Martinez more comfortable during second season in NL

ST. LOUIS -- A year in the National League has done wonders for Tino Martinez's outlook.

The Cardinals' first baseman, known for his clutch hitting with the Yankees and Mariners, was a disappointment last season. Replacing the retired Mark McGwire was a difficult task for Martinez, who started pressing in spring training and never found a groove even though fans instantly fell in love with him, often chanting "Tino! Tino!" during his at-bats.

Martinez finished with sub-par numbers, 21 home runs and 75 RBIs, then was benched for the NL Championship Series finale after going 2-for-25 in the playoffs. Throughout the year there were whispers that after six 100-RBI seasons in a seven-year span, Martinez' bat had slowed.

In the offseason, Martinez simply decided to turn the page and go for a fresh start.

"You have to, even after a good year," Martinez said. "I want to have a great year this season.

"I'm harder on myself than anybody else, and I wanted to come back and have a real solid, consistent season, and help the team win."

Though the results aren't dramatically different, with a .238 average and a team-leading seven strikeouts in 21 at-bats heading into Tuesday's game at Colorado, Martinez has made strides. He homered in the opener after going until May 1 without a long ball last year, and also had an opposite-field double in the opening week. Typically strong defensively, that part of his game is as solid as ever.

"It's nice to get the home run out of the way, obviously," Martinez said. "But just to feel good every at-bat, to not change my stance and not try to figure out what I'm doing, is big.

"I'm just going up there and letting things happen, and that's a huge change in itself."

Last year, he was so pull-conscious at times that some teams overshifted defenses to stop him, daring him to go with the pitch.

"I'm just feeling good at the plate, period," Martinez said. "Last year coming out of spring training I never really got comfortable and I never had a good swing going, even early in the season."

This spring, Martinez relaxed and just did what he does best. Those around him noticed the transformation.

"He's done a lot of good things," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's a really good player who's working with more information than he had last year, so it's got to help."

Martinez doesn't know where the talk about a slow bat came from. He believes at age 35, he still should have several good years left.

"Everybody talks about age and all that, which I totally disagree with," Martinez said. "You have bad years when you're 24 or 25.

"When you have a bad year, it always becomes an age issue, and when you have a great year, it's no big deal. I know I have good bat speed and I'm seeing the ball well."

Another factor might have contributed to Martinez' so-so NL debut. Much of the year he had a sore rotator cuff that hindered his swing.

He strengthened the shoulder during the offseason.

"I don't want to use it as an excuse because I was bad, period," Martinez said. "But maybe you alter your swing a little bit to find comfort, and maybe it messes you up a little bit.

"Now it's all good."