Pirates notebook: Martin feels 'pretty good,' will start vs. Giants
The last thing catcher Russell Martin wanted was for a Wiffle ball injury that happened more than eight months ago to prevent him from playing in the National League wild-card game.
Martin spent a month on the disabled list and also missed the Pirates' final two regular-season games due to a lingering groin injury. However, Martin said he will be in the lineup Wednesday when the Pirates face the San Francisco Giants.
“I'm not the only guy who'll be on the field who's banged up,” Martin said. “Those two days off helped. I should feel pretty good.”
The Pirates previously listed Martin's problem as left hamstring discomfort. On Tuesday, Martin said he tweaked his left adductor magnus, which is a large, triangular groin muscle.
The injury happened in the offseason, while Martin was helping a friend run a youth baseball camp. One of the campers was hitting Wiffle balls, which the other kids were trying to catch.
Martin showed up late to the camp and jumped into the drill without warming up. On the first play, he lunged to his left and had an odd feeling in his leg.
“I'm 30 (years old); it's different now,” Martin said. “I could still move and do things, but I definitely knew something didn't feel right. It lingered all spring training. Then the season started, and it never got better. I went on the DL, missed a month and it still wasn't 100 percent when I got back.”
Backup catcher Chris Stewart started the last two games of the season. On Sunday, he was forced to leave after being hit on the wrist by Johnny Cueto's backswing.
X-rays showed no break, and Stewart said he will be able to play against the Giants if needed. He's not surprised Martin will start, given the all-or-nothing stakes of the wild-card game.
“I don't think there's any way you keep Russ out of the lineup (Wednesday),” Stewart said. “Even if you'd amputate his leg, he'd still be out there on one leg, trying to help the team win. I think we're all on board with him going out there.”
Roster secrecy
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle offered few clues about how his 25-man roster and starting lineup will shape up. The teams are not required to reveal their rosters until 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Third-string catcher Tony Sanchez will be on the roster, Hurdle said.
Hurdle added the Pirates will carry nine pitchers, though he declined to say which ones. “You'll find out at 10 a.m. tomorrow,” he said. Because rosters can change from round to round, the Pirates almost certainly will deactivate starters Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano and Jeff Locke for the wild-card game.
Rookie outfielder Gregory Polanco, a left-handed batter, will not start against Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner.
“They've been putting me in late in the games, so I have to be ready,” Polanco said. “I'm prepared for anything.”
Giants dinged up
The Giants will be without pitcher Matt Cain (elbow), outfielder Angel Pagan (back), infielder Marco Scutaro (back) and outfielder/infielder Michael Morse (oblique). Cain, Pagan and Scutaro are out for the entire postseason if the Giants advance. Morse is doubtful to play Wednesday.
Ishikawa changes sides
Although he was the Pirates' Opening Day first baseman, Travis Ishikawa will start in left field for the Giants.
Ishikawa batted .206 in 15 games with the Pirates, who cut him loose after trading for Ike Davis in mid-April.
“They felt like that trade would make them better and I can't fault them for that,” Ishikawa said. “(The Pirates) are a great organization. I learned they work hard over there, and there's a reason why they are here now.”
Home-field edge
During spring training, the Pirates players and coaches watched a season-highlight video that included scenes from last year's wild-card game against the Reds at PNC Park.
“I got chills, and I wasn't even there,” Ishikawa said. “I didn't even watch the game on TV. Just to watch the highlight video gave me goose bumps.”
Wednesday's game is sold out and the Pirates have asked their fans to stage another “blackout” by wearing dark shirts and coats.
“We definitely feed off their energy,” Martin said. “I don't know if you can measure how much a crowd can help, but it's definitely more fun to play in front of a crowd like that. The experience last year was amazing. The place was vibrating, that's how loud the people were. I hope it happens again.”
Staff writers Kevin Gorman and Travis Sawchik contributed to this report. Rob Biertempfel is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at rbiertempfel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BiertempfelTrib.
