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Former pitcher Martinez's passion extends to coaching

JUPITER, Fla. — In Nicaragua, Dennis Martinez is an icon. Games in Managua are played at "Estadio Dennis Martinez." He is known as "El Presidente" and some say he truly could be elected to run the Central American country.

But on the back fields at the Roger Dean Stadium complex, Martinez is just another new coach, albeit one with a glossy professional resume.

Martinez, the winningest Hispanic pitcher in major league history, is one of seven pitchers with at least 100 victories in each league. And he also threw a perfect game. He hopes all that gives him credibility with the young pitchers who come through the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

"You have to have some background for them to believe in what you preach," Martinez said. "If you're a lawyer you stay in law. If you're a doctor you stay in medicine. Whatever you are. If you're a baseball player who played for a long time. ... We know. We know how to play this game."

Martinez, 52, is one of the few former stars working in the minors.

Another notable example is Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, who is in his first season as manager of the Chicago Cubs' low Class A affiliate, Peoria.

But major league coaching rosters are littered with former big-league standouts, many of whom use their name recognition to start at the top.

"There are a number of guys who miss the game but they want to go right to the big leagues," said Jim Riggleman, the Cardinals' minor-league field coordinator. "People like Dennis are showing they genuinely do have a passion for the game by taking that position and helping young players."

Martinez, who has lived in Miami with his family since retiring in 1998, will spend his summer in Jupiter as the pitching coach for the Cardinals' entry in the Gulf Coast rookie league. Games begin today.

"I am trying to get back into baseball to learn and to give back what I learned," said Martinez, who also is working on developing a baseball academy in his country. "I think this is the right time because there are a lot of Latin players and they need help, especially with the language barrier and different culture they have to face here."

Gary Carter, the former New York Mets and Montreal Expos catcher living in Palm Beach Gardens, has worked in the Mets organization as a catching instructor and manger in the Gulf Coast League and Florida State League.

Carter, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003, led Port St. Lucie to the FSL title last season but is taking a year off after he and Mets could not agree where he would manage.

"It's amazing how a manager can be an influence at that level," Carter said. "And I think the influence a Hall of Famer or a player like Dennis Martinez can have. ... I think what you gain immediately is respect."

Port St. Lucie pitcher Jake Ruckle said he "vaguely" remembered Carter the player but that his father was "floored" when he told him last year that he would be playing for Carter.

"That's when I realized the significance of it," Ruckle said. "It just kind of makes you give everything you got on the days you are dragging because you are playing for one of the greatest players who ever played the game."

Carter, 53, often talks about the 1986 World Series champion Mets, who were one strike away from losing Game 6 to Boston but rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 10th.

"I think there was an admiration and a respect from the success I had in my career," Carter said. "On the other hand, as a manager I cared about these kids. I would confront them if necessary, I would get angry, I would pat them on the back and then it was over with."

Martinez talks about overcoming many obstacles in his childhood and early professional career. Martinez overcame a drinking problem early in his career and has been sober for 24 years.

"They are always asking you, 'How long did you play in the big leagues? Who did you play for?' " said Martinez, who was 245-193, primarily with Baltimore, Montreal and Cleveland. "You have to let them know who you are. Not because of the ego, but so they know they are dealing with somebody who knows how to play, how to become a winner.

"When they heard all that, they say, 'We better listen to this man. We better pay attention to what he says. I want to know what he did.' "

Tom D'Angelo writes for the Palm Beach Post.