They're not saying much. Drennan mentioned that it won't be until 3:30 tomorrow afternoon (once media access is granted) before there's any sort of update on his status:

Indians say little about injury to All-Star C Victor Martinez, who hurt leg in season opener

The Associated Press
Tuesday, April 1, 2008

CLEVELAND: For the second season in a row, All-Star catcher Victor Martinez limped out of the Cleveland Indians' home opener before it was over.

Martinez strained his left hamstring while running the bases in the second inning of Monday's 10-8 win over the Chicago White Sox. The Indians were vague about his injury on Tuesday, saying only that their best hitter was day to day with a mild strain.

The club added that no roster move involving Martinez was under current consideration.

Cleveland could have resent the same e-mail from last April, when Martinez pulled a quadriceps muscle while trying to beat out a ground ball in the third inning of Cleveland's first home game, a snow-covered affair that eventually was postponed.

Helped by a few more bad-weather postponements, Martinez missed six games but never went on the disabled list. He wound up having his finest major league season, batting .301 while setting career-highs in homers (25) and RBIs (114). Martinez also provided the punch in Cleveland's lineup as designated hitter Travis Hafner struggled through a season he'd like to forget.

Martinez arrived at training camp in tremendous shape. He dropped 15 pounds during the offseason, improving his quickness behind the plate. The 29-year-old attempted show off his newfound speed in the second inning on a pitch that got away from White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

But as he neared the base, Martinez appeared to catch his cleat in the soft dirt and tumbled awkwardly to the ground and was tagged out. He got to his knees and was able to walk to the dugout without assistance before being taken during the game for an MRI, the results of which have not been disclosed.

Martinez was replaced by backup Kelly Shoppach, who showed his value to the Indians with a pair of big plays in their win.

After the White Sox rallied to tie it 7-7 in the seventh, Shoppach came off the plate to grab shortstop Jhonny Peralta's throw that was high and up the third-base line to tag Joe Crede, who appeared to slide past Shoppach's outstretched mitt without being touched.

Shoppach wasn't sure where he got Crede_ if at all.

"Who knows?" he said. "I was up in the air. I may have gotten him with the knot of my glove."

Shoppach later opened Cleveland's eighth inning with a single and scored when Casey Blake delivered a three-run double.

"Shoppy's a heck of a player," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "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."

If Martinez ends up going on the DL, the Indians would bring up either Yamid Haad or Wyatt Toregas from Triple-A Buffalo to back up Shoppach, who batted .261 in 59 games last season. If Martinez is only going to miss a few days, first baseman Ryan Garko, a converted catcher, could be used in an emergency.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/01/sports/BBA-Indians-Martinez.php

Beanpot

quote:

After the White Sox rallied to tie it 7-7 in the seventh, Shoppach came off the plate to grab shortstop Jhonny Peralta's throw that was high and up the third-base line to tag Joe Crede, who appeared to slide past Shoppach's outstretched mitt without being touched.

Not to change the subject, as it's all speculation anyway about Martinez until official reports were made but,

Did anyone else get the feeling that Shoppach fell asleep a bit on that play at the plate? I don't think he was prepared for the play to come home, even though the infield was in and playing it that way. He was behind the plate when that throw came off wild. You never know, but Peralta's throw may have sailed on him because as he came up to throw he recognized that Shoppach wasn't up, in the baseline protecting the plate, and/or in position to take that throw.

I'm a Shoppy fan though, that guy makes plays and is exciting. Not that I put any ill will on V-Mart, but I like Shoppach in the line-up.

He's not on the DL yet, but he's not playing tonight. Hafner's hitting cleanup:

Indians update on Victor Martinez

Manager Eric Wege has replaced injured catcher Victor Martinez with Travis Hafner in the cleanup spot for tonight's game against Chicago.

Martinez, the Cleveland Indians All-Star catcher, strained his left hamstring trying to advance to second in the second inning of Monday's season opener. The Indians have not put him on the disabled list.

Kelly Shoppach replaced Martinez behind the plate as Wedge shook up his lineup. Here's the starting nine he sent against Chicago's Javier Vazquez: CF Grady Sizemore, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, SS Jhonny Peralta, DH Hafner, 1B Ryan Garko, RF Franklin Gutierrez, LF David Dellucci, 3B Casey Blake and C Shoppach. Fausto Carmona starts for the Tribe

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/04/new_cleveland_indians_cleanup.html

Beanpot

FWIW, Will Carroll doesn't expect a lengthy recovery:

Victor Martinez (5 DXL)
Before we talk about the other Martinez injury, let me toss in a quick note about DXL—it covers the entire time period of an injury. In this case, Victor Martinez has missed one day, and I'd expect him to miss about another four, given the information I've gotten. DXL doesn't function as a countdown, but it is a measure of how serious a given injury is. That said, the Indians are having a bit of deja vu, because Martinez injured his quad in last year's opener; this year's injury is just on the opposite side of his leg. The team isn't talking about the DL yet, and most of the sources I talked to said "a week or so." I speculated today on XM's Fantasy Focus that Martinez could come back more quickly if was going to play first base or DH. While DH was the unquestioned domain of Travis Hafner in the past, Pronk's lack of production is making him a little more removable. Overall, it doesn't appear that Martinez's strain is significant, and he'll miss a minimum of time. The larger concern is keeping him healthy and keeping this from becoming a chronic issue, making it harder to keep him behind the plate. (There's video of the injury linked to this MLB.com story.)

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7305

Beanpot

quote:

I'm a Shoppy fan though, that guy makes plays and is exciting. Not that I put any ill will on V-Mart, but I like Shoppach in the line-up.

I didn't get a great look at the play at the plate. I was "working" at the time and only glanced at the tube when I heard the Hakw crying.

I'm totally with you on the Shoppach love. You could make a case for him being the best investment involved in the Crisp/Marte deal.

Beanpot

Big sigh of relief:

Indians' Martinez hoping for quick return
BY ANDY CALL
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

The Indians are due for some warmer weather this weekend, and Victor Martinez will be grateful for it.

Cleveland begins a six-game West Coast trip Friday, and the two-time All-Star catcher hopes to be back behind home plate at some point during that trip. Martinez suffered a mild strain of his left hamstring during Monday's Opening Day victory over Chicago and will be day-to-day for the near future.

"The bottom line is, I feel a lot better," said Martinez, who received treatment and rode a stationary bicycle Wednesday.

Manager Eric Wedge said he hoped Martinez would be available to pinch-hit Wednesday night against the White Sox.

"We're hopeful it's not going to be anything more than a day-to-day situation," Wedge said. "He felt better yesterday and felt a little better today. He was able to move around a bit and did a little work."

Martinez was injured while trying to advance from first base to second on a pitch in the dirt by Chicago's Nick Masset during the second inning. It appeared Martinez may have caught a spike in the infield while running. He rolled awkwardly in the dirt, short of second base, and was tagged out to end the inning.

"It felt more like a cramp," Martinez said. "I couldn't keep running, so I fell down."

Martinez was injured during the home opener last year. He sustained a strained left quadriceps on April 6 while trying to beat out a ground ball bobbled by Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre. Martinez did not go on the disabled list and returned to the lineup April 18.

"Last year was worse, a lot worse," Martinez said.

Kelly Shoppach has proven a capable backup in the past, something Wedge appreciates.

"Because Victor plays some first base, he probably does more than most catchers in that backup role," Wedge said. "Shop is a guy who's really worked hard to get better in all areas of his game."

Martinez' absence forced a wild juggling of the batting order on Wednesday.

Asdrubal Cabrera batted second instead of seventh. David Dellucci batted seventh. Jhonny Peralta was bumped from fifth to third in the order and Travis Hafner hit cleanup. Casey Blake hit eighth and Shoppach ninth.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=17&ID=406001&subCategoryID=28

Beanpot

Cross your fingers on Victor. Hammy injuries tend to linger for months and often are slow healers. Let hope this was a minor tweak because if not it will linger for some time.

quote:

Cross your fingers on Victor. Hammy injuries tend to linger for months and often are slow healers. Let hope this was a minor tweak because if not it will linger for some time.

I just hope it was similar to what happened last year. It's a good sign he came to the plate yesterday and the warmerish weather should help. Now the long plane ride may not help.

Beanpot

Well, when they injure quads not to worry......but I seen a lot of folks go a way long time ..........with hammy injuries

lets hope that it was just a tweak and they have the system to relieve it and that it does not get agravated

and that is the prob..........hammy injuries heal slow and bam often get aggravated

let's hope v mart is fixed soon

quote:

let's hope v mart is fixed soon

He wasn't in the lineup today. Hoynes wrote that he's close to being able to go:

INDIANS INSIDER
Martinez pain-free, but still seated
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

Oakland, Calif.- Catcher Victor Martinez missed his third straight start Friday night because of a strained left hamstring suffered in Monday's season opener against the White Sox.

Despite the missed start, it appears Martinez is getting close to returning to the starting lineup. He took batting practice, ran the bases and tested the hamstring with lateral-movement drills Friday afternoon at McAfee Coliseum. About an hour before game time, he put the gear on and caught a bullpen session.

"He's better," said manager Eric Wedge, "but he's still not to the point where he can start. We'll see how he feels Saturday after all the work he did today."

Said Martinez, "It won't hurt to take a little more time to make sure I'm good to go."

Martinez said he did not feel the injury when he ran Friday. He went from first to third base and practiced getting breaks off first and third base.

Kelly Shoppach made his third straight start in Martinez's spot. Emergency catcher Ryan Garko caught a bullpen session before Wednesday's game just to make sure he'd be ready if needed.

"It was Ryan's first bullpen in over a year," said Wedge.

Martinez strained the hamstring going from first to second in the second inning of Monday's opener. He was trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt.

http://www.cleveland.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/spor...330226400.xml&coll=2

Beanpot

I would just keep him out for a week........if he does it again he will have a season long problem

quote:

I would just keep him out for a week

Looks like they're doing just that.

Hard to point the finger at his absence as the reason for our early struggles, but it's clear that he's missed.

That said, I'm with you. The whole ounce of prevention thing and all that.

Beanpot

We are on the same page and they are doing it right even if it takes two weeks or more...........I seen hammy's ruin a whole season

Well, looks like he is back early and already has a hit against the Angels tonight. Unfortunately he grounded out with two on in the 3rd. They are killing me with the number of runners they are stranding on base this year.