Dodgers' Russell Martin finds new purpose through relationship
T.J. SIMERS
Catcher says he is able to refocus on his career thanks in part to girlfriend Marikym.
From Phoenix — You probably know the macho Russell Martin, the Dodgers' catcher who made it sound as if he could work every game and, sure, bring on the doubleheaders.
But right now the tough guy is sitting in Starbucks, sipping green tea, talking yoga, the last chick flick he's seen, "He's Just Not That Into You," he says, and "not bad," while also making a note to himself, the scruffy beard must go.
"I like looking good for my lady," Martin says, no need to explain who picks out the movies when they are together.
It's early morning, and Martin is not torn up or still wasted from the night before. No bleary eyes, no headache. Fact is, he's feeling pretty darn spry.
"Life is good," he proclaims, mom and dad well, and as for his girlfriend -- sister to Eric Gagne's wife -- "I'm in paradise right now because of her."
Eight hours later he's standing at second base, his two-run double helping the cause, a promising comeback of sorts for both the Dodgers and Martin.
IT SEEMS longer, Martin an entrenched Dodger seemingly forever and two-time All-Star, yet it won't be three years in L.A. for Martin until this May. The Dodgers had Dioner Navarro as starting catcher when the '06 season began -- Martin in Las Vegas.
In less than a year he became a rock for the Dodgers, the younger players gravitating toward him as their leader since he had already arrived as a big leaguer, Manager Grady Little gushing about his toughness and the intense makeup that made him so dependable.
Last year, though, as someone here now puts it, he was just another guy wearing catcher's gear. When Joe Torre & Co. took over, too often the question was the same: "What happened to the guy we heard so much about?"
He was young, making good money, working a job with almost twice as many lows as highs and toasting with regularity the good life in L.A., which provides all kinds of opportunities for those in no rush to call it a night.
"I was having a couple drinks to help me go to bed at night, and it became a vicious cycle," he says. "This whole L.A. thing, well, you've got young guys like Clayton Kershaw, and it's like they're immune to it. But I wasn't one of those guys.
"I liked having a good time when I was a kid, and now that I'm 26, I was having a good time, but I wasn't recovering like I'd like to recover. I thought going out with the guys, listening to music and having a few drinks -- that was fine for me.
