Crossword puzzle clue "like areas played when starting out"

Like areas played when starting out

Starting a project ... and what the letters between the starting and ending pairs of letters in each starred answer are doing?

Areas within areas

Move like someone starting out on life

Ballplayer Martinez who played in the postseason eight straight years starting in 1995

Symptom of one's waxing starting to grow out, maybe

Come too early out of the starting blocks?

One who's just starting out in life