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.
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.
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.
We have to do whatever it takes right now, ... That's our rallying cry: whatever it takes. We have to put it together now. We can't win one, lose one, win one, lose two.
We had the ballgames. They were our ballgames to win, and we didn't finish them off.
We had the ballgames, ... They were our ballgames to win, and we didn't finish them off.
We chose not to give him an MRI. The physicals should include everything.
We certainly know we're going to lose him for the next two to three weeks, that's for sure. And with that type of absence from spring training, there's no way he can open the season.
It would be water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned.
It was the situation, and I understood. Still, to get into December without a contract, it gets a little worrisome.