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Plan In Place To Get Victor Martinez Healthy; Tigers Have Considered All Possibilities

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

CBS DETROIT - Manager Brad Ausmus said the Detroit Tigers have considered all possibilities regarding how the team will proceed with designated hitter Victor Martinez, who went 3-for-3 in Sunday's win but has been dealing with knee pain.

"There's a plan in place," Ausmus said Monday. "I won't get into specifics, but hopefully it works. Sometimes it's an imperfect science, medical issues."

Martinez underwent surgery on the knee this offseason to address a torn medial meniscus, but he and Ausmus have stated the pain is not in the same area that was operated on.

Given the consistent stance of the organization that starting pitcher Justin Verlander should not return to action until he is 100 percent, Ausmus explained why Martinez will continue to play even though he is obviously operating at a level than is less than optimal.

"The difference is Verlander can't throw, and he's a pitcher, and Victor can hit, and he's a hitter," Ausmus said. "Victor has the ability to play. There's a lot of guys who aren't 100 percent on a daily basis. Victor is not 100 percent, but he still has the ability to hit. Verlander's job is to pitch; he does not have the ability to pitch.

"We have to be careful with Victor, don't get me wrong," Ausmus continued. "Certainly from the right side, despite that one swing yesterday, from the right side he said he feels good. Now he doesn't always look great after he swings, when he starts moving to first, but we're going to try to get this thing fixed or healed, hopefully, and still have the ability to play him, but if it doesn't work then we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Ausmus said he does have to protect Martinez, known for working extremely hard, from himself sometimes. On a couple of occasions, the team did not let him hit left-handed. On other days, Martinez felt strong enough to do it.

Martinez looks most uncomfortable while running, and the manager has told him not to push himself in that area.

"Quite frankly, I've told him, 'Don't worry about trying to beat out a ground ball,'" Ausmus said. "'Just hit and make your way to first.'"

Over 10 games, Martinez has a .310 batting average and a .429 on-base percentage. Sunday was his second three-hit game of the season. He had gone four games without a hit before Sunday.

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