The next Esix Snead?

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Fan_In_NY
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The next Esix Snead?

Post by Fan_In_NY »

From Beyond the Boxscore about a speedster the Cards drafted last year out of Florida State, Shane Robinson...
To see the actual stats, click on the link...

Shane Robinson is a small, quick, right handed centerfielder that the Cards drafted out of Florida State last year. Actually, to tell the truth he's very, very quick. He was rated as one of the fastest players in the draft. He's also exactly the kind of player you'd expect a 5'9", 165 lb speedster to be, Joey Gathright part deux. Robinson had a pretty good career at FSU, starting all three years he was there and throwing up some impressive numbers.




And he didn't do terribly in his professional debut.




He wasn't fantastic either. The limitation that this kind of slap hitter runs into is the fact that if the worst thing that the pitcher has to worry about is a sharply hit single, they're not going to risk the walk and just pound the strike zone, thus cutting off the walks that a hitter needs to draw in order to be an effective OBP source. Hitting .290 with no walks and no power is counter-productive. You don't have to hit 15 home runs a year to necessarily keep them from doing that, just get it out of the infield enough to pepper the stat sheet with doubles. If Robinson can do that, then his history of good plate discipline should make his OBP presentable. It works for David Eckstein, but it didn't work for Jason Tyner.

As to the other parts of Robinson's game, he's an exceptional base-stealer as you can see above. There's little chance that he'll be an Alex Sanchez copycat who looks fast, but gets bad jumps and gets caught as often as he's successful. I tend to think that's a skill that translates pretty seamlessly through all levels, even against better catchers and smarter, more experienced pitchers. His defense is good, but not as good as you'd think for a player with his speed. His arm is also weak so he's not going to with gold gloves. Nevertheless, even if his presence at the plate is more like Tyner than Esteban German, he still might find some time in the Show courtesy of being a good candidate for 5th outfielder status.
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/story/ ... 9115/66907

picklefork
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Post by picklefork »

Snead's problem was he wasnt allowed to steal 1st base and that was the only way he was getting on base.

Robinson isnt nearly as fast as Snead, but he is a fast player with a good bat, very good plate discpline and a solid overall approach.

If you want to really compare Robinson to someone, its probably Ryan Freel from Cincy.

Robinson was kinda lost in the shuffle of Jay's great year and Rasmus's fine season, but Shane has a chance to move quickly b/c he has an advanced hitting game and his speed plays well on the bases and in the field.

He is a good OF'er and at very worst will probably be a 4th/5th OF'er some day in the majors.

Robinson will be a fan favorite if he ever reached STL. He is Eckstein with raw skills.

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Fan_In_NY
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Post by Fan_In_NY »

picklefork wrote:Snead's problem was he wasnt allowed to steal 1st base and that was the only way he was getting on base.

Robinson isnt nearly as fast as Snead, but he is a fast player with a good bat, very good plate discpline and a solid overall approach.

If you want to really compare Robinson to someone, its probably Ryan Freel from Cincy.

Robinson was kinda lost in the shuffle of Jay's great year and Rasmus's fine season, but Shane has a chance to move quickly b/c he has an advanced hitting game and his speed plays well on the bases and in the field.

He is a good OF'er and at very worst will probably be a 4th/5th OF'er some day in the majors.

Robinson will be a fan favorite if he ever reached STL. He is Eckstein with raw skills.
Now was a it a good strategy to draft 2 college proven slap OFers? Both Jay and Robinson are undersized and really dont project to hit for any power. Both are older prospects but proved they could hit in college, and hit well at their first stops in the minors. Hopefully both turn out well, but how many of these kind of OFers do you really need?

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Post by Fat Strat »

Now was a it a good strategy to draft 2 college proven slap OFers? Both Jay and Robinson are undersized and really dont project to hit for any power. Both are older prospects but proved they could hit in college, and hit well at their first stops in the minors. Hopefully both turn out well, but how many of these kind of OFers do you really need?
Don't forget we already had Rasmus in the system. Edwards isn't a slap hitter either. I would like to see more power in the system, but you really have to draft the best players available at a given point in the draft, and if power hitters aren't the best players, then you don't reach for them.

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Post by fewgoodcards »

Now was a it a good strategy to draft 2 college proven slap OFers? Both Jay and Robinson are undersized and really dont project to hit for any power.
now jay may not project to hit for much power, but he is not undersized at 6 foot 200 pounds.

i've said it before and i'll say it again, the cardinals should try robinson out at 2nd base. he would have a much better shot at being a regular at that position even if he doesn't have much power. i think he could be like dustin pedroia with speed. a guy that will hit you .300, get on base at a good clip, and steal 20-30 bases. even if he can't become a regular, being able to play 2nd would make him a more valuable utility player and he could be even more like ryan freel. the only problem with that strategy is that he will be starting the season at palm beach with arguably our best middle infield prospect jose martinez who also plays 2nd.

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