Arizona Diamondbacks: J.D. Martinez credits Paul Goldschmidt’s game IQ

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 10: J.D. Martinez
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 10: J.D. Martinez

After earning the National League Player of the Week award, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder J.D. Martinez joined MLB Tonight, where he discusses teammate Paul Goldschmidt

The Arizona Diamondbacks are used to Paul Goldschmidt hitting the ball out of the park, but J.D. Martinez has hit 21 home runs in 46 games in an Arizona uniform.

Last week, Martinez hit seven home runs and 11 RBI’s with a .429 average. It earned him the N.L. Player of the Week award, his first after winning two in the A.L. earlier this season.

Before Monday’s game, Martinez joined MLB Network’s MLB Tonight to talk about the award, his success and Paul Goldschmidt.

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Aside from his own success, the 30-year-old slugger is used to playing with some of baseball’s best. He spent the last three seasons in the same  dugout as Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.

The hosts asked Martinez about the difference between learning from the Detroit Tigers leading man to now playing alongside Paul Goldschmidt.

"“He’s definitely a lot different player than a [Miguel Cabrera]. He’s a guy that just studies a lot and he’s got so much information. I don’t know how he has so much information in his head on all these pitchers and everything they do,” Martinez said. “I’m worried about the starting pitcher and he’s already on the middle reliever and his move to second base-type deal. I’m like, ‘Dude, how do you even know? How do you think about all this stuff?’”"

Martinez said that he turns to his teammates a lot to discuss upcoming pitchers since he’s new to the National League and hasn’t faced most of them before. Goldschmidt is a regular part of those conversations.

While he often looks to his teammates for help, Martinez is also taking on a new role in the Diamondbacks clubhouse – as a veteran.

Teamwork is obviously what’s working in the Diamondbacks clubhouse. Martinez gets help adjusting to a new league and the younger guys get advice.

They have a four-game lead in the Wild Card race after going on a 13-game winning streak including J.D.’s award winning week. If the success behind Goldschmidt and Martinez continues, the Diamondbacks could very well host the one-game Wild Card in October.

"All J.D. Martinez has done is produce since joining Arizona Diamondbacks"

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