WHY WE NEED TO RELAX & ENJOY THE CANO SHOW

SECOND BASE

One complication about making this all-time list is that some players are still playing, and while it is extremely tempting to project career numbers, this simply is not fair. To be fair, you can only

look at the statistics a player has actually accumulated.

Baseball history is littered with players that put up Hall of Fame numbers for several years and then just collapse. In fact, as this list now moves to second basemen, two players in recent history come to my mind that have done just that: Carlos Baerga and Edgar Alfonzo. Early in their careers, both looked destined for the Hall of Fame, but both came up way short
of earning a plaque in Cooperstown. Ironically, both played for the New York Mets. Even more ironic, both players through age 27 had very similar career statistics compared to the current Yankee second baseman, Robinson Cano.
(Photo: Daily News)
#3: Now, Robinson Cano certainly has the tools to earn a plaque in Cooperstown, but
let’s give him time to earn it. I’m just being cautious, we know his ability. His 2009 & 2010 seasons were amazing. But in 2008, his numbers were average. Cano is now 28 and is entering the prime of his career. He has the potential to be put up there with the best of the best ever to
play 2nd base. At the end of his career we may be comparing Cano with Rogers Hornsby, Joe Morgan (annoying he is as a broadcaster, but a great player), and Roberto Alomar. But that's kind of jumping ahead. As of now, he is number 3 on this list.

Second base has always been for the “little brother” of the infield. He may hit for average, but never for power. The arm is weak when compared to the shortstop and third baseman. But Robinson Cano is NOT your father or grandfather’s 2nd baseman.(Photo: Getty)
Cano provides protection in the batting order for Alex Rodriguez, the projected all-time home run king. Cano has a lifetime average over .300 and has averaged over 20 homers and 90 RBIs a season.

His range playing 2nd is outstanding and is only topped by his throwing arm. Frequently today’s players are given the title as “best ever”, but he truthfully may have the “best ever” arm of anyone that has ever played 2nd base.

Robinson Cano was named after another man to play second base in a borough of New York, Jackie Robinson. Cano wears #24, Jackie’s #42 reversed, as a tribute to him. Mariano Rivera currently wears #42 for the Yankees and will be the last player to ever wear #42 in the Major
Leagues. FACT: On April 15, 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier, #42 was retired throughout MLB. However, any player currently wearing the number at that time could continue to do so until they retire. Mo is the last left of these players.

(Photo: SI)
I am very interested to see how Robinson responds to carrying more and more of the offensive load as Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Jorge Posada grow older. That is going to be Cano’s true test—how he responds to being “the man”. If he’s half “the man” as his double play partner, he will be quite “the man”. But as for now, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the Cano Show.


--Moonlight Graham BYB Staff Writer




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