 Tino Talk
It's always easier to find out what Tino Martinez is up to when he's at home in Tampa for the off season. Sorry, St. Louis, but I never knew what was up with my favorite player during his two seasons in your city. And this year, of all the Cardinals games I got to see, he only actually played one whole game. And you wonder why he wasn't getting all those RBIs you were expecting from him?? You've gotta give the man his at bats. Yes, he'll slump sometimes. But guess what? He'll come out of it and get hot if you just let him keep playing! I keep thinking it wouldn't be such a bad thing at all if he does end up with the Devil Rays. (Bet his kids would love having Dad home more often.)
RAYS RUMBLINGS: Sheffield and/or Carl Everett are potential free agents with local ties who could boost the offense, though both could end up too expensive. But there might be another Tampa-based player available, and at a fixed price - Tino Martinez.
Talk in St. Louis is that the Cardinals want to dispatch Martinez, who hit .273 with 15 home runs and 69 RBIs, and might be willing to cover up to half of his approximately $7-million salary.
Manager Lou Piniella had Martinez in Seattle and loved him, and while Martinez might not be quite as good defensively as Travis Lee, he is pretty smooth and should be an offensive upgrade.
St. Petersburg Times, 10/12/03
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Tino Martinez will serve as breakfast chair for St. John Presbyterian Church's annual Year of the Child Breakfast on Oct. 30 at Higgins Hall, 5225 N. Himes Ave. The event, which will honor Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella, begins at 7:30 a.m. Individual tickets ($50) and sponsorships are available. Proceeds will help build a 7,000-square-foot building for the church's preschool. For information, call Dianne Patterson at (813) 872-6826.
Tampa Bay Online, 10/11/03
11:48:11 PM 
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