The move was made minutes before the start of batting practice. Torre said it was partly about Russ’ recent offensive performance and partly about the need to create playing time for Gary Bennett.
Asked about the move as he walked down the tunnel from the clubhouse to the dugout for batting practice, Martin said, “I guess I’m getting a day off.”
Torre later admitted that Martin was upset when given the news
“(Martin) wasn’t happy, and I didn’t expect him to be,” Torre said. “When I talked to him the first time in spring training, trying to find some formula for resting him, he didn’t want to have the conversation about it. It’s definitely all feel now. If you want him in August and September, I think it’s important we (rest him).”
Martin is off to a rough start offensively, batting .196, and although Torre says he saw improvement on the homestand, he also says he saw Russ backslide on Friday night, when he went 0 for 3 with a walk and made an ill-advised attempt to steal second in the fourth inning, only to get thrown out easily.
The Dodgers trailed 2-0 at the time, with Andruw Jones at the plate and one out.
When someone asked Torre after that game what Russ was thinking, he said, “That’s what I asked him. He just got a bad start. He was trying to make something happen.”