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Clint Robinson misses the bus — and that’s a good thing Clint Robinson misses the bus — and that’s a good thing
(about 2 hours later)
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Sometimes uncomfortable truths lurk in spring training lineup cards and loom in bus seats on the way to games such as Wednesday’s. The Washington Nationals traveled 3 1 /2 hours from Viera to play the Rays in their Grapefruit League opener. Established players, the veterans with nothing to prove, don’t usually make trips like these.PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Sometimes uncomfortable truths lurk in spring training lineup cards and loom in bus seats on the way to games such as Wednesday’s. The Washington Nationals traveled 3 1 /2 hours from Viera to play the Rays in their Grapefruit League opener. Established players, the veterans with nothing to prove, don’t usually make trips like these.
Young guys and older roster hopefuls do. They feel their legs tighten on the bus and hope they loosen up again, then go out, take batting practice and try to prove they belong. Through six spring trainings, including last year’s, Clint Robinson made most of these trips. Wednesday, he stayed in Viera. Young guys and older roster hopefuls do. They feel their legs tighten on the bus and hope they loosen up again, then go out, take batting practice and try to prove they belong. Through six spring trainings, including last year’s, Clint Robinson made most of these trips. On Wednesday, he stayed in Viera.
This spring training is different for Robinson, who made his first major league Opening Day roster at age 30 last season and then hit like he belonged. His locker is a few stalls closer to the prestigious back of the room than it was last season. His batting practice group includes Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman. He takes infield practice with surefire starters and likely roster locks.This spring training is different for Robinson, who made his first major league Opening Day roster at age 30 last season and then hit like he belonged. His locker is a few stalls closer to the prestigious back of the room than it was last season. His batting practice group includes Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman. He takes infield practice with surefire starters and likely roster locks.
Robinson would cringe at the notion that any of this means anything. He hesitated when his wife brought up D.C. living arrangements for this season.Robinson would cringe at the notion that any of this means anything. He hesitated when his wife brought up D.C. living arrangements for this season.
“I’m like, ‘Babe, we aren’t even going to think that far.’ ” Robinson said “. . . I know if all these guys stay healthy, there won’t be a lot of opportunity.” “I’m like, ‘Babe, we aren’t even going to think that far,’ ” Robinson said. “. . . I know if all these guys stay healthy, there won’t be a lot of opportunity.”
[Clint Robinson enjoyed his first big league season at age 30][Clint Robinson enjoyed his first big league season at age 30]
Opportunities haven’t come easily to Robinson over the years — hence his caution. The story of his ascent from career minor leaguer to starter for last year’s preseason World Series favorites included a lot of wrong place, wrong time. Eric Hosmer and Adrian Gonzalez boxed him out of big league jobs along the way, though when he played in Class AA with Hosmer and Mike Moustakas — both members of the 2015 world champion Kansas City Royals — it was Robinson who won the Texas League Triple Crown. Opportunities haven’t come easily to Robinson over the years — hence his caution. The story of his ascent from career minor leaguer to starter for last year’s preseason World Series favorites included a lot of wrong place, wrong time. Eric Hosmer and Adrian Gonzalez boxed him out of big league jobs along the way, though when he played in Class AA with Hosmer and Mike Moustakas — both members of the 2015 World Series champion Kansas City Royals — it was Robinson who won the Texas League Triple Crown.
Given his first chance at regular major league time last season when Zimmerman got hurt, Robinson hit .272 with 10 home runs in 126 games, as reliable with daily innings as he was with spot starts. He used to be a dogged offseason tinkerer, spending hours tweaking his swing at the minor league park near his home. This year, those hours went to honing habits instead of changing them.Given his first chance at regular major league time last season when Zimmerman got hurt, Robinson hit .272 with 10 home runs in 126 games, as reliable with daily innings as he was with spot starts. He used to be a dogged offseason tinkerer, spending hours tweaking his swing at the minor league park near his home. This year, those hours went to honing habits instead of changing them.
“Usually in the offseason it was, ‘What do I need to do this year to get to the big leagues?’” Robinson said. “Last year, I got to the big leagues and saw what worked, so it was, ‘Let’s focus on that and try to build on that,’ not overhaul something when it didn’t need to be overhauled.” “Usually in the offseason it was, ‘What do I need to do this year to get to the big leagues?’ ” Robinson said. “Last year I got to the big leagues and saw what worked, so it was, ‘Let’s focus on that and try to build on that,’ not overhaul something when it didn’t need to be overhauled.”
But don’t mistake that conservative approach for complacency. Robinson arrived in camp on Feb. 1, almost three weeks earlier than required. He upped his offseason conditioning to better ready him for work in the outfield, a position he had never played regularly as a professional before last season but one that makes him a more versatile option. All the while, all last season and all offseason, Robinson refused to get comfortable. But don’t mistake that conservative approach for complacency. Robinson arrived in camp Feb. 1, almost three weeks earlier than required. He upped his offseason conditioning to better ready him for work in the outfield, a position he had never played regularly as a professional before last season but one that makes him a more versatile option. All the while, all last season and all offseason, Robinson refused to get comfortable.
“Always looking over my shoulder,” said Robinson, who fended off the notion that he could possibly do otherwise with a few vehement shakes of his head. “Always looking over my shoulder,” said Robinson, who fended off the notion that he could do otherwise with a few vehement shakes of his head.
“I watch the offseason moves to see what guys they’re signing, what the competition is going to be. You get really complacent when there’s not [any]. I know for me, if I were to have a guaranteed spot, I don’t know if I would go about it the same way. You come out here and there’s a little extra edge to what you do, a little extra something when you’re doing your work.”“I watch the offseason moves to see what guys they’re signing, what the competition is going to be. You get really complacent when there’s not [any]. I know for me, if I were to have a guaranteed spot, I don’t know if I would go about it the same way. You come out here and there’s a little extra edge to what you do, a little extra something when you’re doing your work.”
[Clint Robinson’s legendary bat, gone but not forgotten][Clint Robinson’s legendary bat, gone but not forgotten]
Robinson is among the more thorough Nationals when it comes to pre-work stretching. He jogs from place to place and shags batting practice flyballs like they count. Make what you want of early batting practice swings — and to be fair, most coaches and players don’t make much of them — but Robinson has been one of the early standouts, blasting balls out of the minor league fields with as much regularity as his high-profile groupmates. Robinson is among the more thorough Nationals when it comes to stretching. He jogs from place to place and shags batting practice flyballs like they count. Make what you want of early batting practice swings — and to be fair, most coaches and players don’t make much of them — but Robinson has been one of the early standouts, blasting balls out of the minor league fields with as much regularity as his high-profile groupmates.
“I just want to be one of those guys; Okay, if so-and-so gets hurt, Clint’s over there, ready to go,” Robinson said. “I just want that label on me as a player.” “I just want to be one of those guys: Okay, if so-and-so gets hurt, Clint’s over there, ready to go,” Robinson said. “I just want that label on me as a player.”
Zimmerman will start at first base when healthy. Tyler Moore has also been taking groundballs with the regulars and would provide a backup option at first base, too. As a left-handed hitter with power who can also play the outfield, Robinson is an early favorite to earn a bench spot again. He is a new father; his baby girl was born near the end of last season. Robinson used to spend his offseasons and spring trainings hoping to make it to the majors. This year, with a year of big league success to his name and a daughter to think about, he spent the offseason working to stay there. Zimmerman will start at first base when healthy. Tyler Moore also has been taking groundballs with the regulars and would provide a backup option at first base, too. As a left-handed hitter with power who can also play the outfield, Robinson is an early favorite to earn a bench spot again. He is a new father; his baby girl was born near the end of last season. Robinson used to spend his offseasons and spring trainings hoping to make it to the majors. This year, with a year of big league success to his name and a daughter to think about, he spent the offseason working to stay there.
“I still want to be in this game when she’s old enough to realize what I’m doing, to have fun with it,” Robinson said. “It gives me more motivation to try to stay here.”“I still want to be in this game when she’s old enough to realize what I’m doing, to have fun with it,” Robinson said. “It gives me more motivation to try to stay here.”