Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr., Brooks Robinson say Miguel tejada can make switch to third base
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...February 8, 2010
Two of the Baltimore Orioles’ greatest third basemen are confident Miguel Tejada can replicate their success in switching from another infield position to the hot corner.Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr., who like Tejada played shortstop, and Brooks Robinson, a former second baseman, both made the switch to third during their careers. They told The (Baltimore) Sun that it will take some adjustment for Tejada to learn the new position, but they believe he has the ability to make the transition.”There’s no doubt about it,” Ripken said, according to the report.”I think the hardest part is reworking the thinking about the position,” said Ripken, who played shortstop for the Orioles from 1983 to 1996 before making the switch at age 36. “I think there is a physical side and then there is a mental side,” Ripken said, according to the report. “But Miggi’s got great hands. He knows how to catch a ball, and he’s got a great, strong, accurate arm.”"As a shortstop, you have learned it, you have learned all the movements. When the ball goes up, you know where you are supposed to be, where you are supposed to cut off the relay, where you are supposed to line up,” Ripken said, according to the report. “At third, or at a different position, you have to think all over again, ‘OK, that’s my job now.’ “Robinson, considered by many as one of the greatest defensive third basemen to play the game, said the biggest change will be adjusting to the ball coming off the bat, according to the report.”I think it is much more difficult to go from short to third than it is to go from third to short,” said Robinson, according to the report. “At third base, you really have to take the ball as it comes. Third base is a reactionary position, and it might take him a while to get used to it.”"You just have to take the ball as it comes,” Robinson said, according to the report. “At shortstop, you have time to move around and play the ball on the hop you choose. At third base, you have to get in front of the ball, catch it or knock it down and throw the runner out.”
Comments
Got something to say?