Mariners: Don’t Temper Expectations for Cano
By Ben Renner
Don’t let Robinson Cano’s awful first half in 2015 taint your expectations of him and the Mariners this year.
Heading into last season, Robinson Cano and the Mariners had big expectations. Cano floundered in the first half of the season, and the Mariners flopped, going 76-86 and finishing fourth in the American League West. Cano rebounded in the second half and finished with respectable numbers. Still, heading into this season, most fans don’t really know what to make of him. Should we expect more? The same? Less?
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We should expect the same level of production from the Mariners $240 million man this year as last year, only without the awful slump to start the season. Cano was the best second baseman in the majors for nearly a decade with the Yankees, and just because he came to Seattle on a huge contract over the age of 30 doesn’t mean he can’t still get it done.
It doesn’t take a genius fielding expert to see that Cano has lost some range at second base and it’s tough to predict more than the 21 home runs he cranked last year for the Mariners in 2016 because of the ballpark he’ll play 82 games in this year, his age, and possibly a different plate approach. But, this man rebounded from a terrible first half to finish with a .287 average in 2015.
Cano’s dealt with a stomach ailment last year that led to double hernia surgery. He said in a recent interview that he had days when he felt like he couldn’t play the game anymore because of the pain and discomfort. He says he’s fully healthy now. You’ve heard the “best shape of my life” talk before, but if Cano is actually fully recovered and healthy heading into this season, look out.
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Cano will kill it this year. Pay no attention to former Mariners outfield coach Andy Van Slyke calling him the “most awful player” he’s seen. Yes, he was bad in the first half last year, but if he can put up the numbers he did in the final three months of the 2015 for six months in 2016, he’ll be an MVP candidate. Look out.