Frank Robinson

Frank Robinson
Frank Robinsonis an American former Major League Baseballoutfielder and manager. He played for five teams from 1956 to 1976, and became the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues. He won the Triple Crown, was a member of two teams that won the World Series, and amassed the fourth-most career home runs at the time of his retirement. Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth31 August 1935
CityBeaumont, TX
CountryUnited States of America
We are down to two players. They are both left-handed and I just didn't want to burn one of the players just in case we had to make some moves later in the game -- pinch-run, double-switch, whatever. I didn't want to tie my hands there with two outs.
We understand where he's coming from. He's been an All-Star second baseman. He is one of the best players in baseball because of his offense at that position... Moving your family and getting adjusted - it plays on a guy's mind.
You'd like to see him a little bit more in control, ... and understand, especially in this situation, the importance of having everybody available here and not being without one of your better players for any type of time, even if it's one game.
This is a step in the right direction. This sends out a good message to the fans and to the rest of the players that if we feel like a player ... is going to be good for the ball club in the future, we won't be afraid to lock them up.
He does not carry himself as a prima donna-type superstar. But to me he is one of the top players in baseball if he's healthy.
A pitcher can be the leader among the pitchers and be there for anyone who wants to approach him. But he is not that one guy who will go to a hitter and get in his face. Sometimes you need a leader and arms of that leader on the pitching staff, bullpen and the reserves. A position player can cross the line and doesn't mind going over to talk to the pitchers. But pitchers are kind of hesitant to go over to the offensive side of it.
If nothing else, your mindset is at ease. You have peace of mind. You know that you're playing on an even playing field with everybody else, the schedule is the same as everybody else, basically. You don't have that extra travel. You don't have those extra games tacked onto a road trip. You're not out on the road, away from your home base for 20-some days. It makes a real big difference. You can see it already here. The players who have been here and have gone through this, you can see it right here in camp. You could hear it in their voices on the telephone during the winter. Now, does that translate into wins on the field? Who knows.
I know a lot of people on the field - players, coaches, managers - are glad that I'm gone.
I had no trouble communicating, the player's just didn't like what I had to say.
I have heard of managers who encourage players not to slide hard for fear they will get hurt and be lost from the lineup for a time. That is why you occasionally see a player go into second base on a double-play ball and not even bother to slide. I wonder, could Ty Cobb sit though plays like that and hold his lunch?
I expect that [trying to do the best] of my players today and of my kids. My wife says I shouldn't expect that of my children, but I don't think that's asking too much.
No, I don't think my presence will cause an increase in black attendance at Cleveland. People come out to see the players. When do you see a manager anyway? When he's out on the field arguing with the umpires, making a fool of himself and you know you can't win, and when he brings out the line-up card.
I haven't seen a player in this game, as long as I've been in it, that can't be pitched to... Barry is an outstanding ballplayer. I respect him an awful lot. I also have confidence in my pitchers that they can pitch to Barry Bonds and get him out.
When a guy is maybe on the lower end of the pain threshold, we have a tendency to maybe be a little critical of him and say what he should do and what he should be able to do. All I know is an individual knows himself and he knows what he is able to handle as far as pain is concerned.