Martinez Reflects On Return From Injury, Excited To Be Back For Opening Day
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - When Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez tore the medial meniscus in his left knee in early February, he knew he might have to miss Opening Day. Even more recently, as Martinez worked in spring training to get back to form after surgery, the possibility remained that he would be forced to sit.
"There was always doubt," Martinez said Monday in the team's locker room. "I'm not going to lie. There was always doubt, but it took a lot of work, it took a lot of time, and thank God everything went the right way."
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus removed all doubt Monday morning, when he tweeted a lineup card with Martinez's name in its usual spot. Both Martinez and first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who also underwent offseason surgery, will start Opening Day. Ausmus conveyed optimism that both are ready to go.
"I think Miggy's doing well," Ausmus said before the game. "I think he has been for about a week. Roughly 40 at bats he had in spring training, which is a little over half of what he would normally get, so I don't want to say he's had enough, but he looks comfortable at the plate.
"Victor, I was a little bit more concerned about until the last three or four games," Ausmus continued. "I didn't think he was moving as well, his timing was off, but the last three or four games he's swung the bat extremely well, that limp seems to have kind of disappeared, and I'm hoping he's over the hump."
Martinez said there has been significant improvement, though he still has work to do.
"It was just an everyday thing," Martinez said. "It was good days, bad days, but thank God I was able to put my work in and be more consistent with the soreness and all the stuff.
"It's getting better," Martinez added. "It's a lot better than what it was earlier this spring. I've still got to keep doing my work and make it stronger every day."
Martinez hit better than any Tiger last season - quite a feat on a team with Cabrera - and nearly won the American League batting title with an average of .335. He also smacked 32 home runs.
More than a decade into his career, Martinez still smiled when he spoke of the aura of Opening Day.
"Opening Day just doesn't get old," Martinez said. "I'm just very happy to be part of it."
Asked what he remembered about his first ever season opener, the five-time All-Star immediately recalled what he felt that day.
"I was scared as hell," Martinez said, emphasizing the last word. "Nervous. First one in the big leagues, it was pretty special."
Even all these years later, Martinez still gets the butterflies to some extent.
"Not like before, but the nervous is always going to be there," Martinez said. "I think the day that you don't feel that, it just - I don't know. Everything, just getting everything ready, getting everything ready for a brand new season, it's a lot of things involved. Once you get that out of the way, it's like everything falls in place."
