Robin Fuson @Slider_Sinker – from Pitching Mound to Judge’s Bench

BaseballBiz On Deck

• Beginnings with a love of the game
• From minor leagues to prosecuting attorney to judge
• Early on started with JuCo ball, made All-State, then Drafted by Cleveland
• Attitude to fight off bullies transferred into his career as a prosecuting attorney – Bugliosi facing off Manson
• Pitcher confidence – always felt like he was going to win every game
• Baseball gave Robin a chance to work with a diverse group of people
• Smart pitchers learn how to let hitters strike themselves out
• Mixing up style of pitches, speed and placement plus the Mythical Spitball
• Wade Boggs – saw the rotation of the ball in different quadrants during the pitch
• Boston Hitting coach did not like Robin talking to the hitters
• Wade Boggs, a good friend - induction to Tampa Bay Rays HOF
• Tommy Lasorda story – Robin & Tommy a flight to the Dominican Republic.
• “Dr” Tommy Lasorda tells a tall Mental Healing tale
• Speaking fluent Spanish was needed when Robin worked as an Oakland A’s coach
• Player to Coach – Leaving the Player mindset behind – time to put the hammer down
• Oakland gave Robin flexibility as Spring Training coach to pursue law degree
• Sandy Alderson & Tony La Russa both were lawyers who both had been with the Oakland Athletics
• Differences between Manager & Coaches relationships with players
• Pitching against guys like Orel Hershiser, Pedro Guerrero. Tony Peña
• Veteran Dominican Republic (D.R.) & Venezuelan Players work to nurture and aid the younger players who come to the US to play ball by helping them to bridge the cultural & language gaps
• ‘You have to swing to get off the island”
• Robin's D.R. Winter Ball, infield included Alfredo Griffin at 2nd base, and Raphael Ramirez from the Braves at shortstop, Gerald Perry at 1st base from the Braves, Manny Castillo from the Mariners at 3rd base. John Lickert with the Red Sox was the catcher. Robin faced batters - Orel Hershiser, Pedro Guerrero & pitched to Tony Peña in the All-Star Game.
• Players in the D.R. treated young players as family and often left equipment behind for the young players
• Florida a cradle for baseball talent
• Northside Little League
• Tampa Smokers
• MLB Draft & Trades – Daniel Robertson moved from Mets to Miami
• Cleveland Farm Director Bob Quinn did not like Robin and was ready to stall his career.
• Cleveland Indians lost Robin to the Red Sox due to a rule violation
• Wade Boggs & Robin Fuson
• If Maddux pitched in today’s game he might win 30 games
• Mike Hargrove – the “human rain delay”
• Mexico - Threw out Eddie Miller at 1st base after 17 throw-overs
• Mixing the pitches, speed & sequences to fool the batters
• Bat Flipping - how would Don Drysdale or Bob Gibson have responded
• Injuries & rapid pace of today’s game
• Robin would throw as many as 150 pitches a game & would average 7 to 8 innings
• Lance McCullers Jr, Astros pitcher & the McCullers Christmas Tree lots
• Kevin Williams & Robin “Ali” boxing prank
• Oakland A’s 2x Fuson – Grady Fuson, Scouting Director of the Athletics

Robin's baseball stories, wit and wisdom can be found on Twitter @Slider_Sinker

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Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"