DODGERS UPDATE: ROBLES CHOOSES TEAM OVER TOURNEY.Byline: Tony Jackson
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer VERO BEACH Vero Beach (vēr`o), city (1990 pop. 17,350), seat of Indian River co., E Fla., on Indian River (a lagoon and part of the Intracoastal Waterway); founded c.1888, inc. 1919. , Fla. - Knowing his spot on the Dodgers opening-day roster is tentative, utility infielder A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually someone who does not have a regular starting role on the team, who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base. Oscar Robles Oscar M. Robles (b. April 9, 1976, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico) has spent much of this decade as a third baseman for the Mexico City Red Devils (Diablos Rojos del México), and briefly as an infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 2005 through 2006. said Saturday he has decided not to play for his native Mexico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic
``I have been thinking about it the past few days,'' said Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
Robles said last Monday he would honor his commitment to play for Mexico, despite comments made by Dodgers manager Grady Little William Grady Little (born March 30, 1950 in Abilene, Texas) is a manager in Major League Baseball. He guided the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003, and has been manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2006. . Little said any player fighting for a spot on the Dodgers might hurt his chances if he and general manager Ned Colletti Ned Louis Colletti, Jr. is the General Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Colletti graduated from East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, Illinois and Northern Illinois University. Colletti began his Major League Career in 1982 with the Chicago Cubs. don't have a chance to see him on an everyday basis during spring training while the two-week tournament is going on. Robles, who is competing against non-roster invitee Ramon Martinez in what essentially is a two-man battle for the utility infield slot, had a change of heart later in the week. ``I know we have a lot of competition for spots,'' Robles said. ``The best thing for me is to stay here and try to show everyone that I can play.'' Robles was one of the few bright spots on last year's club after the Dodgers purchased his contract from the Mexico City Red Devils on May 8. In what was supposed to be a limited role but became more expanded because of injuries, he batted .272 with 18 doubles, five homers and 34 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in and posted a .332 on-base percentage. All that seemed to secure his place on this year's roster because the Dodgers paid the Red Devils an additional $200,000 last summer to secure permanent rights to Robles. But when the Dodgers signed Martinez to a minor-league deal last month - and given the fact neither Colletti nor Little was around for Robles' emergence last season - it was clear Robles would have to earn his spot all over again, especially considering he has minor-league options. --Travel squad: Little said he will fill out the rosters for Tuesday's intrasquad game at Jacksonville with a combination of players from major- and minor-league camps and that a handful of position players and several pitchers from big-league camp will stay behind. Most of the position players not making the trip are coming off injuries and not ready to play in games, including J.D. Drew and Jeff Kent (wrist), Rafael Furcal (knee) and Cesar Izturis (elbow). Catchers Sandy Alomar and Pat Borders and outfielder Kenny Lofton also are staying back. --Guzman moves: Shortstop prospect Joel Guzman, who hit 16 homers at Jacksonville last season, will be moved around the field during Grapefruit League play, an obvious nod to the fact the Dodgers signed free agent Rafael Furcal to play Guzman's primary position for the next three seasons. ``We'll probably evaluate him at a couple of different spots,'' Little said. ``You'll probably see him at first base, third base and in the outfield.'' Little said the move won't put Guzman on a slower path to the big leagues. Tony Jackson,(818) 713-3675 tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com |
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