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| Don't cry Cano, Jay-Z thought this was a great idea.... |
While we wait, are either Robinson Cano or the New York
Yankees happy about their very public, and to some heartbreaking, split before
the 2014 season? Read here while we wait for the Yankees and Angels game and
click the link to give those guys a view, it’s a great article.
It has been almost two years since second baseman
Robinson Cano and the New York
Yankees decided to part ways and end their relationship. Cano bolted to
the west coast to play with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. The
Yankees have had a series of second basemen since the departure of Cano.
Two years later, it’s hard to really signify who profited
from the split?
Cano bolted for more money in Seattle. That evidence is
staring right in the face of the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees and the 28
other Major League teams. Cano wanted “the money”.
Cano left for Seattle because he felt he was not profiting
from his services at Yankee Stadium for the Bronx Bombers.
Next to future hall of famer shortstop
Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano was just as recognized in New
York. His face was all over the city on television as well as street signs.
Cano really excelled in New York at Yankee Stadium. He could hit homeruns with
relative ease and was a constant threat in the lineup, as well as on the field
with his smooth play at second base. Cano’s ‘sweet spot’ for hitting homeruns
was right field in the Bronx.
In December, 2013 Cano signed a
10
year $240 million deal with the Seattle Mariners. In comparison, the
New York Yankees offered a 7 year deal for $175 million. A longer deal and more
money is what Cano opted for. Over the course of the 2014 season, Cano finished
with 14 homeruns and 82 RBI’s, along with a .314 batting average. No one doubts
his statistics accumulated since his debut with the Yankees in 2005. Cano’s a
six time All-Star, five time Silver-Slugger Award winner, two time Gold-Glove
winner and a World Series Champion in 2009 with the Yankees.
His second year of the 10 year deal in Seattle is not going
well. Cano has 3 homeruns, 23 RBI’s and 68 hits. Boston Red
Sox second baseman
Dustin Pedroia and Cano were considered two of the best
second basemen in the American League just a short while ago. Now the game has
evolved. There are other second basemen in the American League who have better
statistics than Cano. Fellow second basemen, Houston Astros’
Jose Altuve and Cleveland Indians’
Jason Kipnis appear to be taking the league by storm.
Pedroia and Cano appear to be showing signs of decline in their play.
The New York Yankees have not found their replacement for
Cano. In 2014, they had an assortment of players manning the vacated
position.
Brian Roberts,
Stephen Drew,
Kelly Johnson,
Martin Prado and
Brendan Ryan were called upon to be the man playing
second base role over the course of last season. The Yankees could never really
get comfortable and relaxed with their future star since the loss of Cano. The
honor, this season, appears to fall upon
Jose Pirela and newly acquired shortstop – sometimes
used at second base –
Didi Gregorius.
Gregorius
was acquired by the Yankees as the heir apparent replacement for their
long-time captain Derek Jeter, in a three team trade with the Detroit
Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Yankees. It could be argued that
since the retirement of Jeter and the free agent departure of Cano, the Yankees
are scrambling for both shortstop and second base. The inexperience or pressure
of playing for the pinstripes is getting to the men responsible
for replacing Jeter and Cano.
In 2014, the New York Yankees finished the season with a
record of 84-78 and 12 games behind the Baltimore Orioles. Making the playoffs is
essential each season in the Big Apple. Failure is not an option if you are
wearing Yankees’ pinstripes. They barely held onto second place in the American
League East as they won one single game more than the third place Toronto
Blue Jays.
Year one with Cano in Mariner colors, the Seattle Mariners
finished slightly better with a record of 87-75. However, they finished in
third place, behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Oakland
Athletics. Bringing in Cano did not elevate the team into the playoffs. During
the same off-season the Seattle Mariners and former manager
Eric Wedge decided to cut ties from one another. The
team went out and hired former Pittsburgh Pirates manager
Lloyd McClendon.
In the 2015 season, the Yankees have won 39 of their first
72 games. The Seattle Mariners have only won 33 of their 72 games. Yes, while
it is true that it is a long season and anything can happen, neither team has
skyrocketed. The Yankees are 2 games behind the injury ravaged and small
market Tampa Bay Rays. The Mariners are 8 ½ games behind
the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles
Angels of Anaheim.
Just as in fractured marriages, divorces hurt! Kids can be
affected and can bruise the future of a family. In this case, both Cano and the
New York Yankees decided to end their time together but in year two of their
separation it would clearly be apparent that neither party is happy.
