I had mentioned in a story I wrote on MLB Talk that discussed that nothing was worse than seeing a player of immense talent unable to play up to their potential because of factors that the person himself can control.
Injuries are a freak occurrence. But playing with a lack of mental focus, intelligence and a willingness to play 100% are quite another.
One Yankee player has exemplified all of these qualities and his effort this season has been an image of everything wrong with the team this season.
His name: Robinson Cano
The reason for his mysterious regression is unknown. Over the past two seasons, he had emerged as one of the league’s best second baseman. His ability to hit to all fields, show power, drive in runs and play outstanding defense at such a young age was making him one of the younger cornerstones for a transitioning roster filled with veterans.
During the 2007 offseason, Joe Torre departed for Los Angeles. Coming with him was third base coach Larry Bowa, who was in essence “Cano’s mentor”, who worked with him on a near daily basis. The feeling was that Cano needed to be monitored to prevent drifting and that having a proactive, intense coach such as Bowa would keep him on the right path to success.
Biggest of all was the contract extension he received from the Yankees for 30 million dollars over the next four seasons.
His performance over the previous two years warranted the deal:
2005 - .297, 14 HR, 62 RBI
2006 - .342, 15 HR, 78 RBI
2007 - .306, 19 HR, 97 RBI
Only Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies was putting up numbers more prolific than that of Cano. The production was rising and there was little reason to believe that his ascension would not continue.
However, this season has been anything but that. For the first three and a half months, it appeared has if he had been sleepwalking. His batting average was below .250, and because of his lack of walks taken (or inability), he had become useless to the lineup. The fact that his OPS was hovering below .650 (Julio Lugo’s OPS -.685 - is higher by comparison) should have justified his place on the bench.
For almost two weeks after the All Star break, Cano had appeared to rediscover himself. He was 18 for 35 and playing great defense. Once again though, his plate struggles would resurface along with numerous memory lapses during the games.
His fluid style of playing defense gives off the impression that he not emitting full effort out in the field. This would not be a problem if he was hitting like has the previous few seasons. But when the average is what it is (as of Aug 15 - .263), that type of play comes off as loafing, especially when you consider that his lack of focus on numerous plays (see: his play at second base on a DP in Minnesota Wednesday) this season.
These instances, along with the continued rumors of his consistent late night partying in New York and lack of focus (which could be attributed to his new contract and departure of Bowa) and dedication to his craft must have the Yankees concerned as to whether Cano is essentially a head case.
Jose Reyes of the Mets underwent a similar situation that started last season and spilled over into this year before Willie Randolph was fired in June. While I have yet to go as far as to suggest that Cano is “dogging it” out there, enough supporting evidence is building for this case.
Joe Girardi does not appear (or simply does not want to) do anything about the situation. Who knows if he simply does not see what is going on. Maybe he is in fear having Cano further drift if he is reprimanded much like Reyes did after Randolph did when Reyes did not run out a ground ball in Houston last season.
If Cano’s play does not show market improvement over the final weeks of the season, the organization is going to have to make a very difficult decision. Do they conclude that Cano’s 2008 season is nothing more than an aberration? Or do they think that a combination of the contract, no guidance counseling, and his mental approach will continue to be factors in him not reaching his full potential?
This is not a Josh Hamilton situation. If Cano needs to essentially have a caddy follow him around everywhere and stay on him each day to make sure he is fully concentrated on baseball, then the Yankees should investigate trading him. He is going to be entering his fifth season next year and needs to grow up.
Is he going to go through his entire career needing a babysitter? At what point does not he not take the responsibility for himself and be accountable? The fact that he is only attributing his poor season to “bad luck” is simply ridiculous.
Swinging at the first pitch is not bad luck. Swinging at pitches near your head or shoe tops is not bad luck. The inability to work a count is not bad luck. Losing track of how many outs there are on the bases is not bad luck.
The problem in attempting to trade him is that getting full value is going to be difficult considering the season he is having. When the Yankees traded Alfonso Soriano after the 2003 season, the team was able to get Alex Rodriguez.
Getting a player (or players) of that caliber in a trade back is not going to be possible. Perhaps a prospective team will be enamored so much with his potential that they will ignore all the other issues that appear to go with him and give in to what the Yankees will be looking for.
For now, we will all just have to sit back and hope that Cano comes around. It appears as if more “Robbie being Robbie” moments are coming to a baseball diamond near you for the foreseeable future.
The last question I want to ask myself a few years down the road about Cano not reaching his full potential is the following:
“What if?”
Surprising Sidney
I must give credit where it’s due and praise Sidney Ponson on his nice job of pitching this season.
When he returned in June for his second tour of Yankee duty, I referred to him again as “Tub of Goo”. His first stint in 2006 lasted only three starts. Bringing in him back seemed to smack of desperation from a team who came into the season without adequate insurance for youngsters Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes.
His stay was supposed on only last a few starts, but instead, Ponson has been around much longer due to injuries. During that time, he has provided stability in the rotation to amazement of everyone.
Though his numbers (nine starts, 3-2, 4.50 ERA) do not jump off the page, the fact that he has not been vomit inducing is impressive.
Of Ponson’s outings, six times he has thrown at least six innings. In four August starts, he has thrown into the eighth inning twice and has an ERA of 2.96.
Good job. Keep it up.
Random Yankee Thoughts
If Mike Mussina doe not win 20 games this season, look no further than last Tuesday nights game in Minnesota as the reason.
Leading 6-3 going into the eighth, the bullpen could not hold it. Mariano Rivera gave up a three-run homerun to Delmon Young to tie the game.
There may be no pitcher more snake bit than Mussina.
Melky Cabrera needed to be sent down to the minors (as he was on Friday). He had no business being in the lineup.
The arm in center cannot cover up the fact he has only driven in nine runs since the beginning of June.
Help Wanted: A center fielder that can hit and play defense – willing to pay – can start beginning April 2009.
I find it funny that other Yankee fans are formulating their trades in the offseason by starting with Cabrera and Ian Kennedy as a part of any package.
Yeah, I am going to trade you a good player for a potential mental head case and a fourth outfielder at best.
Who is the dumb GM that is going to make that trade? It is not as if every GM is like the one from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hank Steinbrenner essentially “punted the season” without actually using those words this past week.
It was something that his father would never do, but perhaps he is simply providing a commentary that a lot of us very quietly believe.
Hell, I have nearly said as much since the beginning of the season.
Rivera 10 times this season come into a game tied and eight times, he has given up a run. How fluky is that?
Quietly, Alex Rodriguez has been able to dodge any criticism of his play this season.
But it is difficult not to look at the fact he is hitting less than .240 with runners in scoring position.
It seems like we have had this conversation in three of his five seasons here.
Why does it seem like the lead the Red Sox have over the Yankees in the Wild Card is higher than the current number it stands?
If Brett Favre could find another team to play for in his career, it is farfetched that Derek Jeter and the Yankees cannot part ways after the 2010 season?
He would be 36 and if his production continues to drop, would the team still resign him just because he is the face of the team?
It is very tricky decision. Something that I never thought could be possible.
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