FOCUSED

Third baseman does job for JetHawks

Until about 13 games had passed.

And even then, teammate Terrmel Sledge had to inform him.

"I had no idea until Terrmel told me. I really feel that if I don't get a hit a game," Robinson said, "that I'm not doing my job."

The streak was snapped on Sunday in San Bernardino at 16 games, but Robinson gets a shot to "do his job" tonight as play resumes against the Stampede, now only 1 1/2 games back of Lancaster in the Cal League South Division standings.

This season is Robinson's second tour of duty in Lancaster, having played last fall in the California Fall League for the Lancaster Stealth.

"It was a great experience," Robinson said of the fall league. "I played a full season at Wisconsin, 140 games and then went to the Stealth. It was good preparation for me.

"By the end of that year, the four months off were great. You have to be ready to do it again next year.

"The talent level was a bit better than the Midwest League. You could tell in the Fall League that the players were a little better."

But according to the Stealth's interim manager, Tracy Woodson, Robinson fit right in with that mold.

"Bo's just a naturally good hitter," Woodson said last year. "He's not an overpowering hitter, and he doesn't try to be. He just lets the hits come to him.

"He's patient with the bat, that's what it takes to be successful."

The preparation Robinson received in the fall shows on the field this year as part of the JetHawks.

Coming into Tuesday's game, Robinson was eighth in the Cal League batting race at .342, while smacking 10 doubles and driving in 35 runs.

"Bo comes out to play," JetHawks manager Mark Parent said. "We've got him doing some aerobics and stuff that maybe he's not used to, but it's all to help him out."

Aerobics?

"Yeah, it's tough but its stretching me out and making me more flexible, a better player," Robinson said of his new workout.

And for his game, it has worked. Early on, Robinson was a little stiff and rigid at third. Now, however, he's gained new mobility that makes his game better and him a more viable prospect.

Robinson is attempting to succeed at a position were power hitting is as much a part of the job as showing up. But he's the rare type of hitter that can make it work.

After putting up monster numbers at Wisconsin last year, Robinson was named by Baseball America as the Mariners' minor leaguer of the year.

He led the farm system in batting average (.329, third in the Midwest League) and doubles (50) and was second with 102 runs batted in - all in just his first-full professional season.

"I know I can hit home runs," Robinson said. "But I want to get base hits, hit line drives. I don't want to strike out when I go to the plate. I want to get up there and hit the ball.

"If I wanted to, I think I could, but I would lose it on the average side. I feel my job is to hit line drives, hit to the gaps, and drive in runs."

Before being drafted by Seattle in the 28th round in the June 1998 draft, Robinson attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he played baseball for four years. He was named second team All-America his senior year.

Robinson had the opportunity to attend bigger schools in the Carolinas, but chose to stay at N.C.-Charlotte because of the guaranteed playing time.

"I could have gone to South Carolina, Virginia Tech or North Carolina State," Robinson said, "But they wouldn't promise me a starting spot, so I stayed at Charlotte."

For the Charlotte native, playing time and the allure of hometown crowds was too hard to resist.

"Charlotte gave me everything I wanted," Robinson said. "I think for me, staying home with my parents and friends around was the best thing that could have happened to me. I just wanted to play, not sit around for two years."

His father has first-hand experience as to what Robinson's going through.

"My dad understands why I want to do this," Robinson said. "He played seven years in the minor leagues (with Cincinnati and Washington, topping out at Class AAA) and loves watching me play.

"That's why getting to go to the All-Star game this year would be real special."

This year, the California-Carolina League All Star Game will be held in Kingston N.C.

For Robinson, that would mean a free trip home with three days off.

Uploaded May 30, 2000