02/17: Tino Retires a Yankee
Posted by: Patrick
Tino has accepted the ESPN job.
I remember when we traded to Tino. I actually have the USA Today from that day saved somewhere. Tino Martinez, Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir for Russ Davis and Sterling Hitchcock. That one worked out. He was the successor to Donnie, who was my favorite player. Seeing Mattingly retire without a championship was rough. Tino stepped in for a Yankee icon and he managed to carve out his own niche in Yankeedom.
Tino was very durable. His first run with the Yankees lasted 6 seasons (1996-2001) and resulted in 4 world championships. He averaged 153 games played per year. During that time, he hit .278 (966 for 3,467) with 175 home runs and 690 runs batted in. That's an average of 29 home runs and 115 runs batted in per season. He drove in 105 or more runs in 5 of his 6 seasons. His best regular season came in 1997 when he hit .296 with 44 home runs and 141 runs batted in. He came in 2nd in the MVP voting that year to Ken Griffey, Jr.'s amazing 56 home run, 147 RBI year. In that year, he was also an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger.
Tino's 44 home runs were the most by a Yankee since Maris and Mantle in '61 and up until A-Rod's 48 this year, no Yankee had done it since. His 141 runs batted in were the most since Donnie's 145 in his MVP season of 1985. Tino's 141 has not been matched by a Yankee since.
His postseason performance did leave something to be desired, as he hit only .233 with a .321 OBA. In 99 games, he hit 9 home runs and drove in 38. What makes that a bit easier to swallow, however, is that he was best in the World Series, where he hit .268 with a .355 OBA with 3 home runs and 14 RBI in 25 games.
Not to be lost in all of these offensive numbers is his solid defense. That being the main reason he was brought back for one last hurrah last season. In that final season, he hit .241 with 17 home runs and 49 RBI in 303 at bats over 131 games. Early in the year, his bat caught fire and his stats in May reflect this: he hit .264 with 10 home runs and 23 runs batted in in 72 at bats in 24 games. Nonetheless, it quickly cooled and that, coupled with Giambi's incredible resurgance, led to fewer at bats for the rest of the year. He hit .313 in August (a month in which he had 64 at bats, his second most in any month), but went hitless in the postseason.
Over his entire Yankee career, he hit .275 (1,039 for 3,770) with 192 home runs and 739 RBI. All told, he played 16 seasons with the Yankees (1,054 games), Mariners (543), Cardinals (288) and Devil Rays (138). He hit .271 with 339 home runs and 1,271 RBI.
During the time that I watched him, he impressed me with his play, but he impressed me just as much with his professional approach to the game. Thanks again, Tino.
Via Brian.
Tino hangs 'em up: In a move that will surprise nobody, Tino Martinez has officially decided to end his playing career.
Martinez confirmed the decision in the St. Petersburg Times, telling the paper that he will begin his broadcasting career at ESPN.
"I don't want to make this a big deal," Martinez told the paper. "I'm done. I'm not going to play anymore. I'm 100 percent decided."
Martinez said that the offer from ESPN made his decision to retire a lot easier, as he will work on "Baseball Tonight," do some radio work and cover a few games. ...
"I wanted to retire as a Yankee, to have that uniform on for the last time," he said. "It's a great way to go out."
Martinez confirmed the decision in the St. Petersburg Times, telling the paper that he will begin his broadcasting career at ESPN.
"I don't want to make this a big deal," Martinez told the paper. "I'm done. I'm not going to play anymore. I'm 100 percent decided."
Martinez said that the offer from ESPN made his decision to retire a lot easier, as he will work on "Baseball Tonight," do some radio work and cover a few games. ...
"I wanted to retire as a Yankee, to have that uniform on for the last time," he said. "It's a great way to go out."
I remember when we traded to Tino. I actually have the USA Today from that day saved somewhere. Tino Martinez, Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir for Russ Davis and Sterling Hitchcock. That one worked out. He was the successor to Donnie, who was my favorite player. Seeing Mattingly retire without a championship was rough. Tino stepped in for a Yankee icon and he managed to carve out his own niche in Yankeedom.
Tino was very durable. His first run with the Yankees lasted 6 seasons (1996-2001) and resulted in 4 world championships. He averaged 153 games played per year. During that time, he hit .278 (966 for 3,467) with 175 home runs and 690 runs batted in. That's an average of 29 home runs and 115 runs batted in per season. He drove in 105 or more runs in 5 of his 6 seasons. His best regular season came in 1997 when he hit .296 with 44 home runs and 141 runs batted in. He came in 2nd in the MVP voting that year to Ken Griffey, Jr.'s amazing 56 home run, 147 RBI year. In that year, he was also an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger.
Tino's 44 home runs were the most by a Yankee since Maris and Mantle in '61 and up until A-Rod's 48 this year, no Yankee had done it since. His 141 runs batted in were the most since Donnie's 145 in his MVP season of 1985. Tino's 141 has not been matched by a Yankee since.
His postseason performance did leave something to be desired, as he hit only .233 with a .321 OBA. In 99 games, he hit 9 home runs and drove in 38. What makes that a bit easier to swallow, however, is that he was best in the World Series, where he hit .268 with a .355 OBA with 3 home runs and 14 RBI in 25 games.
Not to be lost in all of these offensive numbers is his solid defense. That being the main reason he was brought back for one last hurrah last season. In that final season, he hit .241 with 17 home runs and 49 RBI in 303 at bats over 131 games. Early in the year, his bat caught fire and his stats in May reflect this: he hit .264 with 10 home runs and 23 runs batted in in 72 at bats in 24 games. Nonetheless, it quickly cooled and that, coupled with Giambi's incredible resurgance, led to fewer at bats for the rest of the year. He hit .313 in August (a month in which he had 64 at bats, his second most in any month), but went hitless in the postseason.
Over his entire Yankee career, he hit .275 (1,039 for 3,770) with 192 home runs and 739 RBI. All told, he played 16 seasons with the Yankees (1,054 games), Mariners (543), Cardinals (288) and Devil Rays (138). He hit .271 with 339 home runs and 1,271 RBI.
During the time that I watched him, he impressed me with his play, but he impressed me just as much with his professional approach to the game. Thanks again, Tino.
Via Brian.
