WHEN Derek Jeter was asked about Robinson Cano getting pulled because of a lack of hustle in the fourth inning of the Yankees’ 8-4 win over the Rays yesterday, his only comment was: “I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
With all due respect to the Yankees’ captain, he’s wrong. It might be a while before Cano is pulled again from a game for doggin’ it, but he will dog it again because he simply doesn’t get it.
He doesn’t understand what it is to play hard on every play in every game because he thinks he does just that even though there have been far too many times this season when he hasn’t. Ground balls rolling under his glove, botched double plays and indifference on the base paths have come to be expected at least once or twice a game.
“Sometimes it doesn’t look like I’m playing hard, but that’s the way I play,” Cano said.
Cano’s crime yesterday came in the fourth inning when former Met Cliff Floyd hit a ground ball between first and second base. First baseman Jason Giambi lunged to his right, his glove deflecting the ball past Cano, who was charging toward first. But as the ball slowly rolled to the outfield, Cano elected not to give chase. He stopped and waited for Xavier Nady to run in from right-field to retrieve the ball. By then, a hustling Floyd was standing on second.
It didn’t cost the Yankees a run, but manager Joe Girardi pulled Cano between innings, a move he should have made weeks ago.
“That’s a ball you have to get to and keep Cliff Floyd from getting to second,” Girardi said.
Maybe the manager is sending a message for next year, that a lack of hustle will not be tolerated. But I doubt that message registers with Cano. If he hasn’t gotten the message by now, he won’t ever get it. Here’s a guy who has played nearly three full seasons next to a player who is going to the Hall of Fame primarily because of his hustle: Jeter. You would think something would have rubbed off by now.
Cano had the best seat in the house yesterday when the Yankee shortstop, singled, doubled and homered in his first three at-bats to tie the legendary Lou Gehrig for the most hits ever at Yankee Stadium. The fifth-inning home run off a 2-2 slider from Rays rookie left-hander David Price was the epitome of Jeter’s career. It was clutch, dramatic, and timely.
It came on a nine-pitch at-bat with Jeter fouling off pitches until he got something he could hit, winning the battle by slamming a slider over the right-field wall to give the Yankees a 7-3 lead. The sellout crowd, knowing it had witnessed history, stood on its feet, applauding for a curtain call until Jeter stepped out of the dugout to tip his cap. It was a goose bump moment.
The Yankees’ streak of 13 consecutive postseason appearances will soon end, but Jeter is playing like it’s October, going 9-for-11 in the three-game series with the Rays. How does Cano not understand that’s the way you have to play every day?
Truth is Cano has more natural talent than Jeter. Blessed with a smooth swing and soft hands, Cano has fluidity to his game that sometimes makes his play seem effortless. But then there are times, too many times, when a lack of effort is glaring.
Playing next to Jeter every day, you’d think Cano would want what Jeter has: a career linked to Yankee legends like Gehrig and Babe Ruth, the adoration of fans and respect of opposing players.