The Cano Conundrum
Joel Sherman had a piece in the New York Post today about Robinson Cano, asking some of the same questions that I've been asking myself about the Mets second baseman. It's been bugging me that Luis Rojas has been batting Cano third in the lineup. The Mets are lucky enough to have some very good hitters on the club right now, and Cano shouldn't be batting third unless he's producing like an elite hitter. Sherman goes on to ask the fair question if Cano should be in the lineup at all.
Last year Cano put up an OPS+ of 96 for the season. He also played below average defense at second base. Historical comparisons aren't kind to 37 year old ballplayers coming off a bad season. Sherman does list a few who did bounce back, and that's obviously the hope for Cano. The Mets will be paying him a lot of money for 3 more years. I'm sure Rojas is batting Cano third in the lineup as as show of faith from the manager, and I get that, too. But how long does he stay there if he continues to produce at last year's level?
The Mets looked really out of sync offensively this weekend. I try not to read a lot into two exhibition games, but the season starts in a few days and they didn't look ready for it. I should probably give Cano some credit for getting one of the three hits the Mets managed on Sunday, but I'm not sure that gifting him the third spot in the lineup as a vote of confidence is something the team can afford right now. It seems like the way Rojas is committed to go, however.
I hope the guy gets off to a hot start and earns that lineup slot. But if he doesn't, I'm curious to see how long Cano lasts there. And really, if his offense looks like last year, Sherman's question of whether he belongs in the lineup at all becomes an important one.
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Last year Cano put up an OPS+ of 96 for the season. He also played below average defense at second base. Historical comparisons aren't kind to 37 year old ballplayers coming off a bad season. Sherman does list a few who did bounce back, and that's obviously the hope for Cano. The Mets will be paying him a lot of money for 3 more years. I'm sure Rojas is batting Cano third in the lineup as as show of faith from the manager, and I get that, too. But how long does he stay there if he continues to produce at last year's level?
The Mets looked really out of sync offensively this weekend. I try not to read a lot into two exhibition games, but the season starts in a few days and they didn't look ready for it. I should probably give Cano some credit for getting one of the three hits the Mets managed on Sunday, but I'm not sure that gifting him the third spot in the lineup as a vote of confidence is something the team can afford right now. It seems like the way Rojas is committed to go, however.
I hope the guy gets off to a hot start and earns that lineup slot. But if he doesn't, I'm curious to see how long Cano lasts there. And really, if his offense looks like last year, Sherman's question of whether he belongs in the lineup at all becomes an important one.
Continue reading by clicking here.
2 comments:
I think it all comes down to is Cano healthy and have enough time ot be ready? When he hit poorly last year, he was hurt in his hands.
Star type guys come off the DL after extended stints and return quickly. The Cano we saw this past weekend will probably bear little resemblance to the more fine-tuned one we will see on Friday.
But, if he sputters, he needs to sit. No time in 2020 to work out the kinks over a few weeks.
Agreed on all. When he came off the DL on Sept 4, he hit .277 with 3 HR and 5 2Bs in 65 AB. He still has to show that he can continue similar production, but it's too soon to write him off.
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