, with an on-base percentage of .389. He is 3 for 9 as a pinch-hitter, with three RBIs. All this after having to make the team as a non-roster invitee A non-roster invitee in baseball, also known as a NRI, is a player invited to participate in a particular Major League team's spring training without having a spot on that team's 40-man roster. to spring training, where he beat out incumbent utilityman Oscar Robles Oscar M. Robles (b. April 9, 1976, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico) has spent much of this decade as a third baseman for the Mexico City Red Devils (Diablos Rojos del México), and briefly as an infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 2005 through 2006. . Martinez has joined veteran Olmedo Saenz to form a solid, right-handed duo on the Dodgers' bench. The two have combined for 13 pinch hits. Saenz, who also has made a career out of being a backup, is hitting .303 with sixhomers and 33 RBIs. ``Those are a couple of the best bench players I have ever seen in my life,'' said Dodgers manager Grady Little William Grady Little (born March 30, 1950 in Abilene, Texas) is a manager in Major League Baseball. He guided the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003, and has been manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2006. , who is in his 19th season managing in either the major or minor leagues. Saenz, who with his graying pate looks every bit of his 35years, plays like a man much younger. It also didn't create much of a stir when the Dodgers re-signed him last December, to a two-year, $2 million deal. Part of that was because Saenz had what for him was an off year last season, batting just .263 and, more importantly, .179 as a pinch-hitter. But that was largely because injuries to teammates forced Saenz into the starting lineup For the line of action figures, see . A starting lineup in sports refers to the set of players actively participating in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes far more than club wanted. Whether due to age or more time in the lineup, his performance suffered. Injuries have again plagued the Dodgers this season, but this their prospects have proven to be major-league ready. That has allowed Saenz and Martinez to stick with their traditional roles. As a result, Saenz is 10 for 32 as a pinch-hitter, with eight RBIs. On a team that has struggled at times with its rotation, bullpen and offense, Martinez and Saenz have consistently contributed -- often with the game on the line. ``If you have a good bench, that can win a lot of games for you,'' Dodgers coach Manny Mota Bench players typically watch the first two or three innings from the dugout to get a feel for the game -- almost managing along with the manager. That generally gives them an inning or two to stretch, get loose and maybe take a couple of swings off a tee. ``You don't want your heart rate to go from zero to 100 the minute they call on you,'' Martinez said. ``So you kind of read the game so you know when you might get in. But no matter how much stretching you do or how much you hit in the cage, nothing compares to having an at-bat in the game.'' By guessing when his managers will need him, Martinez says he has learned to think like a manager. He hopes to get a chance to manage in the majors one day. ``I like to talk baseball, and I like to study the game,'' he said. ``That's something that if I ever have the opportunity to do, I will take it.'' tony.jackson@dailynews.com (818) 713-3675 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) SAENZ (2 -- color) MARTINEZ |
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