As a switch-hitter, he would normally hit left-handed against a right-handed pitcher.

i don't know if Martinez's natural side is right or left - but with a knuckleball pitcher all the rules go out the window - the ball moves unpredictably so there really isn't an advantage to be on one side or the other -- now some knuckleball pitchers do mix in a slider here and there so, there might be a reason to continue batting left handed - but Wakefield really just throws a slow "fastball" and a soft curve mixed in between knuckleballs - so Victor probably just did what feels natural to him, he used his intuition, relied on previous experience versus Tim --- against Mariano Rivera of the Yankees some switch hitters bat right handed because his "cut-fastball" is so hard to distinguish from a regular fastball, it's too hard to handle from the left side

I'm guessing w/ Wakefield's knuckleball, you forgo strategy and just go w/ your strength. I'm thinking Martinez felt he could be more effective against the knuckleball from his strong side (his right side).

Yes, but did you see how Wakefield was pitching? Forget strategy, just choose a pitch and swing.

Against Wakefield there isn't an advantage like against a normal pitcher. It's better to hit the way you feel most comfortable in this case.

I wondered the same thing momentarily until I remembered the knuckleball.

With the knuckle ball a lot of people have found over the years that it is eaier to pick up from the same side as the pitcher. Mantle would bat righty against Wilhelm quite often. The Knuckle is a tough pitch to hit anyone if it is knuckling.

Maybe he saw a clip of Aaron Boone batting righthanded against Wakefield and thought, Hey, I'm a better hitter than that, if he can do it...

Mickey Mantle used to bat right-handed against Hoyt Wilhelm. With a knuckle-baller it hardly matters which side you hit from and Mantle was a natural right-handed hitter who felt he had better bat control from that side. No doubt that was Martinez' thinking.