Now, That’s Stepping Up!
On August 12th of this season, I wrote:
Robinson Cano hits like Tony Womack when it comes to driving in runners. That’s not good. This seems odd – since I’m sure, in the minds of most Yankees fans, when they think “Cano” they think “line drives all over the field.” Guess what? With runners on base, it ain’t happening. When you consider how many times Cano has batted 6th or 7th for the Yankees this season, and probably will in those slots going forward, Robbie has to do better than “Womack-like” in terms of driving home base runners.
And, now, tonight, I saw this report:
2B Robinson Cano (2-for-4) batted third in the order for the first time in his career [tonight] …drove in three runs and now has 40 RBI in 36 games since being reinstated from the disabled list on 8/8, the most RBI in the Majors over that span.
OK, I’ll “sing” it:
Act like you know, Rico
I know what Bo don’t know
Touch them up and go, uh-oh!
Ch-ch-chang chang
Here comes the high-stepper……Robbie Cano.
(Yeah, I know it should be “hotstepper.” But, since I wrote on August 8th that Cano “Need(s) To Start Stepping Up For The Yankees This Season” it seemed like a lyric change was in order.)
//…now has 40 RBI in 36 games since being reinstated from the disabled list on 8/8, the most RBI in the Majors over that span.//
I read that in today’s paper and immediately thought of the post you had a few months back where you posed the question asking if the Yanks were really missing Cano. I think it’s pretty clear that he’s a solid hitter and that he makes the team better, no matter what the WPA stats said at the time (or still say, for that matter). Sometimes too many stats cloud reality…
Cano’s RISP #s:
2005: .210/.241/.363
2006: .310/.345/.524
1st Half 2006: .227/.268/.320 – 75 ABs
2nd Half 2006: .431/.456/.824 – 51 ABs
Close and Late:
2005: .286/.304/.390
2006: .359/.388/.484
I guess whatever stress was bothering him in those situations last year/earlier this year has disappeared hahaha