Houston — You can equate where J.D. Martinez is in his baseball evolution today to a graduate student putting the finishing touches on his Master’s Degree. He knows his subject inside and out and now it’s a matter of applying his knowledge to real-life situations.
“It’s just having a game plan,” he said before the game Friday. “I’m going up there with a good game plan against certain pitchers. I feel like that’s been my strength. Especially in Pittsburgh. I knew what those guys throw. I’ve faced them quite a bit. I know how they’re going to try to pitch me, I know what pitches they are going to try to make me chase.