Editor's Note: Offense might be at its lowest point in nearly 35 years, but a small subset of hitters continues to thrive. They've achieved solid results and, in some cases, have even improved their numbers. In an era of pitching dominance, what could other hitters learn from their offensive excellence? We focus on four exemplary hitters -- Jose Abreu, Jose Altuve, Victor Martinez and Andrew McCutchen -- as they talk about their successful approaches at the plate.
In this Q&A, Jayson Stark talks with Martinez, the Detroit Tigers' DH and AL MVP runner up in 2014.
What's your daily routine as a hitter?
My daily routine, and I've been doing this since I was coming through the minor leagues, is: I take my swings, soft-toss the first five swings to warm up with the donut. And then I take the donut off and go do the rest of my soft-toss. That's the only thing I do -- just soft-toss. Very simple. And when I get a chance, I like to hit on the field. If I'm going to hit extra, I like to hit on the field. I like to see where the ball goes. So that's pretty much it. I'm very simple. I'm not one of those guys who does this drill, that drill. Just simple soft-toss. I get to the ballpark early, like 1:30 p.m. for a 7:05 game. There are days when I have to lift weights. When I do that, I start lifting them around 2 p.m.. I'll be done by like 2:40. Then I get ready and do my workout. And then I'm in the cage by 3:45, just before I go outside.
What do you think is the key to your swing being effective?
The biggest key to me is not to overswing. That's when I get in trouble, when I try to overswing. I have to be relaxed the whole time and just go nice and easy. And use my hands.
Is overswinging something you constantly have to guard against?
Yeah. Everybody does. I mean, some guys swing hard, and I'm one of them. But I have to control myself and try not to. I have to be aggressive, but at the same time, I have to be smooth. My movement is to be slow. So when I'm doing that, my feet are slow. That allows me to see the ball a lot better.
How do you mentally prepare to hit?
It just depends on the pitcher that day. I see a lot of video of the starting pitcher and the bullpen and just go from there. I go off my strengths. And just prepare for the situation. If he pitches right-handed and I watch the way he pitches against lefties, the way he pitches with men in scoring position, then all those little things let me have a pretty good idea when I step in at the plate.
What do you think is the biggest adjustment you've had to make as a big league hitter?
To be more patient. Early in my career, I was extremely aggressive. And most of the time I was getting myself out, chasing pitches out of the zone, swinging at everything. I had to learn that if I can be more patient, I'll get a lot of hitter's counts. And that allows me to put a better swing on so many balls. So that was the biggest adjustment I had to make.
When you're in a slump, what typically is the cause?
A lot of things that go into a slump. A lot of the time, you're not in a slump. You're just hitting the ball right on the nose but it's right at somebody. People are making catches. This and that. And obviously, that doesn't show up in the paper. In the paper, it only shows up 0 for 4, 0 for 5, 0 for 4, 0 for 5. You know that you actually are making pretty good contact, but you see you're not hitting what you want. And that's when you try to overswing, overdo things, you know? And all you really need is a little bit of luck. That's one of the things that get you into a slump.
You're hitting the ball like a laser right at somebody. And you're like, "What do I need to do?" And that's when you try to put a little more on a swing. And then you start getting jammed. You start taking your eyes off the ball. And then you're doing all kinds of stuff that just works against you.
How much do you study video of yourself and the pitchers?
A lot. I watch a lot of video. Every day, I watch myself swinging. I always like to have that feeling in my mind. I know where I need to be, when I'm loading and everything. So I want to know I'm right there. I watch videos at home, on the iPad. During the game, I watch videos, too. But mainly at home.
How much do you use scouting reports?
Honestly, not that much. Yeah, it's good to read through the scouting reports. But I think in the end, every pitcher is different, and they've got their strengths. And every pitcher is different when they get in trouble. So if you study what the pitch is that they go to when they're in trouble, obviously the scouting report can say anything. But when you're between those lines, you and the pitcher, that's when -- if you studied the pitcher and know what he's got -- you have some idea what to look for.
There's so much information now. They can tell you that if a certain guy gets behind 2-and-1, he throws the cutter 68 percent of the time. Do you use that?
"Early in my career, I was extremely aggressive. And most of the time I was getting myself out, chasing pitches out of the zone, swinging at everything. I had to learn that if I can be more patient, I'll get a lot of hitter's counts. And that allows me to put a better swing on so many balls." Victor Martinez
Well, that's the thing. You have to know if he really throws it for a strike. The only way you can tell if, when he throws it he can command it, is if you watch the video. Yeah, it can tell you that he throws it. But how many times is it out of the strike zone? So that's one thing that I need to know. If I know that he's not consistent, I don't worry about it.
What's the best hitting advice you've ever gotten? Who gave it to you and when?
The best hitting advice was from Eddie Murray. It was in 2004. It was about what I was telling you earlier. I used to swing my butt off. And he told me, this one time in BP, "I want you to swing 65 to 70 percent in BP. I don't want you to try more. I want you to play with the ball." I knew what he meant by "just play with the ball." I was still hitting balls hard, but I was effortless. And then when I take the same approach into the game, obviously with adrenaline, it's going to take me from 75 percent to 85 percent. But you don't want to swing 100 percent. I had the best game of my career that day. I was just nice and slow. And I was seeing that ball so good. So when I'm in trouble, when I struggle, that's the first thing that I go to. Just get back to nice and easy. Just play with the ball. Start over.
Which individual stat means the most to you?
I don't really know. I just go to the plate and try to hit. There's nothing better than when you hit a homer. But I think I'd rather get a base hit with the bases loaded, with the game on the line. I'd rather do that than hit a homer, I guess. I really love do-or-die situations. So RBIs.
Who is your favorite hitter to watch?
Oh, right now, Miggy [Miguel Cabrera], because you don't really appreciate what he does every day until you get a chance to watch him the whole year. The way he goes to the plate. He always is ready to hit. Plus those mechanics, that power. He can hurt you everywhere. It's unbelievable. He's got that talent, and he just works hard, too. He's got the contact of a leadoff hitter. He's got the eyes for a leadoff hitter. He has the bat control for a 2-hole hitter. And he hits like a 3-hole hitter. And he has the power for a 4-hole hitter. I told him he's got everything in one. I mean, what else can you ask from one guy?
