Dodgers: Russell Martin

CHICAGO – If it looks as if Russell Martin is having a blast in the postseason, it’s because he is.

It’s hard to blame him. The Dodgers catcher hit a home run in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cubs and has a .313 batting average in four career postseason games. During the regular season, Martin hit .280 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs.

Martin hit a bases-clearing double Thursday night in Game 2.

“It’s not like he’s back there saying, well, we have a catcher that can hit,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. “(Martin) can catch and he can throw guys out, he can do a lot of things.” 

Having Torre around has helped.

“He really keeps his emotions in check, and I think he has kind of a calming effect on a lot of our younger players,” Martin said. “I’ll let him know how I feel on certain days and stuff, and that’s the way it’s been the whole year.  So he’s taken care of me pretty good.”

Martin also knows how to have a good time. He might be the only player on both teams to give some (not much) credence to the theory the Cubs might be cursed. The catcher has joked about the topic more than once.

“I’m not in that clubhouse, so I don’t really know how they’re approaching it,” Martin said. “I don’t really know if there’s such a thing as a curse or not, but a lot of people here feel like it exists.”