MLB Dirt

Okay, the facts are the facts:  Alex Rodriguez stats are declining.  He is aging, and has trouble turning on  a 95 MPH fastball.  He flirted in the middle of a playoff game and he makes more money per season than all of the fans at Yankee Stadium combined.  He comes off as trying to be a saint, when we all know that is not true.  He has admitted to using performance enhancers.  Take all of these facts, add in to the mix yet another poor post season, and you have disgruntled Yankee fans.

Now here is what Yankee fans need to realize.  Most players who are A-Rod’s age generally have trouble turning on a 95MPH fastball.  Many players, who have had the statistical numbers that A-Rod has put up, are earning eight figure annual salaries.  Derek Jeter is a ladies man (albeit not during games), and he is admired.  Andy Pettitte has admitted to using HGH and he is still beloved by the Bronx faithful.  And most of the Yankee hitters were on snooze-control against the Tigers, yet they will be forgiven heading into 2013.

Rodriguez is far from perfect.  However, he does play the game hard.  He runs hard to first whenever he hits an infield grounder, and he will dive for a ball to make a defensive play.  As a fan, what more can you ask for from a ballplayer?  When Rodriguez fails, it does bother him.

The man that Yankee fans should be upset with is Robinson Cano and his care-free attitude.  Cano was putrid this post season.  Cano was 3 for 40 against Baltimore and Detroit combined.  That’s a .075 batting average.  What is his excuse?  He’s in his prime, so we know he can catch up to a fastball.  He just doesn’t care whether or not he catches up to one.  Cano never runs out a groundball at full speed.  That is a lack of hustle, which is generated from a lack of caring.  And when was the last time you saw Cano dive for a groundball?  Cano rarely dives for a ball during the regular season or the playoffs.

Cano has good speed, yet he has just 31 stolen bases in his career.  In seven post seasons, he has no stolen bases.  This season, he was sixth in the AL in double plays grounded into.  I don’t think he likes to run if he doesn’t have to.  The trouble is….as a ballplayer, he does have to!

Joe Girardi should have sent a message and benched Cano.  What is Cano’s excuse for going 3 for 40?  If I had to guess, I’d say that Alex Rodriguez has lost sleep over his slump and subsequent benching.  I have a feeling Cano didn’t lose a minutes sleep.  Yankee fans need to back off of A-Rod, and aim their disgust at the one Yankee who truly deserves their wrath…that Yankee is Robinson Cano.

Filed under: Digging Deep - Analysis Tagged: | Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Joe Girardi, New York Yankees, Robinson Cano