GaryMrMets
06-04-2004, 02:28 AM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/8824665.htm
Posted on Thu, Jun. 03, 2004
Roberson hitting his stride
The Phillies just might have something in Chris Roberson.
Sure, he turns 25 in August, and that would put him among the older tier of players in the Florida State League. But Roberson's baseball odometer has only just begun to spin.
"I still feel fresh to the game," Roberson said by telephone yesterday from Clearwater, Fla. "I've always had a love for baseball, but I don't think I ever let my passion for it out fully until now. I'm having a lot of fun."
It's difficult not to have fun when you're playing as well as Roberson has lately for manager Mike Schmidt's single-A Clearwater Threshers.
Roberson, a centerfielder, hit .360 (41 for 114) over 29 games in May. He belted six homers, two doubles and five triples, and drove in 21 runs.
Not surprisingly, he was named Phillies minor-league player of the month for May. He also has been selected to play in the FSL All-Star Game later this month.
Roberson, a speedy switch-hitter, hit .244 in April. Entering last night's game against Lakeland, he had raised his average to .318, with eight homers and 29 RBIs. He carried a 20-game hitting streak into the game. In 14 of those games, he had more than one hit.
"He's made great strides making contact," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said. "He's right on everything."
Roberson credits hitting coach Manny Amador for aiding his recent improvement.
"I'm being more patient and getting good pitches to hit," he said. "I'm trying not to outdo the pitcher."
Roberson, a wiry-strong 6-foot-2, 185 pounder, grew up in Northern California. As a youngster, he played baseball, football and basketball, but he did not play on his high school baseball team. He did, however, play summer baseball. Eventually, he enrolled at Feather River College, a junior college. He played baseball there. His athleticism caught the eyes of Phillies scouts, and they picked him in the ninth round of the 2001 draft.
Under Arbuckle, the Phils always look for athletes who might have untapped baseball potential.
"He was one of those guys we like to take a stab at," Arbuckle said of Roberson. "He hadn't played a ton of baseball.
"He was slow to come around at first, but we assumed that would be the case when we signed him. Since the second half of last year, he's really begun to put it together."
Last season, Roberson hit .234 for Lakewood and stole 59 bases, most in the South Atlantic League. This year, he has swiped only nine bases. Part of that, Arbuckle said, stems from his getting gun-shy after being caught early. Also, Schmidt has been using Roberson in the No. 3 hole lately, and that has limited his running.
Roberson sees himself as more of a No. 1 or No. 2 type hitter - his on-base percentage entering last night was .380 - but with the roll he has been on, he's happy to hit anywhere.
Roberson is one of three speedy single-A outfielders whom the Phils are high on. The two others, Michael Bourn and Javon Moran, are at Lakewood. The Phils believe all three have leadoff potential.
Steve Noworyta, the Phils' director of minor-league operations, likes the way Roberson has come on lately, and he doesn't believe Roberson's age will work against him.
"He's fine in that league," Noworyta said. "He's at the age in that league where you need to be moving in the right direction and making progress. There's no doubt he's doing that."
Minor matters. Reading reliever Yoel Hernandez (141/3 innings, one earned run, 15 strikeouts, four saves) was pitcher of the month for May... . Reading righthander Keith Bucktrot, on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation, was examined in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Nothing serious was found and he should be back in about 10 days... . The Phillies made a late and unsuccessful push to sign pitcher Jordan Parraz, their sixth-round selection from last year's draft. With the Phillies' rights to him expired, Parraz is eligible for the draft on Monday... . The Phils hold the 21st pick in the draft Monday. As much as they'd like to restock themselves with catchers and hitters, the Phils probably will use their first pick on a pitcher because of the depth at the position.
Posted on Thu, Jun. 03, 2004
Roberson hitting his stride
The Phillies just might have something in Chris Roberson.
Sure, he turns 25 in August, and that would put him among the older tier of players in the Florida State League. But Roberson's baseball odometer has only just begun to spin.
"I still feel fresh to the game," Roberson said by telephone yesterday from Clearwater, Fla. "I've always had a love for baseball, but I don't think I ever let my passion for it out fully until now. I'm having a lot of fun."
It's difficult not to have fun when you're playing as well as Roberson has lately for manager Mike Schmidt's single-A Clearwater Threshers.
Roberson, a centerfielder, hit .360 (41 for 114) over 29 games in May. He belted six homers, two doubles and five triples, and drove in 21 runs.
Not surprisingly, he was named Phillies minor-league player of the month for May. He also has been selected to play in the FSL All-Star Game later this month.
Roberson, a speedy switch-hitter, hit .244 in April. Entering last night's game against Lakeland, he had raised his average to .318, with eight homers and 29 RBIs. He carried a 20-game hitting streak into the game. In 14 of those games, he had more than one hit.
"He's made great strides making contact," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said. "He's right on everything."
Roberson credits hitting coach Manny Amador for aiding his recent improvement.
"I'm being more patient and getting good pitches to hit," he said. "I'm trying not to outdo the pitcher."
Roberson, a wiry-strong 6-foot-2, 185 pounder, grew up in Northern California. As a youngster, he played baseball, football and basketball, but he did not play on his high school baseball team. He did, however, play summer baseball. Eventually, he enrolled at Feather River College, a junior college. He played baseball there. His athleticism caught the eyes of Phillies scouts, and they picked him in the ninth round of the 2001 draft.
Under Arbuckle, the Phils always look for athletes who might have untapped baseball potential.
"He was one of those guys we like to take a stab at," Arbuckle said of Roberson. "He hadn't played a ton of baseball.
"He was slow to come around at first, but we assumed that would be the case when we signed him. Since the second half of last year, he's really begun to put it together."
Last season, Roberson hit .234 for Lakewood and stole 59 bases, most in the South Atlantic League. This year, he has swiped only nine bases. Part of that, Arbuckle said, stems from his getting gun-shy after being caught early. Also, Schmidt has been using Roberson in the No. 3 hole lately, and that has limited his running.
Roberson sees himself as more of a No. 1 or No. 2 type hitter - his on-base percentage entering last night was .380 - but with the roll he has been on, he's happy to hit anywhere.
Roberson is one of three speedy single-A outfielders whom the Phils are high on. The two others, Michael Bourn and Javon Moran, are at Lakewood. The Phils believe all three have leadoff potential.
Steve Noworyta, the Phils' director of minor-league operations, likes the way Roberson has come on lately, and he doesn't believe Roberson's age will work against him.
"He's fine in that league," Noworyta said. "He's at the age in that league where you need to be moving in the right direction and making progress. There's no doubt he's doing that."
Minor matters. Reading reliever Yoel Hernandez (141/3 innings, one earned run, 15 strikeouts, four saves) was pitcher of the month for May... . Reading righthander Keith Bucktrot, on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation, was examined in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Nothing serious was found and he should be back in about 10 days... . The Phillies made a late and unsuccessful push to sign pitcher Jordan Parraz, their sixth-round selection from last year's draft. With the Phillies' rights to him expired, Parraz is eligible for the draft on Monday... . The Phils hold the 21st pick in the draft Monday. As much as they'd like to restock themselves with catchers and hitters, the Phils probably will use their first pick on a pitcher because of the depth at the position.