ANAHEIM, Calif. — Two months ago, Victor Martinez was going nowhere on a losing team, and fully expected to be home by Oct. 7.

Instead, he's at Angel Stadium, preparing to face the Los Angeles Angels. It's a turn of events he couldn't have predicted in his wildest dreams — and one he couldn't be more excited about.

"Man, I'm just excited to be in the playoffs again, especially with this team," Martinez said.

The 30-year-old catcher had spent his entire career with the Cleveland Indians until he was traded to Boston for pitcher Justin Masterson and two minor-leaguers at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. He was nervous about coming to a new club, but the welcome he received made those fears quickly vanish.

"Now, I really feel part of this, part of this run," he said. "I just had two months here, with this team, and I've really been having fun, especially the great welcome that all my teammates, the coaching staff, the training staff, that they gave me. I didn't really know what to expect when I got here, and they made me feel like home. I feel like I've been playing with them for a couple years. That's made me feel more comfortable in the clubhouse, and even on the field."

The switch-hitting Martinez hit .303 with 23 home runs and 108 RBI between his two clubs this season, and his versatility, leadership and passion for the game helped Boston seal up the wildcard spot in the second half.

Martinez has playoff experience, with Cleveland in 2007, but his team was pushed aside in the ALCS by the Red Sox, on their way to a World Series championship. Martinez hit well during those two playoff series, with a .318 average, two home runs, and seven RBI.

He hopes to duplicate that performance starting tomorrow. In the meantime, his job is to prepare for the Angels running game, get his hitting practice in, and remember to wipe the smile off his face before game time.

"I just love this game, and I'm always going to play this game to win. I'm all about keeping my best effort up and trying to help my team win," Martinez said.

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Backup first baseman Casey Kotchman spent five seasons with the team he'll face Thursday. But don't think that means he'll be giving away any state secrets about how to beat the Angels.

Anything he knows, he's sure the Sox scouts have already noticed, he said.

"I try to stay out of it. Those are things that they're extremely gifted at doing, and we as players just play. That's what [scouts] do," he said.

That doesn't mean he didn't pick up a thing or two from all those years watching the Angel pitchers. But he expects that his knowledge pales in comparison to the scouting reports that go around the clubhouse.

"I think any time you're on the field, you try to pick up little things that may or may not help you in the future, but like I said, the coaching staff and the scouts, that's what they do here," he said.

And any advantage he has, by knowing the pitchers, is largely nullified by what they know about his tendencies, Kotchman said.

Kotchman was an everyday player for years with the Angels before he was traded to the Atlanta Braves in mid-2008. He's had to adjust to being a backup in Boston, and his offensive numbers have suffered. He hit only .218 with one home run and seven RBI while with Boston, but has improved the infield defense with his play at first base.

He said he hasn't had much difficulty in making the adjustment to irregular play, and the numbers will come.

"It really hasn't been that tough. Communication has been outstanding, as far as what's expected," he said.

dbarbari@projo.com