When Seattle comes to town Friday, chances are everyone in the seats will be focusing on Ken Griffey Jr. instead of the “Invisible Man.”
Mariners DH Edgar Martinez has quietly excelled during and after Griffey’s absence, though he is frequently forgotten about during conversations about the American League Most Valuable Player.
In Boston, then in Baltimore, Martinez has strolled through malls near the Mariners’ hotels without having to sign an autograph or pose for a picture. He’s the most anonymous superstar in the game.
“I’m kind of invisible,” Martinez said. “Most people don’t know me, especially away from the ballpark. That’s fine, because I enjoy the privacy. Even in Seattle, it’s not like it is for “Junior” or Randy or Jay . My wife and I can go almost anywhere and not be recognized. A lot of times, I’ll go out in a T-shirt and shorts–nobody knows me.”
Through Wednesday, Martinez led the league in batting (.357), was second in doubles (47), tied for second in runs (111) and fourth in RBIs (105). His .485 on-base percentage gives him a shot at becoming the first player to finish with an on-base percentage of over .500 since Mickey Mantle’s .515 in 1957. Batting champs aren’t often named MVP. Since 1980, only George Brett (’80), Willie McGee (’85) and Terry Pendleton (’91) have won both the batting title and the league MVP award. Can Martinez add his name to the list?
“There are a lot of good candidates: Mo Vaughn, Jose Mesa, Jim Edmonds . . .” Martinez said. “I’ve got a chance. I don’t think they’ll give it to a DH, but if I have a good September and we win, who knows?”
Then would people start to recognize the Invisible Man?
“I don’t know if it would change,” he said. “I enjoy fans. I like not being recognized too. There are advantages to being invisible.”
Albert time: While Martinez has been steady from the start, Cleveland’s Albert Belle has made a strong second-half surge that could put him over the hump. On Aug. 30, he homered in the 14th inning to beat Toronto 4-3. On Aug. 31, he homered in the 10th inning to beat the Blue Jays 6-4. On Sept. 1, he hit a grand slam in a 14-4 blowout over Detroit.
He’s tied with Vaughn for the league lead in home runs with 37 and is third in RBIs with 106.
“When Albert gets hot, he can do just about anything,” said teammate Carlos Baerga.
Belle was named the American League’s Player of the Month for August after hitting .381 (45 for 118) with 14 homers and 30 runs batted in. The Indians have won 24 games in their last at-bat and hit nine game-ending homers, including three by Belle. Even his many detractors in the media may not be able to overlook Belle’s contribution to the best team since the Big Red Machine.
Beautiful friendship: Let no one come between California’s Tony Phillips and his bat. Phillips recently took his bat home with him after a game, and said he will continue the peculiar practice.
“We’re trying to start a new relationship, a better one than we had before,” Phillips said. “The only way to do that is spend time together. I just hope my wife doesn’t get jealous.”
Phillips even said he was going to have a “man to bat” conversation with his lumber.
Two of a kind: Baltimore manager Phil Regan likes to compare Cal Ripken to his old Cubs teammate Ernie Banks. The two share the same work ethic and positive attitude, Regan said.
“I spent five years in Chicago, and I tried to get Ernie to say something negative about somebody,” Regan said. “I never could get him to do it. One August day we were standing in the outfield and I said, `Ernie, don’t you think it’s too hot today for us to play baseball?’ And he looked at me and said, `Phil, it would be a lot hotter if I was out picking cotton.’ “
Sleepless in Seattle: Think there are any cities in the U.S. that would like to inherit a team with Ken Griffey Jr.? It could happen if Seattle voters reject a proposed sales tax to fund a new open-air ballpark for the Mariners. On Sept. 19, King County residents will vote on a .1-cent increase in the sales tax, costing each voter about $7.50 a year. Now the owners are making threats like our own Mike McCaskey.
“This is a simple issue,” said one of the owners, Howard Lincoln. “If you vote no, major league baseball is gone from Seattle forever.” Mariners owners say that without a new stadium, they will put the team up for sale immediately. Their Kingdome lease runs through the ’96 season.
Around the horn: The Angels are scoring an average of 2.0 runs per game when Jim Abbott pitches. When he pitched for the Angels in 1992, they averaged 2.55 runs per game for him, the lowest run support for any pitcher since the AL adopted the designated hitter rule in 1969. . . . The Yankees have no plans to change the plaque on the monument honoring Lou Gehrig, which says his “amazing record of 2,130 games should stand for all time.”
