Alright, I’m not even sure where to begin with this one, so I’ll just throw it out there.
Three-time All-Star Russell Martin left Team Canada earlier this week because, well, they wouldn’t let him, a catcher by trade, suit up and play shortstop in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Now, I’m not sure why I didn’t see this story until today, but let me get this straight…Russell Martin, newly acquired catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates is leaving Team Canada because they won’t let him play shortstop?
Ridiculous.
”It’s a pretty simple reason,” Martin said on Sunday. ”The Pittsburgh Pirate organization wasn’t comfortable (with) me going to play shortstop over there. I don’t think the Team Canada organization was too comfortable with me going to play shortstop.”
For the record, Martin was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round of the 2002 draft as, wait for it, a second baseman. That said, he never played an inning at the position in the Minors. In the Majors, he’s played second for two innings in 2011.
Which brings us back to shortstop.
Martin, a Gold Glove Award winning catcher in 2007 has played 98% of his games in bigs behind the plate and outside of those two innings at second two seasons ago, the only other position he’s played…third base.
So, why shortstop? Your guess is as good as mine.
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