There are several things about this season that the Texas Rangers would like to simply forget, and Tuesday night's game against the Marlins is definitely on the list for Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin.
After going 0-for-2 at the plate with two strikeouts, Martin made a lazy attempt to field a groundball single to center by Marlins rookie Christian Yelich, who turned the hit from a routine single to a hustle double after Martin failed to charge the ball at all.
The next time Martin was set to come to the plate, he didn't. Instead, manager Ron Washington lifted Martin for Daniel Robertson in a key spot — runners on the corners with one out against a lefty. Granted, Martin is better against right-handed pitching, but that's a spot where you want to be hitting if you're Martin.
It was definitely a message sent to the young Cuban outfielder.
"Martin could have gotten to that ball better," Washington told reporters.
Speaking through his interpreter, Martin seemed to get the memo.
"I have to go hard to the ball," he said.
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Martin has all kinds of potential and figures into the Rangers' future plans for years to come, and Tuesday night was just one of those nights where he had to learn a lesson.
