Gary Pettis had already watched the video and devised a plan to correct center fielder Leonys Martin's issue.

When Martin tapped the Texas Rangers first-base coach on the shoulder Wednesday so they could discuss why Martin had been thrown out three consecutive times trying to steal second, Pettis sent him scurrying to watch video.

Leonys Martin is still getting comfortable in the big leagues, but he's provided a spark at the top of the Rangers lineup. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

"Before, I used to have to go get him," Pettis said. "Now, he knows there's a problem and he wants to correct it.

"A lot of times he's just out there playing the game he loves and having fun. He's not thinking about situations."

And it shows whenever Martin is thrown out at second base, bunts for a hit when he should be trying to drive in a run, or throws to the wrong base.

For now, the Rangers are more than willing to live with Martin's on-the-job training.

Why not? The dude's potential is immense.

We're talking about a 25-year-old Cuban who played just 128 minor league. But that's the deal in the big leagues today. Younger, cheaper players are being called on quicker than ever to replace high-paid stars such as Josh Hamilton, who signed a five-year deal worth $25 million a year with the Los Angeles Angels.

Martin signed a five-year, $15 million deal. The Rangers needed a center fielder, and he slowly took the job from Craig Gentry.

Now, Martin doesn't always know what he doesn't know, which can lead to critical mistakes on the field. But he's conscientious about improving, and say what you want but he has been one of the catalysts for the Rangers' resurgence.

No way the Rangers win 14 of 16 games, catapulting them from six games behind the Oakland Athletics to two games ahead in the AL West in just a couple of weeks without Martin.