No wonder he jogs to first base ...

... he is exhausted from working the night shift at the factory:

"You are not the only one who has seen Robinson Cano jog to first base, exerting a tepid effort that harms his reputation and, perhaps, his earning power?
Joe Girardi and his coaches reveal scores of appeals to Cano about how bad the visual looks — both to the fans and to impressionable younger Yankees — and that it is, quite frankly, not the way any major leaguer should play.
Yet the same folks disappointed in this aspect of Cano’s game nevertheless vouch for his work ethic, commitment to winning and belief that a lucrative long-term contract would not diminish either of those elements."

I don't doubt that Cano spends a lot of time in the batting cages.

You and I would consider that "recreation," but in the rarefied air of a pro athlete, I suppose that could qualify as a "work ethic."

I see no indication that he takes his craft seriously.  Situational hitting, base running, straddling the bag on throws from the catcher, all the things I learned in Little League.


"It is the Cano disconnect — the player not trying hard, except he is. The guy giving off a terrible impression in public, doing the opposite behind closed doors for his teammates. The loafer with impeccable work habits."

I just think you're sort of diminishing the meaning of the word "work."


" 'When he hits a groundball to the second baseman or shortstop, I know what it looks like,' Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long said. 'I get it. I know it is part of the perception. He’s been talked to a million times about it. But I am telling you that is not a true picture of how hard he works or cares, and so if that is his only downfall, it is not the worst thing in the world.' ”

1) Perception is reality.

2) It "looks like" he is jogging to first base because he "is" jogging to first base.

3) If he has been talked to a million times about it, and he refuses to change, then someone needs to be fired ... or Cano needs to be benched for insubordination.


"Ask those around the team and different theories abound:
1. This is just the way the game is now — you have players who don’t always go hard at every moment."  Every moment?  How about nevery moment?


 "2. He is trying to preserve his body. Reggie Jackson used to say he could dive for an extra 10 balls a year in right field or bat 600 times, you can’t have both and which do you want? This theory holds that Cano knows his body and over-extending on what is a routine out 499 out of 500 times doesn’t make sense in risk-reward."  It's more like 49 out of 50 times and Professor Reggie Jackson's analysis is completely wrong.  No one is demanding a player ruin his body by recklessly crashing into walls.  Run 90 feet one time in your entire career.  Then make it a habit.


"3. Cano is so smooth and graceful that — like a prime-aged Carlos Beltran — he does not look like he is giving full effort, even when he is."  Ever notice how Cano almost never makes a diving stop at second base?  Maybe once or twice per season.  It is an impossibility that this is because he has fewer opportunities to do so.  It's because he refuses to dive for a ball and alligator-arms it rather than strain himself.

He does not makes hard plays look easy.  He makes easy plays look hard.


 "4. His frustration gets the best of him when he rolls a ball over. Paul O’Neill — who George Steinbrenner dubbed “The Warrior” for his intensity — used to jog to first after hitting routine grounders, so angry was he with wasting an at-bat. He nevertheless was beloved. Cano is not in nearly the same way. Is this about championships? Skin color? Something else?"  Abreu on the warning track would be a better parallel than O'Neill.

I think Cano always acts like he knows what's going to happen on every play.  It's why he almost gets pegged at second base on doubles.  It's why he has never taken an extra base in nine years.  It's why he pauses so long before throwing the ball to first base.   It's why he inexplicably puts the bat on his shoulder when he knows he's going to take a pitch -- as if the physical act of holding a baseball bat upright away from his body is too much of a strain.


We're all wasting our mental energy on this topic, anyway.  Comparing this guy to O'Neill and Jackson, for crying out loud ... O'Neill and Jackson would run through a brick wall to win a baseball game

Run to first base and all then there is no reason for these complaints and apologetic theories

It's only 90 feet.