Robertson breaking out of shell for Final Vote
Relief pitcher more outspoken, confident for All-Star Game campaign
NEW YORK -- Campaigning doesn't come easy to David Robertson. He's not always the most outgoing person, especially when it comes to hyping himself up. But he's learning, and he has to, because he wants to win the Final Vote and head to Tuesday's All-Star Game at Citi Field.
"I'm trying to do my best, I'm trying to be more outgoing for the campaign," the Yankees relief pitcher said. "I'm more reserved and shy about things, but I really would like to win. I really would like to go to the All-Star Game."
Robertson stopped by the MLB Fan Cave on Wednesday morning to film a promotional video for his Final Vote campaign. As of a Wednesday morning update, Robertson remains in second place behind Blue Jays relief pitcher Steve Delabar.
Robertson sat in a row with a David Robertson mask in front of his face alongside four others holding masks of the four other finalists. Each went down the line making their case for the final spot.
First came the Tanner Scheppers stand-in. The Rangers relief pitcher has an ERA under 2.00. Then came the Joaquin Benoit double. The closer has posted a 1.05 WHIP for the first-place Tigers. The Delabar impersonator reminded everyone of his 12 1/2 strikeouts per nine innings, and a person with a Koji Uehara mask touted the Red Sox reliever's 6.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Help send @DRob30 to 2013 All-Star Game. Rt this. Each #HighSocksForVotes mention today = a vote for him. http://t.co/DIuLAdxpIV
- Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) July 11, 2013
The camera then panned to the man with the Robertson mask. His WHIP is less than 1.00, he reminded everyone, before pulling the mask to the side.
"But seriously, I can just take the subway," the real Robertson behind the mask deadpanned.
When Robertson needed to raise his energy and enthusiasm, he just channeled the energy from a former teammate who went through a similar campaign last season.
"I feel like I'm just doing my best Swish impression," he said, referring to Indians slugger Nick Swisher, who was a Final Vote candidate last year when he was Robertson's teammate in New York.
"I love Swish to death," Robertson said. "But his campaign's going to be a little different than mine."
And he actually can take the subway. Robertson lives in the city, not out in a suburb, as many Mets and Yankees players do.
"I'm not lying," he said. "I know how to get around here."
Fellow Yankees Brett Gardner, Chris Stewart and Shawn Kelley all said earlier in the week that they didn't expect Robertson to campaign too heavily, but he's found himself stepping out of his comfort zone a bit. He really would like to get to the All-Star Game, and it's one of the necessary evils to get that done.
"It's kind of something I'm not used to, but I'm just going to try to roll with it and hopefully win the vote," Robertson said.