Comments on: Today in The Journal News

By: bodhisattva

bodhisattva — Wed, 21 May 2008 23:56:11 +0000

Ok. I love ARod. Really do. But ARod is NOWHERE NEAR the natural hitter Robinson Cano is. ARod is a great player, with tons of ridiculous power, and most of it isn’t pull power, which speaks volumes for that power, especially in unforgiving Yankee Stadium (for righties).

He does not have the hand-eye precision as a batter that Cano does. It isn’t even close.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:06:01 +0000

I don’t see any indication that Cano is an A-Rod caliber player. I think he’s more similar to Freddy Sanchez of Pittsburgh.

By: andrew33

andrew33 — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:57:56 +0000

bodhisattva – one thing about Cano – he has a horrendouS average with the bases loaded, so i’m not sure how great that loose attitude will work in the tight spots in the futre

By: ellen

ellen — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:48:58 +0000

With all due respect bodhisattva (love the song by Steely Dan by the way) I don’t see what relevance Cano’s race has on the discussion.

By: G, Love

G, Love — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:42:31 +0000

Bodi–If you think Cano succeeds because he’s relaxed at the plate, please pass me the hookah you’re smoking from.

By: LathamJoe

LathamJoe — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:34:05 +0000

Sorry, but Giambi is horrible defensively, HORRIBLE! last week,on two successive days,
he reacted so slowly on two wide throws (he laid out like a beached whale) which caused throwing errors on Ensberg and Jeter. Jeter was so upset, the camera caught his reaction and you could read his lips: “G–damn Giambi”.
Then there’s the errant throws to second to start the DP. Now if your hitting .280/.405 OBP and driving in runs you can “put up” with the poor defensive play occasionally. Giambi is hitting near any of those numbers.

By: Doreen

Doreen — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:14:59 +0000

bodhisattva

I tend to think of Cano as more relaxed and “smooth” in his fielding approach, as well. I don’t see him as lazy or lackadaisical. His arm is accurate and he seems to know how long it will take for a throw to get where he needs it to go. But my husband disagrees with me, so we don’t talk about it.

I don’t think there’s necessarily even a subconscious racism at work, though, in people who see his style of play differently.

By: bodhisattva

bodhisattva — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:12:56 +0000

I just re-read my post.

Forget it: here it is:

If you regarded Cano’s ability as highly as I do, you wouldn’t even suggest moving him.

Therefore, our viewpoints on this player cannot be reconciled.

That’s all.

By: ellen

ellen — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:09:23 +0000

I don’t understand why the very idea of trading Cano for the right return value is getting people so upset. Why? He’s not untouchable. Frankly, the list of truly untouchable Yankees should be quite short. I don’t think Cano is on it. For the RIGHT trade offer (if one exists) – why is it not open to debate?

By: bodhisattva

bodhisattva — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:05:53 +0000

Some of us are actually OLDER than some of us, friend.

I was dragged to Yankee Stadium in the early 60s, so enough about me being “too young” to appreciate Mattingly. You actually need to take your own advice; I said Cano’s name in the same sentence as Mattingly’s is appropriate, not outlandish: he has that great an upside.

As for your assessment of him as a “good” player, for some reason, you, and some others on here, don’t see the skill/talent differential that I do; he IS untouchable, he is NOT replaceable.

As for his “work ethic”, I don’t wish to make a blanket statement, but I think an unconscious racism MAY be at play, here. He is from the Dominican Republic, he has a different vibe about him than the standard-issue blue collar, “white” ballplayer. He also is smooth, and doesn’t look like he’s “working” hard, because he is better skilled. For years, Mario Lemieux (whom english canadian writers never cared for) was accused of not “working.” NO – he just made things look easy, he didn’t waste energy. Someone here called Cano “lazy”, and I don’t think that’s accurate: in fact, his “loose” attitude may mean he succeeds more in the tough spot because he possesses a certain relaxation that othe great talents do.

He is a great talent. Not good. Great. Right now, he’s struggling something awful. But that’s the aberration, the good is to come; it has before, it will again.

I sometimes want to murder Cano.
But I would never trade him.