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Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 2/20, 11:23 AM CT
Victor Martinez reiterated on Saturday that he wants to remain with the Red Sox long-term, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated.

Our View: V-Mart said he "definitely" wants to stay in Boston. Unless Joe Mauer does not sign an extension with the Twins this season, expect the Red Sox to oblige Martinez.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 2/15, 10:29 AM CT
Victor Martinez has expressed his interest in signing a contract extension with the Red Sox this offseason, according to ESPN.com.

Our View: Martinez, who is entering the final year of his contract, also said that he will not be willing to talk about a potential extension once the season begins, meaning the Red Sox must extend an offer over the next month and a half or else risk losing the star catcher next season. Look for contract talks between Boston and Martinez's camp to ramp up over the next few weeks.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 12/8, 7:31 PM CT
Victor Martinez is expecting a long-term offer from the Red Sox, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Our View: Boston did not hesitate to exercise the elite catcher's $7.1MM option for 2010 after the playoffs, but Martinez's agent is yet to discuss a long-term contract. The Sox could wait to see if the Twins can re-sign Joe Mauer, which would set the market for catchers.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 12/6, 11:00 PM CT
At some point this offseason, the Red Sox will likely discuss a potential contract extension for Victor Martinez, according to the Providence Journal.

Our View: Talks have not opened between Martinez's agent and Boston's front office just yet, but that could change after this week's winter meetings pass by. Martinez remains one of the best all-around catchers in the majors and is also capable of playing first base. While he is 31 years old, he's shown no sign of decline in his play.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 11/9, 2:15 PM CT
The Boston Red Sox have exercised their $7.1 million 2010 team option on catcher Victor Martinez, according to ESPN.

Our View: They declined their 2010 team option on Jason Varitek, as well, though Varitek has a player option he can vest. Martinez hit .303 with 23 home runs and 108 RBI in 155 games between the Indians and Red Sox last season.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 10/25, 7:20 PM CT
According to the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have five days after the completion of the World Series to act on Victor Martinez's $7.1 million option for the 2010 season.

Our View: The Sox appear to want to keep their trade deadline acquisition, but may want to sign him to a long-term deal instead of just grabbing him for next season. How much he receives will likely depend on what kind of deal Joe Mauer gets. Stay tuned.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 10/9, 4:51 PM CT
According to the Boston Globe, Victor Martinez will catch Josh Beckett in Game 2 of the ALDS on Friday and and hit third against the Angels.

Our View: V-Mart caught Game 1 as well and, with the Sox trailing the Halos 1-0 in the series, they likely wanted to keep his feared bat in the lineup. He should provided significant pop over Jason Varitek.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 10/3, 10:23 PM CT
Victor Martinez hit a grand slam in the Red Sox 11-6 win over the Indians on Saturday.

Our View: V-Mart now has 108 RBI this season with Boston and Cleveland and the catcher/first baseman is a surefire candidate for comeback player of the year. He played just 73 games last season and hit two homers and drove in 35.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 9/22, 10:20 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 1-for-4 with a single and an RBI in tonight's 5-1 loss at Kansas City.

Our View: The Red Sox only mustered two hits in the game, and Martinez was their lone source of scoring. He managed to extend his hitting streak to 21 games as well.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 9/16, 7:28 PM CT
Updating an earlier report, Victor Martinez has told the Sox that he can return to the diamond Thursday, according to MLB.com.

Our View: Martinez left the team to attend to an undisclosed personal matter. Barring a change in plans, fantasy owners should count on having him back tomorrow.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 9/16, 11:56 AM CT
Victor Martinez is not scheduled to be in the starting lineup for the Red Sox on Wednesday, according to the Twitter page of the ESPN's Amy K. Nelson. Martinez is dealing with a personal matter, and the Sox haven't said when he will return to the team.

Our View: V-Mart should be back in the next few days, but Jason Varitek will likely be behind the plate again tonight. Fantasy owners probably aren't too happy about this, but he will be back soon.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 9/15, 4:43 PM CT
Updating an earlier report, Victor Martinez has left the Red Sox to attend to a personal matter, according to Amalie Benjamin's (Boston Globe) twitter page.

Our View: There is belief that Martinez could be away for the next couple of days. Jason Varitek will work behind the plate in his absense, and Casey Kotchman is slated to start at first base tonight against the Angels.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 9/15, 3:14 PM CT
Victor Martinez is not in the Red Sox lineup on Tuesday, according to the Boston Globe.

Our View: Jason Varitek will catch, while Casey Kotchman will man first base.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 9/6, 5:39 PM CT
Victor Martinez un-tightened a tight 3-1 game in the ninth inning in Chicago on Sunday, blasting a three-run home run to lead the Red Sox to a 6-1 win.

Our View: Martinez is now batting .326 with six home runs and 24 RBI in 33 games since joining Boston on August 1.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 8/28, 10:52 AM CT
Victor Martinez told WEEI.com that he would be open to an extension from the Red Sox. When asked about an extension, Martinez replied: "Who wouldn't want to play here in Boston? It's up to them, but from my side, I would like to stay here."

Our View: It sounds like Victor wants to be a Red Sock next season, and you would think that the time won't have a problem keeping a player with the skill set that he has. Money has never been much of an issue in Boston, so expect the two sides to come to an agreement at some point.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 8/25, 3:22 PM CT
Victor Martinez is out of the Red Sox lineup on Tuesday, according to the Boston Globe's Amalie Benjamin.

Our View: Jason Varitek is getting the start behind the backstop in his place. In 21 games for the Red Sox this season, V-Mart is batting .322 with five home runs and 16 RBI.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 8/23, 10:48 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Yankees at Fenway Park.

Our View: Martinez has two hits in each of his last two games, and he is batting .337 with five homers and 16 RBI so far in August.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 8/22, 9:18 AM CT
Despite leaving the team's game on Friday after fouling a ball off of his toe, Victor Martinez is expected to play Saturday vs. the Yankees, according to the Boston Globe.

Our View: Great news for beleaguered Boston, as they are going to need all the offense they can muster against the imposing Yankees this weekend.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 8/20, 9:22 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 1-for-5 with a solo homer off Shawn Camp in tonight's 8-1 win at Toronto.

Our View: V-Mart collected his 20th homer of the season, and his fifth with the Red Sox. He started the game behind the plate as Jason Varitek continues to nurse a stiff neck.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 8/13, 4:28 PM CT
Victor Martinez was productive in Thursday's 2-0 loss to the Tigers at Fenway Park, as he went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. He also swiped his first base of the season.

Our View: The elite catcher accounted for half of Boston's four hits today. He looks to be back on track after only recording one hit over his previous three games (13 at-bats).
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 8/12, 4:12 PM CT
According to the Boston Globe, Victor Martinez is not in Wednesday's starting lineup.

Our View: V-Mart is just getting a standard day off. He has started every game since coming over via trade from Cleveland and could use a breather. He should be fine to get back in you lineup for the Sox's next game.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 8/9, 10:47 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer off Phil Coke in tonight's 5-2 loss at New York.

Our View: Martinez is batting .324 over 37 at-bats this month, and crushed his 17th homer of the season tonight. He is fitting in well as a member of the contending Red Sox.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 8/2, 4:45 PM CT
In his first start behind the plate as a Red Sock, Victor Martinez delivered in a big way. He went 5-for-6 with a double and four RBI in Boston's 18-10 blowout of the Orioles on Sunday.

Our View: The V-Mart deal looks to be playing dividends early for the Red Sox. He is now 6-for-11 with five RBI in his brief tenure in Boston.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 8/2, 8:36 AM CT
Victor Martinez, who made his Red Sox debut yesterday, will get his first start at catcher today, according to WEEI.com.

Our View: The Red Sox have a number of options for their lineup, with an everyday player in Martinez able to play first base or catcher, and an everyday player in Kevin Youkilis able to play first or third. With David Ortiz entrenched at DH, that means that Mike Lowell, Casey Kotchman and Jason Varitek will lose significant at-bats.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 8/1, 10:32 AM CT
Victor Martinez will make his Red Sox debut on Saturday, MLB.com confirms. He will likely start at first base, and Kevin Youkilis will shift to third base.

Our View: V-Mart will be expected to play on a daily basis and split time between first base and catcher. Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek will lose at-bats, depending on where Martinez lines up on a given day.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 7/31, 2:24 PM CT
It's official. The Rex Sox have acquired catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez from the Indians for Justin Masterson, Nick Hadagone and Bryan Price, according to Bob Nightengale's Twitter account.

Our View: V-Mart will likely play first base and catcher and could even see some time at DH if David Ortiz's struggles continue. The Red Sox will have some messy platoon issues, but they landed a lineup-changing hitter in Martinez. As a switch hitter he should be able to take advantage of the short field in right and still pepper the Green Monster in left. Assuming he plays every day, his fantasy stock should be on the rise.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 7/31, 1:05 PM CT
According to Bob Nightengale's Twitter account, the Red Sox are about to acquire Indians' catcher Victor Martinez.

Our View: No word on the specifics yet, but one would think that Clay Buchholz has to be involved. Another uncertainty is what do the Red Sox do with newly acquired first baseman Adam LaRoche? There is already a logjam at the position and V-Mart likely won't catch every day. Looks like the Sox have some crazy platoon situations ahead of them. Stay tuned for official details.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 7/31, 12:10 PM CT
According to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, there is about a 50 percent chance that Victor Martinez will be dealt by the trade deadline.

Our View: V-Mart was a hot commodity a day or two ago, but now a deal seems much less likely. The Indians have him under contract until 2011, so there is no urgency to deal him this year. The Red Sox have shown the most interest, but they started straying off V-Mart's path when Adrian Gonzalez came into play.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 7/29, 2:59 PM CT
ESPN's Buster Olney reports that he fully expects slugging catcher Victor Martinez to be traded in the next 48 hours.

Our View: The Tribe has already parted ways with Mark DeRosa, Rafael Betancourt and now Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco, so why would they be reluctant to unload Victor? According to a unanimous AL executive referencing Martinez, "I don't think they'd move one without moving the other." V-Mart is earning just $4.5 million this season and has a relatively affordable $7 million option for 2010. The switch-hitting catcher will likely attract a lot of offers and could improve almost any club. The Red Sox and Rays have been the hottest pursuers thus far.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 7/26, 12:35 PM CT
Victor Martinez will not be in the Indians' starting lineup on Sunday. He is getting the day off due to the day game in Seattle.

Our View: Today is apparently the official day off for starting catchers, because it seems like most teams are giving their backstops a rest. This happens quite a bit on day games after a night game, so nothing to be worried about here. He should be back as soon as the team resumes play, and he could pinch-hit today as well.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 7/26, 9:05 AM CT
The Boston Globe is reporting that the Indians are listening to offers from several teams involving catcher Victor Martinez. The Red Sox, Rays, and Giants have all shown a high level of interest in the All-Star catcher.

Our View: Cleveland has already turned down two proposed deals from Boston, one including a swap of Clay Buchholz for Martinez and the other involving three prospects for the catcher. It sounds like the Indians are asking for a boat-load for Victor, and unless they get blown away he is likely staying in Cleveland.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 7/23, 6:53 PM CT
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports states that it is unlikely that Victor Martinez or Cliff Lee will be dealt by the Indians despite the rumors swirling.

Our View: One source views both star players as longshots to be traded, namely as Cleveland's asking price would be very high, and would not likely receive the value they covet. The Indians have a top catching prospect with Carlos Santana in Double-A, and Martinez would be replaced more easily than Lee if a trade does happen however.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 7/23, 2:03 PM CT
According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Rays are interested in Indians' catcher Victor Martinez.

Our View: The two sides haven't exchanged names yet, but the Rays have Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson (not to mention a dearth of young talent in their lower systems) to offer. The Red Sox have been involved in talks with the Indians for Martinez for weeks now, but a deal never came to fruition. The Rays may have a better package to offer and if they pull it off it could make the AL East even more interesting. Stay tuned.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 7/22, 10:06 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles in tonight's 10-6 loss at Toronto.

Our View: Martinez has two hits in three of his last four games, which is encouraging as the elite catcher is only hitting .175 in July.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 7/21, 8:58 PM CT
Victor Martinez led the Indians offensively in tonight's 2-1 win at Toronto, as he went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.

Our View: Martinez ended a five-game skid without an RBI, and was only hitting .122 in July heading into tonight's game. Hopefully fantasy owners won't have to wait long for his next solid performance.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 7/18, 8:57 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 2-for-4 with a run scored in tonight's 3-1 loss to Seattle at Progressive Field. Both of his hits were singles.

Our View: The Indians only mustered eight hits in the loss, all singles. Martinez was in need of a solid outing at the plate, as he only had one hit over his previous five games (15 at-bats). He is hitting a dismal .136 over 13 games this month, and has not crushed a homer since June 26.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 7/13, 10:50 PM CT
Victor Martinez stated that he would like to retire as a member of the Indians, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He said, "I cannot see myself in another uniform. We will see what happens. In my mind, I would like to retire as an Indian."

Our View: The Indians hold a $7MM club option on Martinez for 2010 before he becomes a free agent. The elite catcher renounces the rumors swirling that he could be traded. He added that he loves the Indians' organization.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 7/5, 10:54 AM CT
According to the Twitter page of the Cleveland Indians, catcher Victor Martinez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the A's. He is being replaced by Kelly Shoppach behind the plate.

Our View: This looks to be a routine day off for Martinez, so if you have another option behind the plate get him in this afternoon. Martinez should be back in the lineup when the Indians return to action, so get him back in after today.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 6/30, 10:09 AM CT
The San Francisco Giants are scouting Victor Martinez in their search for offensive help, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Our View: The Giants are also scouting the White Sox Jermaine Dye and the Royals Mark Teahen. While those two are very solid players, Martinez is a level above them at this point, and would offer a massive upgrade to the Giants' puny offense. The only problem for the Giants is the fact that they have Bengie Molina entrenched at catcher, meaning Martinez would have to play mostly first base. Still, it is a problem the Giants would likely love to have.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 6/26, 9:19 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and two RBI in tonight's 9-2 win over the Reds at Progressive Field.

Our View: Martinez hit a homer in back-to-back games, and leads the Indians with 14. The elite catcher also leads the club with a .327 batting average and 56 RBI.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 6/25, 9:23 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 2-for-3 with a solo homer off Ross Ohlendorf in tonight's 3-2 loss at Pittsburgh. His other knock was a single.

Our View: The Indians only recorded five hits in the game. V-Mart was in need of a solid performance at the plate, as he was hitless over his previous four games. The elite catcher continues to lead the Indians with a .327 batting average and 54 RBI. Martinez co-leads the team (Mark DeRosa) with 13 homers as well.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 6/19, 6:46 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer off Rich Harden in Friday's 8-7 loss at the Cubs.

Our View: The elite catcher continues to play up to high expectations as he leads the Indians with a .342 batting average and 53 RBI. He also ranks second on the team behind Mark DeRosa with 12 homers.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 6/15, 10:39 PM CT
Victor Martinez enjoyed a strong night at the plate in Monday's 14-12 loss to the Brewers at Progressive Field, as he went 3-for-4 with four RBI. He hit a pair of singles and a two-run homer off Dave Bush.

Our View: The elite catcher is second in the AL with a .341 batting average, and leads the Indians with 49 RBI. He should continue to perform up to high expectations.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 6/13, 6:34 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 1-for-3 with a single and recorded the Indians' lone RBI in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Cardinals at Progressive Field.

Our View: The elite catcher collected his team-leading 45th RBI of the season. He has a hit in three straight games, with four RBI over the span.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 6/11, 9:55 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Royals at Progressive Field.

Our View: Martinez has six RBI in June, and co-leads the Indians (with Mark DeRosa) with 42. The elite catcher also leads the club with a .339 batting average.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 6/7, 6:03 PM CT
Victor Martinez was 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the Indians' 8-4 win over the White Sox on Sunday.

Our View: Martinez has ten homers to go along with his .344 average this season and has turned into one of the better fantasy options at catcher after an injury plagued 2008 season.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 6/3, 10:33 PM CT
Victor Martinez was 2-for-5 with two RBI, a run scored, and a double as the Indians defeated the Twins 10-1 on Wednesday.

Our View: Martinez is up to 40 RBI, which is just seventh in the AL. He is having a phenomenal bounce back campaign as he is hitting .352 with a .992 OPS.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 6/2, 11:04 PM CT
Victor Martinez was productive in Tuesday's 4-3 loss at Minnesota, as he went 2-for-4 with a single and a solo homer.

Our View: The elite catcher has homered in back-to-back games, and leads the Indians with nine. He needs three more home runs to reach 100 for his career.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 6/1, 9:53 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Yankees at Progressive Field.

Our View: He served in the DH role tonight after fouling a ball off his leg Saturday. Martinez ended a 15-game drought without a homer.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 6/1, 5:50 PM CT
Victor Martinez will be in the Indians lineup tonight as the DH. There was some concern he may miss tonight's game after fouling a ball off of his knee on Sunday.

Our View: Start Martinez without hesitation.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 5/31, 11:48 PM CT
Victor Martinez, who exited Cleveland's game on Sunday after fouling a ball off his knee, did not play Sunday and remains day-to-day, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Our View: While Martinez's injury does not appear serious or likely to land him on the DL, you should consider sitting him until he returns to action.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 5/30, 7:12 PM CT
Victor Martinez exited tonight's battle with the Yankees after fouling a ball off his left kneecap in the first inning, according to the Sports Network.

Our View: Kelly Shoppach replaced him behind the plate in the second inning. The severity of Martinez's ailment is yet to be determined.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 5/28, 4:52 PM CT
Victor Martinez provided all of the offense that was necessary on Thursday in the Indians 2-1 win over the Rays. Martinez went 1-for-4 with two RBI in the game.

Our View: There wasn't much offense in Cleveland today, but Victor's two RBIs were just enough to beat the Rays. Martinez has been struggling a bit lately, as his average has fallen to .359, but he is still having an excellent season.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 5/21, 5:52 PM CT
Victor Martinez kept his average at a cool .400 with a 2-for-5 performance on Thursday. The slugging catcher drove in three runs in the Indians' 8-3 win over the Royals.

Our View: Martinez is having an incredible season so far. After an inconsistent and injury plagued 2008 campaign he's killing the ball in 2009. His three RBI on Thursday gave him 30 on the season, and, with his .400 average, has been a bright spot for a fading Indians team.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 5/18, 10:45 AM CT
The Red Sox have inquired about Indians' catcher Victor Martinez, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal said, "The Sox could offer Triple-A right-hander Clay Buchholz, but not all teams view him as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter. Buchholz, though, would be only one moving piece. The Red Sox could dangle numerous others who might interest the Indians, including hard-throwing reliever Daniel Bard and Double-A first baseman Lars Anderson."

Our View: Cleveland is not necessarily interested in dealing the elite catcher - especially since he currently leads the majors with a .401 batting average. He will be eligible for free agency after the 2010 campaign.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 5/16, 7:15 PM CT
Victor Martinez had three more hits on Saturday in the Indians' 4-2 loss to the Rays. Martinez also scored a run in the game.

Our View: Martinez is hitting .409 on the year, so this was just another game owners have come to expect. He has always been a very good hitter when healthy, so as long as his health allows, he should continue hitting for average and power all season.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 5/14, 10:05 PM CT
Victor Martinez was huge at the plate for the Indians on Thursday as they defeated the Rays 11-7. Martinez went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, and four RBI.

Our View: Martinez continues hitting everything in sight. The man is hitting an even .400 on the year. That's right, .400. When healthy he is one of the best hitters in the game, so ride him now while he is playing every day.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 5/13, 1:39 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer in Wednesday's 4-0 win over Chicago at Progressive Field. His other two knocks were singles.

Our View: Martinez collected his seventh homer of the season, with three coming at home. He also raised his season average to .385.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 5/6, 10:51 PM CT
Victor Martinez had three hits, three runs scored and four RBIs for the Indians in their 9-2 thrashing of the Red Sox. One of the hits was V-Mart's sixth home run of the season.

Our View: We told you that last year was merely an injury induced effort. That's 15 games and counting for Martinez with a hit, and he is now batting a robust .398 with 19 RBI. He has easily been the most valuable fantasy backstop in the early going.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 5/5, 3:13 PM CT
Victor Martinez continued his terrific start with three hits in five at-bats Tuesday, driving in and scoring a run in the process.

Our View: V-Mart has been the best fantasy catcher so far, and that's saying something given Jorge Posada's start.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 4/25, 9:38 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a double in Cleveland's 7-1 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.

Our View: Martinez has 11 hits, eight of which have been singles, in his last five games, but has only two RBI to show for it. Once Grady Sizemore and Mark DeRosa start getting on base at a better clip, Martinez could be a scary run producer. He is hitting .405 after 74 at bats.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 4/22, 9:41 PM CT
Victor Martinez kept his hot start to the season going on Wednesday night as he went 2-for-4. The Indians only had five hits, so Martinez provided much of the offense for the team.

Our View: Martinez is hitting a staggering .403 this season, and he also has hit five home runs. After missing much of last year with an injury, he looks as if he has regained the form that made him one of the better hitters in the game. His fantasy value is sky high, and it is likely it will stay that way if he is healthy.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 4/21, 9:35 PM CT
Victor Martinez was 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, and a run scored as the Indians beat the Royals 8-7 on Tuesday. He is currently hitting .397.

Our View: Martinez had just two home runs all of last season but already has five in 2009. He clearly appears to be back to the player he was from 2004-07 when he was a major fantasy factor.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 4/16, 4:17 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 3-for-6 with his third home run of the year to go along with a double and two runs against the Yankees during the day on Thursday.

Our View: It took Martinez just 10 games to top his home run total from last season, when he hit just two out of the park. The catcher/first baseman is batting .381 (16-for-42) and looks to be back in his old form; he was clearly hurt last season and, thus, his down year appears to have been a fluke.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 4/14, 11:27 PM CT
Victor Martinez has another multi-hit game as he went 2-for-3 on Tuesday in Cleveland's 9-3 loss to the Royals.

Our View: The catcher/first baseman has been one of the few bright spots for the 1-7 Indians. He's now hitting .394 on the young season.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 4/13, 11:22 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 3-for-5 with three singles in Monday's 4-2 loss to Kansas City. He is now hitting .367 through seven games.

Our View: Martinez hit just .278 last season, but he had hit over .300 in the three seasons prior to 2008. Assuming he is 100 percent, as it appears he is, he should be able to reach the .300 mark once again in 2009.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 3/4, 7:31 PM CT
Victor Martinez had a nice game for the Indians on Wednesday, going 1-for-3 with an RBI double and scored a run.

Our View: Martinez certainly won't be the first catcher off the board in most leagues after he was one of the biggest fantasy busts last season, but he's easily a top-10 catcher in all-MLB leagues again this year if he can stay healthy.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 2/25, 6:45 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 0-for-2 to begin his spring on Wednesday.

Our View: Martinez only managed to play in 73 games last year due to elbow surgery and was one of the most disappointing fantasy players in the majors. He only collected two home runs with 35 RBI.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 9/25, 3:27 PM CT
Indians catcher Victor Martinez had his suspension reduced from three games to two, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

Our View: Martinez was suspended for his role in the fracas between Gary Sheffield and Fausto Carmona. Martinez will start to serve his suspension Thursday evening.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 9/23, 9:07 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 0-for-5 and left five men on base in the Indians 5-4 loss to the Red Sox.

Our View: Maybe he's thinking about his upcoming suspension, but this was not a quality evening for Martinez. Fantasy owners would love to see a monster remainder of the season to make up for the poor numbers Martinez has put up.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 9/22, 4:51 PM CT
Victor Martinez was suspended for three games for his role in the Tigers-Indians brawl from last Friday, according to the Associated Press. Martinez is scheduled to begin his suspension tonight, though no word is yet available on whether he will appeal.

Our View: This suspension is for one more game than the amount of home runs that he has hit this year (two), so perhaps the league will take pity on him and lower the suspension to two games for the sake of symmetry. Stay tuned.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 9/20, 9:01 AM CT
Indians catcher Victor Martinez called out Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield after Sheffield charged Fausto Carmona from first base, according to the Detroit Free Press. "This guy, I don't know how many years he has, but his act is tired - all that macho, throwing your equipment off, all this stuff. Trust me: He don't want none of me," Martinez stated.

Our View: Know what fantasy owners want from you, Victor? Home runs. One of the most disappointing players in fantasy this year, Martinez suffered an arm injury, keeping him away for some time, and he has just two round-trippers on the season.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 9/19, 8:50 PM CT
Victor Martinez was ejected from Friday's game in the seventh inning after a benches-clearing incident according to the AP.

Our View: The brawl started when Gary Sheffield charged Fausto Carmona from first base. Martinez will likely face a suspension for his part in the alteracation.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 9/16, 10:37 PM CT
Victor Martinez hit a walk-off 11th inning home run off of Twins' closer Joe Nathan on Tuesday night. It was just his second of the season. He finished the night 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI.

Our View: His first of the year came earlier this month. Clearly he does not have his old power stroke, but any progress is still, well, progress.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 9/9, 5:06 PM CT
Victor Martinez is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Indians. Travis Hafner, fresh off the DL, is serving as the DH, and Kelly Shoppach is behind the plate.

Our View: Unless Hafner or Martinez picks up a first base mitt, the two may end up splitting DH time over the final weeks. Shoppach's good work behind the plate means the Indians may need to shuffle some pieces this offseason.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 9/7, 4:40 PM CT
Victor Martinez was the DH for the Indians, and he got two hits in three at-bats while driving in all three Cleveland runs in their 3-1 win over the Royals.

Our View: Martinez is hitting .333 with six RBI since coming off the DL, rewarding any fantasy owner who stuck with him in his long stint away.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 9/5, 11:21 PM CT
Victor Martinez finally got the nod behind the plate against the Royals. He had not caught since June because of elbow surgery. Martinez was sharp at the plate with two singles, driving in a run in the fifth inning. He finished 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.

Our View: This was by far his best performance since returning from the DL six games ago. It's still too early to tell how effective he will be going forward.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 9/2, 10:23 PM CT
Victor Martinez finally hit his first home run of the season in the Indians 9-3 win over the White Sox.

Our View: Martinez has been among the biggest disappointments of the year for fantasy owners, who undoubtedly took him with a high pick, expecting him to be among, if not the, best offensive catcher.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 8/30, 3:26 PM CT
Catcher Victor Martinez made his return to the lineup Friday night, but he made his return to the bench Saturday afternoon, according to MLB.com. The Indians want to be careful with how quickly they work Martinez back into full-time duty, so manager Eric Wedge plans to pick his spots with how he plays him. Martinez went 1-for-3 with a run scored in his return to the lineup against the Mariners. "He'll be back in there [Sunday], at first base or DH," Wedge said. "He's going to throw again [Sunday], then we'll assess where he's at on Monday."

Our View: Martinez could be ready to catch a game by that point, but he's not expected to catch more than two games a week from here on out.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 8/29, 7:51 PM CT
Victor Martinez is batting fifth in the Indians' lineup tonight and working at first base against Seattle in his first game back, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He said, "I wanted to make sure to do my rehab right. I wanted to get back as soon as possible without any problems. It's exciting to finally go."

Our View: He will be scheduled to catch about twice a week, and will serve at first base and as a DH the rest of the time.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 8/29, 2:28 PM CT
Indians catcher Victor Martinez has been activated from the disabled list, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. In a corresponding roster move, Andy Gonzalez was designated for assignment.

Our View: Maybe now he'll hit his first home run for fantasy owners who undoubtedly made him a fairly high pick.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 8/27, 8:17 PM CT
Victor Martinez , who caught nine innings Tuesday for Class AAA Buffalo and went 2-for-4, could rejoin the club this weekend against Seattle at Progressive Field, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "There's still a chance Victor will be brought back before September," said manager Eric Wedge. "It will probably be September for the other two guys (Travis Hafner, Josh Barfield)."

Our View: Martinez is recovering from surgery on his right elbow and has reported no problems throwing or hitting.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 8/25, 8:26 PM CT
Victor Martinez will play a full game at catcher in his rehab assignment, followed by a game at DH in Triple-A, and could rejoin the Indians before the end of the month, according to Indians.com.

Our View: Martinez is 3-for-12 in his rehab assignment so far, and he will resume catching duties with Cleveland upon his return. For the sake of fantasy players, let's hope his power returns with him.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 8/23, 11:21 AM CT
Victor Martinez won't likely return to the Indians before Wednesday, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Indians want to see improvement in Martinez's throwing as he continues to recover from surgery on his right elbow.

Our View: He is still being brought along slowly, but it looks like he has a shot to return before the end of next week. He should be scooped up off the waiver wire if released when he got hurt.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 8/19, 9:05 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 1-for-2 with a run, two RBI, and a walk in Tuesday's rehab game at Triple-A Buffalo. He played catcher. Martinez previously played two games at Double-A Akron, where he served as DH. He is recovering from right elbow surgery.

Our View: Martinez is inching closer to his major league return. We imagine that the Indians might want him to test out the elbow behind the plate a couple more times before he moves up.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 8/16, 4:50 PM CT
Victor Martinez will move up his rehab assignment to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, and he will switch from DH to catcher, MLB.com reports. He is coming back from right elbow surgery. Martinez has also dealt with a lingering left hamstring issue this season.

Our View: We haven't seen an exact return date for Martinez, but we imagine the Indians will want to test his elbow for at least 3-5 days at Triple-A. We'll continue to update his progress as he attempts to come back and help fantasy teams in late August and September.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 8/16, 3:33 PM CT
Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez went 0-for-2 with a walk in his first rehab start since injuring his elbow, according to MLB.com.

Our View: Martinez played as the DH, but he will be the catcher early next week. He is on track, but no specific return date is known at this point.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 8/14, 12:25 PM CT
Victor Martinez, who is recovering from right elbow surgery, is slated to begin his rehab assignment Friday at Double-A Akron, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Our View: Martinez will DH, return to Progressive Field to go through a throwing program on Saturday and then DH again for Akron on Sunday. When Martinez is ready to rejoin Cleveland, he will DH, catch and play first base, but he won't play every day.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 8/12, 9:28 AM CT
Manager Eric Wedge reports Victor Martinez could begin a minor league rehab assignment as soon as this weekend, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Our View: Hitting coach Derek Shelton commented that Martinez's BP on Monday, "looked very good."
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 8/8, 7:32 PM CT
Victor Martinez, coming back from elbow surgery, worked out in full yet again on Friday by taking BP and throwing, according to MLB.com.

Our View: Martinez should head out next week at some point on a rehab assignment though he will DH at first before returning to catching. He could still be about two weeks away, though a return sooner is possible if he doesn't suffer any setbacks.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 8/6, 11:45 AM CT
Victor Martinez took batting practice from both sides of the plate on Wednesday morning and threw to all the bases from behind the plate, MLB.com reports. The catcher is still not ready for a rehab assignment, though. Martinez is recovering from right elbow surgery and may be ready to head to the minors early next week.

Our View: Fantasy owners may still hope to squeeze a good September out of V-Mart, who will likely play a lot of first base and DH down the stretch.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 8/5, 9:36 AM CT
Victor Martinez ran the bases Monday and reported no problems, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "He moved around real well," manager Eric Wedge said.

Our View: Martinez could start a rehab assignment by the end of the week.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 8/4, 5:30 PM CT
Victor Martinez will begin his rehab assignment later this week, and it's possible he could see some time at first base, according to Indians.com.

Our View: Kelly Shoppach has hit .325 since July 1, and keeping him at catcher when Martinez comes back is probably the smart thing to do. It would be nice for Martinez to start hitting for some power when he returns, as he has been an enormous disappointment in fantasy leagues. Not only has he been hurt, but he has not hit a single home run this season in nearly 200 at-bats.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 7/29, 8:52 AM CT
Victor Martinez played catch on Monday and reported no ill effects, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. "He's caught a couple of bullpens," manager Eric Wedge said. "He didn't throw the ball back, but catching bullpens helps keep his legs in shape."

Our View: Martinez, who is coming back from right elbow surgery, is targeting a mid-August return.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 7/19, 5:24 PM CT
Victor Martinez, recovering from right elbow surgery, is closer to resuming drills. "[He's] getting close to baseball activity. I think that hopefully towards the end of this week he can start getting more involved in baseball activity," manager Eric Wedge said on MLB.com. Wedge added: "He's still two or three weeks away, though. It's where we are."

Our View: The floundering Indians aren't about to rush V-Mart back into the lineup. We should see him sometime next month.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 7/18, 9:33 AM CT
Victor Martinez, who is recovering from right elbow surgery, will begin playing catch and swinging a bat in a week, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Our View: He could be back with the Indians in three weeks, just in time for the stretch run of the fantasy season.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 7/12, 11:33 AM CT
Victor Martinez has progressed in his recovery from elbow surgery to the point he will begin to play catch next week, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

Our View: This is favorable news, and he is on target to return to the Indians at some time in August.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 6/14, 7:31 AM CT
The Indians confirmed that Victor Martinez is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after having bone chips removed from his right elbow on Friday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Our View: There are roughly 15 weeks left in the major league season, which means Victor is likely to miss at least half of the remaining schedule. Kelly Shoppach will have a chance to run with the everyday job behind the plate, and he's the man to add in fantasy leagues.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 6/12, 5:36 PM CT
Victor Martinez will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his injured elbow on Friday and will miss upwards of two months, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Our View: Martinez will have bone chips removed during the procedure. Kelly Shoppach will receive a substantial boost in value given this news as he will likely take on a heavy workload with the recently recalled Yamid Haad serving as the backup.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 6/12, 3:02 PM CT
Victor Martinez has been placed on the 15-day DL due to inflammation in his right elbow, according to the AP. Martinez winced after a swing in the first inning of the Indians’ 8-5 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday. He was then lifted from the game after grounding out to shortstop. Manager Eric Wedge said, "It nicked him up on one of his swings. The elbow is something that’s been bothering him on and off all year. It must have been one of those swings that bit him a little more than usual." Catcher Yamid Haad will fill his spot on the Indians' roster.

Our View: Martinez has also been battling a strained left hamstring for most of the season. Martinez still is yet to hit a home run over 198 at-bats, and holds a .278 average.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 6/12, 7:06 AM CT
Victor Martinez is scheduled for an MRI today for inflammation in his right elbow, according to IndiansConfidential.com.

Our View: Martinez could potentially land on the DL, and Manager Eric Wedge stated that he had been dealing with pain in the elbow for some time. We will keep you posted on his status.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 6/11, 6:57 PM CT
Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez has left tonight's game with right elbow inflammation.

Our View: He was replaced by Kelly Shoppach behind the plate. The team has not updated his condition but may seek to give Martinez some time off for this kind of ailment. We will update as news becomes available.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 6/11, 1:22 PM CT
Victor Martinez's performance this season has been bad; worst than bad in fact. The All Star is batting only .279 with 21 RBI and 19 runs scored. The fact he's yet to hit a home runs and has only 11 extra base hits in 197 at-bats... is shocking.

Our View: If Martinez isn't suffering from the hamstring injury, his performance has to be containered as a down year. The 30-year old can't have regressed this drastically in such a short time.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 6/7, 7:50 PM CT
Victor Martinez pinch hit on Saturday and made an out to lower his average to .283.

Our View: That's 187 AB and counting without a home run, and after three straight .300 seasons, V-Mart is struggling to keep his average above .280. The whole world knows he is playing hurt, and at some point it will likely be best if the team just put him on the 15 day DL, let his body heal, and then hope he could return to the hitter he has proven himself to be, because he isn't even an average major league hitter right now.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 6/3, 8:18 PM CT
A sore left hamstring kept Victor Martinez out of the lineup Tuesday for the second time in three games. However, he's not expected to need a stint in the DL. "Not right now," manager Eric Wedge said on MLB.com. "As long as the time off gives him help. It doesn't affect him when he's catching, which is a tremendous bonus for us." Wedge said the hamstring clearly affected Martinez when he faced lefty Eddie Guardado in Monday's game, which is why V-Mart was held out of the lineup against Rangers left-handed starter A.J. Murray on Tuesday. "It looked like [the hamstring] grabbed him from the right side," Wedge said.

Our View: The Indians won't face another lefty until Sunday, so hopefully V-Mart will return to the lineup shortly. We'll keep you updated on his condition.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 6/1, 12:59 PM CT
Victor Martinez is still dealing with a lingering left hamstring issue, and he was not in the starting lineup on Sunday. "Victor needs the day," manager Eric Wedge explains to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "When he hits, his lower half is real active. It all comes into play with him... He still feels it when he runs." Martinez initially injured his hamstring on March 31.

Our View: Martinez hit only .221 in May, and now we know he had a reason beyond the neck and finger issues he had during the month. He is day-to-day and safe to start in fantasy leagues in the upcoming week.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 5/26, 5:05 PM CT
Victor Martinez was back in the Indian's starting lineup on Sunday after sitting out back-to-back days with injured fingernail. The catcher is in the starting lineup tonight against the White Sox.

Our View: The understatement of May would be to state that V-Mart has been disappointing from a fantasy perspective. He has suffered some nagging injuries in the first two months of the season, but that doesn't explain his serious digression in power. After 145 at-bats, Martinez has yet to hit a home run, and has only eight extra-base hits on the year.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 5/24, 8:04 PM CT
Victor Martinez was surprisingly held out of the lineup for the second straight day Saturday because of a cut of his left middle finger. "I really thought he'd be back in there [Saturday]," manager Eric Wedge said on MLB.com. "But he's still struggling with gripping the bat."

Our View: It was mildly surprising that V-Mart missed yesterday's game, so the fact that he didn't play today was discouraging. He should be back soon, but obviously he's no given for tomorrow.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 5/23, 5:18 PM CT
Victor Martinez was scratched from Friday's lineup because of the cut of his left middle finger that he suffered last night, according to the AP.

Our View: It had sounded like V-Mart might be able to give it a go, but it appears the Tribe will play it safe. Kelly Shoppach will replace Victor, who should be back in there on Saturday.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 5/23, 9:40 AM CT
Victor Martinez sounds like he may survive after injuring his left index finger on Thursday night. "It's kind of a cut on his finger, not a baseball-related injury," manager Eric Wedge informs the Akron Beacon Journal. "His cuticle broke open and he had trouble gripping the bat. He almost lost his bat when he was up in the fourth." Kelly Shoppach took his place on Thursday night.

Our View: Oh, those painful cuticle injuries! They get you every time. We imagine V-Mart could be back in the lineup as soon as Friday night.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 5/22, 8:45 PM CT
Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez left tonight's battle with the Chicago White Sox in the middle of the fourth inning with what appears to be a finger injury, according to MLB.com.

Our View: The Indians report an undisclosed issue with Martinez's left index finger but have not updated his status. He was replaced by Kelly Shoppach. We will update with news as it becomes available.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 5/18, 3:45 PM CT
The Cleveland Indians wasted an opportunity today, taking the 6-4 loss from the Cincinnati Reds. No one will feel worse than catcher Victor Martinez , going 1-for-5 with two strikeouts and five runners left on base.

Our View: Martinez came into the month on a hot streak but has since fallen, going just 10-for-43 coming into today with nine strikeouts and five walks. He failed to improve any of those numbers today.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 5/14, 8:22 AM CT
Victor Martinez appeared to injure his left quad in a play at the plate on Tuesday night, but he stayed in the game, the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes.

Our View: We don't believe the Indians would mess around if V-Mart was hurt badly, so we're not too worried about this bit of news.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 5/10, 9:25 PM CT
Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez brought the big stick out to play as the Indians put Toronto to bed 12-0. Martinez went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored.

Our View: Martinez has spent time at both DH and C, now hitting .346 on the season (though he has yet to hit his first home run of the season).
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 5/9, 5:33 PM CT
After serving as the designated hitter on Wednesday, Victor Martinez got Thursday completely off because of his stiff beck. Martinez is back in the starting lineup on Friday versus Toronto in his normal catcher role.

Our View: Martinez has still yet to hit a home run this year. He is hitting for average but the offensive struggles at the top of the order haven't given him many runs batted in opportunities this season. The All Star has only 11 RBI on the season.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 5/8, 1:06 PM CT
Victor Martinez is sitting out today's game due to neck stiffness, according to MLB.com. The ailment forced him to miss Tuesday as well, and relegated him to the DH role on Wednesday. Manager Eric Wedge said, "He sucked it up to play Wednesday. He doesn't have great numbers against Yankees starter Mike Mussina, and it's a day game after a night game, so we're going to give him a day."

Our View: Martinez had treatment on his neck Thursday morning, but commented that is wasn't progressing. Martinez leads the team with a .321 average, but is yet to hit his first homer of the season over 109 at-bats. We will keep you posted on his status. Kelly Shoppach will cover his post at catcher.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 5/7, 10:02 PM CT
Victor Martinez returned to fill the DH role on Wednesday, and though he produced an RBI on the night, he failed to record a hit to lose his 15-game hitting streak.

Our View: It's tough to dog a guy who is hitting .337 from the catchers position, but he has fewer home runs than D'backs pitcher Micah Owings this season (zero). That can't be good can it?
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 5/7, 5:09 PM CT
Victor Martinez appears to be slated to start at DH tonight after sitting out two games with a sore neck, according to the AP.

Our View: V-Mart has been a hitting machine all season with a .347 average, and we are just glad he is in the lineup, though this most recent injury likely won't help him to start hitting the longball (he has six doubles and no home runs).
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 5/7, 4:35 PM CT
Victor Martinez tried to beg his way into the lineup tonight when the Indians play the Yankees in New York, but the coaching staff felt inclined to give their catcher another day to get his neck straight. Martinez will miss his second straight game to a crick in his neck.

Our View: Yes a "crick." Kelly Shoppach receives his second straight start in place of the All Star and the American League's leading hitter.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 5/7, 11:00 AM CT
The offensively-challenged Indians suffered a setback before Andy Pettitte threw his first pitch on Tuesday night. Indians catcher Victor Martinez was scratched from the lineup during batting practice with a stiff neck, notes the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Our View: Martinez is leading the American League with a .347 batting average. His 15-game hitting streak is the longest active streak in the big leagues. Kelly Shoppach replaced Martinez in the lineup. Martinez missed five games in April with a strained left hamstring, but the neck injury isn't considered serious and the team is calling their backstop day-to-day. RotoTimes sources reported early Tuesday morning they believe the All Star will be back in the lineup on Wednesday.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 5/6, 5:53 PM CT
Victor Martinez was scratched on Tuesday due to a stiff neck, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Kelly Shoppach will start in his place. Martinez is presumably day-to-day.

Our View: We'll update V-Mart's status when more is known.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 5/6, 1:22 PM CT
Victor Martinez is riding a 15-game hitting streak, and will look to keep it going tonight against lefty Andy Pettitte and the Yankees, according to MLB.com.

Our View: Martinez is hitting .347 overall, but only has 10 RBI over 25 games, and is yet to hit his first homer of the season. He has only struck out eight times over 95 at-bats, and his lack of power is puzzling.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 4/30, 9:54 PM CT
Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 12-games on Wednesday night as he went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

Our View: It's hard to quibble when a guy is batting .366, but Martinez hasn't hit a single long ball, has scored only five times and has knocked in only nine runs on the year. Still, he has only four K in 82 AB and is spraying the ball all over the field with great effectiveness.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 4/28, 3:22 PM CT
Victor Martinez is riding a nine-game hitting streak and will look to keep it going tonight against Mike Mussina and the Yankees, according to MLB.com.

Our View: Martinez is hitting .366 over 71 at-bats, but is yet to hit his first homer of 2008. He has only struck out three times.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 4/26, 6:47 PM CT
Victor Martinez hit a bases-loaded single that scored Grady Sizemore from third with one out in the ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians registered a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Our View: Martinez finished the game 2-for-4 raising his already outstanding average to .373.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 4/16, 2:08 PM CT
Victor Martinez has racked up six hits over his last eight at-bats, according to MLB.com. He will look to remain hot tonight against pitcher Armando Galarraga and the Tigers. Galarraga is notably being called up from Triple-A to start the game in place of the injured Dontrelle Willis.

Our View: The elite catcher should remain in all lineups tonight.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 4/15, 11:42 PM CT
Victor Martinez had three hits and two RBI for the Indians in a Tuesday loss to the Red Sox.

Our View: Martinez, who has played in nine games this April, has yet to hit a home run and has only one run scored and four RBI (two today).
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 4/8, 7:44 AM CT
Victor Martinez returned to the Indians' lineup on Monday, and performed very well as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI. He collected three total bases and he should be safe to return to your lineups now.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 4/7, 10:17 AM CT
Victor Martinez is close to returning from a strained left hamstring. "Victor ran around out here real well (Sunday) morning," manager Eric Wedge tells the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "We'll bring Victor out early Monday and let him run the bases. If he feels all right, he'll be in the lineup that night." Kelly Shoppach has been starting in his place.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 4/3, 7:33 PM CT
Victor Martinez could return to the lineup as soon as tomorrow night, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. V-Mart hasn't played since the opener, when he had to leave after straining a hamstring. "It's getting better every day," said manager Eric Wedge. "We're going to get to the ballpark early and he should be back in a day or two. This was an opportunity to get him back out there. I'm very happy with his progress." Wedge said there was no chance of using V-Mart as a DH. Check back for updates to see if the catcher will get back to action tomorrow.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 4/3, 4:18 PM CT
Victor Martinez, who left Monday's outing with a strained hamstring, flew out as a pinch hitter Thursday. Manager Eric Wedge hopes V-Mart can return to catching duties in the next few days, according to the AP. The Tribe are in Oakland over the weekend and then start a series with the Angels Monday. Hopefully Martinez will be behind the plate sometime against the A's.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 4/3, 1:32 PM CT
Victor Martinez has returned to action as he pinch-hit for Jason Michaels in Thursday's game against the White Sox, according to the Plain Dealer. He flied out to left field but it is good to see him back on the field.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 4/3, 7:49 AM CT
Victor Martinez has a mild hamstring strain, according to the Beacon Journal. Manager Wedge stated, "Victor felt better yesterday, and he felt better today." Wedge does not believe the effects of the injury will linger long enough to force Martinez to spend time on the DL, or even to be out of the lineup for as long as a full week. Martinez stated that he does not feel any twinges in his leg when he participates in normal activity, and he will remain listed as day-to-day.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 4/1, 3:38 PM CT
The Indians remain mum about the status of Victor Martinez, except that he is day-to-day with a mild strain, but did mention a few interesting things, according to the AP. Eric Wedge complimented Kelly Shoppach by saying, “Shoppy’s a heck of a player. He’s got a tough job, but prepares himself well. That’s why he was able to come in and contribute like he did. He made a good play at the plate and got a big hit. We’ve got confidence in Shoppy.” The team also mentioned that if Martinez ultimately ends up on the DL, they would bring up either minors leaguers Yamid Haad or Wyatt Toregas to step in as the top backup to Shoppach.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 4/1, 1:08 PM CT
Victor Martinez underwent an MRI on Tuesday (for his hamstring ailment sustained Monday), and while the team didn't offer any news on the results, they did state that they aren't currently contemplating a roster move involving V-Mart, this according to MLB.com. More news on his status will be posted when we hear more.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 3/31, 3:58 PM CT
Victor Martinez exited Monday's game in the second inning after injuring his left hamstring while running to second base, according to the AP. The Indians are listing V-Mart as day-to-day. Kelly Shoppach will fill in behind the plate for the Indians while Martinez is out.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 3/31, 3:05 PM CT
Victor Martinez was forced out of action in the second inning against Chicago on Monday, after apparently injuring his leg while running the bases. More news will be posted shortly.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 3/26, 4:18 PM CT
Victor Martinez had another strong day at the plate against Houston on Wednesday as he went 2-for-5 with three RBI. His spring average holds strong at .345 and he is expected to maintain his role as an elite fantasy catcher this season.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 3/23, 12:26 PM CT
Victor Martinez went 3-for-4 (one home run) with one RBI against the Mets on Saturday. The elite catcher raised his spring average to .395.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 3/22, 3:56 PM CT
Victor Martinez hit a leadoff shot to left field in the second inning off Mets left-hander Oliver Perez. Martinez has been relatively quiet this spring. The All Star backstop is consider one of the top-2 fantasy options at catcher along with speedy Russell Martin.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 2/22, 6:37 PM CT
Victor Martinez has lost some weight in his attempt to better prepare himself for the rigors of a season wearing the tools of ignorance, according to the AP. Victor reported to camp with about 10 pounds of extra muscle and then put on a show in BP. "What he has, you either have it or you don't," hitting coach Derek Shelton said. "You can't teach it." V-Mart hit 25 longballs with 114 RBI last season and he owns a career .301 batting average. Russell Martin may go before him in some drafts this year, but few hitters, let along catchers, can match his overall production.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 9/26, 5:44 AM CT
Victor Martinez left Tuesday's game in the eighth inning with a bruised knee. It's not immediately clear how this will affect Martinez's availability for Wednesday's doubleheader with Seattle; Kelly Shoppach looks like a sure thing to play at least one of the games.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 8/9, 9:25 AM CT
Victor Martinez has hit just .239 with four homers and 17 RBI since July 1, but Indians manager Eric Wedge isn't too concerned. "I think Victor is OK," Wedge told the Akron Beacon Journal. "He's done such a good job for us all around. He's cooled off a little bit, but I see things that make me believe he's headed in the other direction in a positive way." Wedge also pointed out that the Tribe has three off-days in the next 10 days, which he believes will help re-charge his slumping backstop.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 7/24, 8:26 AM CT
Victor Martinez got a scheduled day of rest on Monday night. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, manager Eric Wedge is resting some of his regulars because of a schedule that includes 17 games in 17 days coming out of the All-Star break.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 7/8, 5:42 AM CT
Victor Martinez left Saturday's game in the fifth inning after fouling a ball off his left knee and is listed as day-to-day, the AP reports. "It's a little sore but it's nothing to worry about," Martinez said. "I think I'll be able to play (Sunday)."
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxThursday 5/31, 3:46 AM CT
Victor Martinez was given a routine night off Wednesday, the AP reports.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 5/7, 1:04 AM CT
Victor Martinez left Sunday's game against the Orioles in the eighth inning after getting hit on his wrist by a ball, according to the AP. X-rays on his wrist were negative, but it's unclear if he'll be in the lineup on Monday.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 4/18, 11:11 PM CT
Victor Martinez was given a routine day off Wednesday, the AP reports. Martinez was out for 10 days with a strained quad, then returned to action Tuesday.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 4/15, 9:30 PM CT
Victor Martinez is expected to be back in the lineup on Tuesday against the Yankees, according to the AP. He's been sidelined with a strained left quad since opening day.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 4/14, 10:48 PM CT
Manager Eric Wedge said Victor Martinez could be back in the lineup Sunday, according to the AP. "He's progressing, but we'll take everything into consideration," Wedge said. Martinez is recovering from a strained left quad.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 4/14, 6:57 AM CT
Victor Martinez worked out and took batting practice yesterday, though he did not play in the Indians' evening game, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Manager Eric Wedge said he hoped that Martinez would return from his strained left quadriceps this weekened to pinch-hit or work as a designated hitter.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 4/10, 9:29 PM CT
Victor Martinez, who has a strained left quadriceps, might return this weekend, according to the AP. He did not travel with the team after his wife gave birth to a baby girl Tuesday morning.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 4/10, 9:13 AM CT
Victor Martinez's condition has steadily progressed, to the point that he might be able to avoid a trip to the DL, the Indians official site reports. Martinez is dealing with a strained quad. "We'll probably make a call here in the next couple days," manager Eric Wedge said. "We might even go a player short for a day or two, depending on how we feel about Victor."
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 4/7, 11:10 PM CT
An MRI on Victor Martinez's left quadriceps revealed a strain, the Indians official site reports. The club will decide before Sunday's action whether or not Martinez will have to go on the 15-day disabled list. "He's certainly going to miss some time," GM Mark Shapiro said. "The good thing is it doesn't appear to be serious." Shapiro said the club is confident that if Martinez does go on the DL, he'll be ready to return at the end of the 15 days.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSaturday 4/7, 9:25 AM CT
Victor Martinez could be placed on the disabled list today because of the left quad injury he suffered on Friday against Seattle, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Vic is a potential disabled-list situation," said manager Eric Wedge after the game. Martinez suffered the injury while running out a groundball.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 4/6, 6:16 PM CT
Victor Martinez left Friday's game against the Mariners in the third inning after suffering a left quad injury, according to the Sports Network. He suffered the injury while running out a groundball to third base. The Indians are saying that V-Mart is day-to-day at this point, but the injury appeared to be one that could keep him out of the lineup for a couple days.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 3/14, 5:46 PM CT
Victor Martinez made three strong defensive plays in his first spring start at first base on Wednesday, according to the AP. "I felt good out there," Martinez said. "I've been doing extra work at first. I signed with the Indians as a shortstop, so I'm always taking ground balls during the season." V-Mart made 22 appearances at first base last year, and he should see a decent amount of time there again in 2007.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 3/11, 6:25 PM CT
As expected, Victor Martinez returned to spring action on Sunday. Martinez, who had missed two games because he was ill, was 2-for-4.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxSunday 3/11, 7:55 AM CT
Victor Martinez should return to exhibition action today, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Martinez missed the past two games because he's feeling under the weather.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxFriday 9/1, 7:48 AM CT
Indians manager Eric Wedge said that Victor Martinez fouled a ball of his toe at least two months ago and it's had a lasting effect on the catcher's performance gunning out runners and perhaps hitting, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. "I don't think it's broken," Wedge said. "But because he has continued to play every day, it never really had a chance to get better. It's just something he's going to have to play with the rest of the season, because it's not going to go away... At first, the toe affected his throwing, but not now. Victor's throws have been much better the past month or so."
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxWednesday 7/26, 8:47 AM CT
Victor Martinez, who is dealing with a toe injury, is expected to be back behind the plate today, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He played first base on Tuesday after missing Monday's game.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 7/25, 9:13 PM CT
Victor Martinez returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing one game with a badly bruised left big toe, according to the AP. The Indians initially feared that the toe was broken. He went 2-for-5 with two RBI in his return.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxTuesday 7/25, 9:00 AM CT
Victor Martinez had his sore toe X-rayed on Monday, but it's not yet known if the toe is broken, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Victor is sore . . . he's a little more sore than we thought he'd be," said manager Eric Wedge. "The toe is biting him." He suffered the injury when he fouled a pitch off of his foot on Sunday.
Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red SoxMonday 7/24, 9:48 PM CT
Victor Martinez did not start on Monday because of a sore left big toe he initially injured on Sunday, according to the AP. He was originally in the lineup but was scratched after returning from the hospital for tests. It is unknown at this time if Martinez broke his toe.