Ex-Ray Martinez may join coaching staff

The Devil Rays are looking at one of their former players to fill the open spot on the coaching staff.
Former Rays outfielder Dave Martinez met last week with executive VP Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon, with a decision expected by the end of the week.
“If they offer me the job, I would highly consider it,” Martinez said by phone Monday.
Martinez, 43, was an original Ray  then traded in 2000. He retired in 2001 after a 16-year  career  and still lives in the Tampa Bay area.
He was a spring instructor for the Rays in 2006 and this year filled in through the third week of the season when first-base coach George Hendrick was recovering from knee surgery.
Martinez made a strong impression on Maddon and enjoyed the experience enough to start thinking about a full-time position.
“It would be a lot of fun for me, and it would be different for the guys because I was on their side of it for a long time,” Martinez said. The Rays have an opening after not rehiring bench coach Bill Evers. Martinez could get that job, or take a base, with a returning coach, likely Tom Foley, moving to bench coach. The Rays also could restructure or add a quality-control coach.
Steve Henderson (hitting), Bobby Ramos (bullpen) and Hendrick are also coming back . The Rays haven’t determined the fate of pitching coach Jim Hickey, who was arrested on DUI and other charges after returning home from the  Sept. 30 season finale.

Comments

[Steve]

Dave Martinez would be a good choice,although I think it was a huge mistake letting Evers go. Let's hope the Rays don't make another mistake by bringing Hickey back. Xavier Hernandez would be the perfect fit as pitching coach. He has worked with most of the young Rays pitchers,both on the big club now,and the ones on the way up.He has been spoken very highly of all who have worked with him.

Forget Hernandez. No one is going to be hired that Maddon perceives to be a threat. He feels and is inadequate.

[Charles Troeger]

I wish you guys would get real. Joe Maddon does not feal threatened by anybody. Listen up He has been rehired for 2 years. We all liked Evers but no connection between him & Joe. Now if Joe wants to keep his job after 2009 he need to put together a good Management team. Simple! Now lets give them a chance without badgering from the top down. Be a FAN

[CharlesTroeger's shrink]

Just keep forking over $200 an hour to me you moron. I've told you in our sessions that you have a fetish for bespectacled guys with no style and an IQ under 40. Get over it!!

[Tampabaysportsfanatic]

I would love Martinez on the staff, bit not as the bench coach. He has not been any sort of coach yet, so let him move into the base coach and move one of those guys on the bench. Also, they need to deal with this Hickey situation soon and quit letting it hang around. Just get rid of him and bring in Xavier.

[Mark]

I told you guys that Dave Martinez should be the next bench coach. I think its a great fit. He is young, doesnt take crap from anyone and and knows all aspects of this game. The guy has played both infeild and outfield in his career. He even got in to pitch a little. He has been a leadoff hitter to a number 3 hitter to a 7, 8, or 9 hitter. Even a great pinch hitter late in his carrer. He also was a smart baserunner and a great fielder. You cant ask for much more knowledge and experience out of one guy. Maybe the 65 year old guy who wants to do things the way they did it in the 1950s is not what we need anymore. Its worked with Joe Girardi and Ozzie guillen so why not here?

[JP]

If they keep Hickey they will lose alot of fans. Well proportionately "alot" of fans. Crimes, not accusations or heresay. Borderline felony charges.
What can we expect from the players if this is how the leaders are allowed to act?

[Chris]

I'm not sure it matters who is on the bench. Games get won 95% of the time on the field.

Here's an idea. Offer Jorge Posada $10 million a year to be our catcher. We are in the same position the Tigers were when they signed Pudge (i.e. Young starters and Young guns on the way). He addresses many needs right away:
1)Veteran Presence
2)Proven winner
3)Can handle young pitchers
4)A run producer and effective hitter
5)A connection to the Yankees that would satisfy Stu Sternberg's "man crush" for everything New York (we may even see him in town for Non-Yankee games then)

If you think Navarro, Paul or anyone else in the minors is the answer, you better re-phrase the question and/or get a drug test.

Teams are winners when they are strong up the middle. Hip Hip Jorge! Jump on the bandwagon (both of you) and make some noise for this move!

[Charles Troeger]

If they keep Hickey they will lose a lot of fans. Lets not kid ourselves. Hickey was and still is a respected coach in Houston. He messed up and will pay the price. Should we hang him also? I don't think so. It's over and time to build a pitching staff with or without him. Lets talk about what matters.

[the shrink]

I couldn't agree more, Chris. There is no catcher in the organization. Posada a good fit. The problem: the tightwad Sternberg will NEVER spend that kind of dough in TOTAL during the offseason and catcher isn't the only glaring hole to fill.