American League to See a Smarter Martinez : Baseball: Now 23, All-Star pitcher says he knows a lot more than he did last year.

Ramon Martinez says that the pitcher wearing his uniform in this week’s All-Star game is not simply one year older than the 22-year-old who pitched a scoreless inning in last year’s game.

He says he’s much wiser, too.

“I have learned so much in the past year, I know now there is so much I didn’t know about,” said Martinez, who is 11-3 with a 2.58 earned-run average.

In attempting to become the first National League pitcher to have consecutive 20-victory seasons before the age of 24 since Dizzy Dean in 1936, Martinez has absorbed much in his second full major league season.

He knows now that baseball is a business. He learned that fact this spring when it took a 12-day holdout to receive what he considered a suitable contract, a one-year deal worth $485,000.

He also knows that you can’t miss 12 days of camp and not expect to pay. Because Tim Belcher appeared in better shape than Martinez, Belcher was named the opening day starter, which did not please Martinez.

“After that, I decided I will just worry about baseball,” Martinez said. “I think that has made everything better.”

Statistics back him up. Martinez already has two more victories than last year at the All-Star break, as well as one fewer loss, and an earned-run average nearly one run lower.

He isn’t striking out nearly as many batters--77 this year, 131 last year--but only because he is smarter. He no longer thinks that he has to overpower every hitter to retire them.

Then on June 26, he learned probably his greatest lesson. One out away from a shutout of theSan Francisco Giants, Martinez gave up a two-run home run to Matt Williams and wound up with no decision in the Giants’ eventual 3-2 victory in 11 innings.

“I have to go hard every pitch. I learned that then, and I have been thinking about that ever since,” Martinez said.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said: “The reason he is so successful is that not many pitchers are like him anymore. He just rears back and throws hard. Good old-fashioned hardball. Not many guys like to face that anymore.”