Maybe he wore a black knit cap because it was cold in the ice cream store in December.

"The Yankees don't often put their faith in an untested 22-year-old player." Except for the times they do.

"But Robinson Cano was thrust into the lineup last May and charged with helping change the look of a team that was unexpectedly too old and slow to contend.

The second baseman responded well, hitting .297 with 14 homers and 62 RBI as the Yankees finished atop the AL East. Cano was the youngest Yankee regular since 1996, when 22-year-old Derek Jeter became the shortstop." Who just happened to be an untested 22-year-old in whom the Yankees put their faith.

I don't want to make too big a deal out of Abraham's assertion, but the Yankees absolutely have a history of putting faith in young players. Maybe not as young as 22 -- how many 22-year-olds are starters in the bigs? -- but the Yankees have put their faith in a truckload of untested 24- and 25-year-olds.


But that's not really the point. The point is that Cashman's faith in Cano's baseball-playing ability is clearly misplaced because Cano wears knit caps and talks on cell phones:

"General manager Brian Cashman has since declared Cano to be an all-but-untouchable chip in the trade market.

But is that faith misplaced?

Cano didn't look — or act — much like the fresh-faced rookie who captivated the Bronx during an appearance at the Last Licks sports memorabilia and ice cream shop yesterday.

Sporting a beard and wearing a black knit cap pulled down near his eyes, he rushed through hundreds of autographs that eager fans paid $50 each for. At one point, Cano was on his cell phone, ignoring fans who wanted a handshake or picture taken. But the autographs kept flowing.

Officials from Last Licks promised during the week that Cano would be available for a brief interview. But Cano twice ignored requests to speak to a reporter."

First of all, what exactly is an "official from Last Licks"? Did Cookie Puss put on a suit and tie and hold a press conference?

Secondly, when Cano "twice ignored requests to speak to a reporter," which reporter would that be? By chance, would that reporter be Peter Abraham?

I mean, aren't you the only reporter in the place? Or did CNN and the BBC send correspondents down to Last Licks in Scarsdale for the big Robinson Cano autograph session?

Let's see if I can piece together what happened here. Peter Abraham showed up at an autograph session for kids and twice yelled out, "Hey, Robinson!" and was ignored. Feeling dejected and sad, Abraham returned to his computer and took out his passive-aggressive feelings of rejection. Robinson Cano is a poo-poo head whose car screeched away and his friend wore sunglasses even though he was inside at the time. I hate Robinson Cano.

That's the Essence of Sportswriting right there. Next time, buy the reporter a hot fudge sundae and he'll write something nice about you.