Article published April 26, 2009
Roberson feeling good 2nd time up
BY BLADE STAFF
Every time a player reaches Triple-A for the first time, there seems to be an adjustment period.
But it didn't take Mud Hens first baseman Ryan Roberson much time to settle in as he collected at least one hit in his first 13 Toledo games this season before an 0-for-4 Friday night.
"He's a big, strong kid who has put up some big power numbers the past few years," Hens manager Larry Parrish said of Roberson. "A lot of power guys are susceptible to the breaking ball, but so far he's been holding his own against that.
"He's been pretty solid so far."
Roberson entered last night's game with a .286 batting average, much stronger than the .240 mark he posted in a seven-game cameo here last year.
"[Being here last year] helped with the jitters, being in a bigger stadium in front of larger crowds," Roberson said. "I'm just trying to stay on the ball and get good pitches to hit, not be over-anxious and swing at pitches outside of the zone, because you're not going to be successful doing that."Parrish and hitting coach Leon "Bull" Durham also made a change in his batting stance that helped his home-run production.
"Last year, when he got here, he was really squatting," Parrish said of the 6-5 Roberson. "He's a big kid, but he looked small up there. We worked with him on getting taller and using the leverage that he had."
Roberson responded to the change last season, slamming seven homers for Double-A Erie in July and six in August to tie for second in the Eastern League with 25.
He also had a 19-game hitting streak with the SeaWolves, and he said last year's hit streak was similar to his fast start this year.
"Usually they start when you're seeing the ball well and feeling good," Roberson said. "But the main thing is to not think about it, and instead go out there and do what you normally do. If you think about it, you're going to try and force something through a hole.
"If you go out there and just swing the bat, good things can happen. I try not to do anything different, just go out there and play my game."
HOME SWEET HOME: You'll have to excuse Louisville pitcher Matt Maloney if he considers Fifth Third Field his home.
Yes, Maloney graduated from nearby Huron High School. But the lefty's dominance over the Hens here is about more than a local address.
On Friday, Maloney allowed just five hits and one run in six solid innings. The only reason he didn't claim a victory was Toledo rallied for two runs in the ninth and one in the 10th for a 5-4 victory.
That continues the success Maloney enjoyed here last year. In three starts at Fifth Third Field, the southpaw gave up just 10 hits and four walks in 221/3 innings that resulted in three earned runs for a 1.21 ERA.
Maloney was 2-0 in those three starts; his non-decision came May 24 when the Hens rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 2-1 victory.
ROSTER MOVES: The Tigers made one roster change yesterday and will make another one before today's game at Kansas City.
Yesterday's move came when Detroit activated RHP Joel Zumaya from the disabled list and optioned RHP Eddie Bonine to the Mud Hens. Parrish said Bonine will move into the Toledo rotation when he joins the Hens.
Today the Tigers will add C Dane Sardinha to the roster to replace Matt Treanor, who is expected to go on the disabled list with problems related to the sports hernia he had last season.
Sandinha's replacement on the Toledo roster is Angel Flores, who began the season in extended spring training.
- John Wagner
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