AL wins ASG in 10, 2-1, on Cano HR.

Current Seattle Mariner and ex-Yankee Robbie Cano homered in the top of the 10th to lead the AL to a 2-1 win in the All Star Game.

The game doesn’t count anymore for home field advantage in the WS. That honor will go to who had the best record. IMO, that’s the way it always should have been, but hasn’t been.

Luis Severino didn’t get to pitch in the game. Dellin Betances went 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K. He pitched the third inning, got into trouble (2 WP as well) but got out of it.

Aaron Judge went 0 for 3 as a starter, and Gary Sanchez, a backup, went 0 for 2. Sanchez was charged with a PB.

Starlin Castro was named an All-Star reserve, but had to be replaced (by Cano) because of injury.

The AL had gotten a run in the fifth on an RBI single by the Twins’ Miguel Sano. The Cardinals’ Yadier Molina homered in the sixth.

The Indians’ bench coach, Brad Mills, had to manage the AL because Indians’ manager Terry Francona is recovering from a heart procedure.

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Game 90. Cano, M’s edge Yanks, 4-3.

From 2005-2013, Yankees fans saw Robbie Cano win a lot of games FOR the New York Yankees. According to WAR, he was their best player in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Today, Yankees fans saw Robbie Cano BEAT the New York Yankees. Cano hit two two-run homers off of Michael Pineda to lead Seattle to a 4-3 win. The loss drops the Yanks to 49-41 and decreased the AL East lead to 3 1/2 games.

Cano hit the first of his two-run home runs in the top of the first. Brian McCann tied it up for the Yanks with a two-run blast of his own, #15 on the season, in the fourth, but Cano’s second two-run dinger, hit in the sixth, proved to be the game winner.

The Yanks had a shot in the bottom of the ninth. Teixeira led off the inning with a double, and after McCann struck out, Headley also struck out but reached on a wild pitch, Teixeira moving up to third. Chris Young pinch-ran for Headley and a groundout by Garrett Jones plated a run, Young moving up to second. Didi Gregorius then grounded out to end the game.

I find it very interesting that Didi was allowed to hit there. This could be very telling as to what the Yankees think of Stephen Drew right now. Yes, a base hit there with Didi ties the game, and Didi is hitting 56 points higher than Drew (.238 to .182). But a HR there wins the game, and even if Drew had gotten just a single to tie it, it would be no trouble having Drew go in at SS. Drew, despite the .182 average, does have 12 HR, and 23 of his 45 hits are for extra bases. Didi has just 4 HR, and 16 of his 66 hits are for extra bases. I just found it peculiar that manager Girardi decided not to go for it with a possible PH GW HR by Drew there. Maybe it is a telling sign, maybe not.

Before the game, the Yankees sent down Bryan Mitchell to get stretched out. They brought up Brandon Pinder.

Pineda (L, 9-6, 3.77) 6 IP, 4 R, 2 walks, 2 K.
Shreve 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 1.93
Warren 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, `1 H, 1 walk and 2 K. 3.60.

Game 87. Yanks lose, 5-3.

Ivan Nova has pitched decently (3.42 ERA) since his return from TJ surgery, but with some hard luck. He fell to 1-3 last night with the help of some fielding miscues as well as not enough hitting as the Yanks lost to Boston 5-3.

The Yanks still have a 3-game lead in the AL East.

A-Rod got the scoring started by homering (18, #672 career) in the first. Boston tied it in the third with the help of a throwing error by Yanks backup C John Ryan Murphy.

Nova gave up a two-run HR to Hanley Ramirez in the fourth. 3-1 Boston.

Jacoby Ellsbury, who had three hits in the game, homered (2) in the sixth to cut it to 3-2.

In the seventh, Adam Warren was one strike away from getting out of the inning and stranding a baserunner when Chris Young misplayed a fly ball into a run scoring triple. Boston got a run on this and another run later in the inning to break the game open a bit. 5-2.

Brett Gardner’s RBI double in the eighth made it 5-3.

Down to their last out, and with the tying run at the plate, Brian McCann’s deep flyball wasn’t pulled enough, and went into the “triangle” at Fenway, where it was caught for the final out of the game. If he had pulled it a little….

Rob Refsnyder was 0 for 3 in his MLB debut.

Nova (L, 1-3, 3.42) 6 2/3 IP, 4 R, 8 H, 0 walks and 3 K.
Warren 0 Ip, 1 R, 2 h, 1 walk and 0 K. 3.57. 3 batters, no outs.
Shreve 1/3 IP, 0 H, 1 h, 1 walk and 1 K. 2.02
Mitchell 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 2.89.

Today is the last game before the all-star break. The Yanks will then resume on Friday at home vs. Seattle. By the way, you have seen how poorly Robbie Cano is doing this year, haven’t you?

Game 64. T-time. Tanaka, Teixeira lead Yanks to 4-2 win.

Masahiro Tanaka had a shutout for 8 1/3, and wound up with a 4-2 complete-game victory. He improved his record to 10-1, and his ERA remained at 2.02.

Tanaka’s bid for a shutout was ruined when Robbie Cano hit a 2-run HR with one out in the 9th.

Tanaka went 9, 2 R, 6 H, 1 walk and 11 K.

Tanaka leads the majors in wins (10) and winning pct. (.909). He leads the AL in ERA (2.02), CG (2), and WHIP (.940).

He became the first Yanks’ rookie to win 10 in a season since El Duque in 1998.

The Yanks offense didn’t help much, but just enough. For the twelfth consecutive game, the Yanks’ offense scored fewer than five runs.

The Yanks got a run in the third on an Ellsbury single, and then the big blow, a 3-run HR by Teixeira in the fifth.

Teixeira’s HR was his 11th of the season and #352 of his career.

The win improved the Yanks’ record to 33-31. They are tied with the Orioles for 2nd in the AL East, 4 1/2 behind Toronto. They are 1/2 game out of the last WC spot.

Derek Jeter got two hits and is now at 3374 for his career.

Before the game, the Yanks DFA’d Wade LeBlanc and brought back David Huff from SF for cash considerations. They activated Shawn Kelley off the DL and sent down Matt Daley.

I must admit, I don’t understand the Huff move. He was there last year, and was 3-1, 4.67 in eleven games (ERA+ 87). He wasn’t doing that well with SF either, 1-0, 6.30 in sixteen games of relief. For his career, 22-27, 5.38, ERA+ 75.

For what it’s worth, Boone Logan is struggling with Colorado. 1-1, 5.87, ERA+ 74.

Cano returns tonight/McCann needs to get hot

Robbie Cano returns to Yankee Stadium for the first time as a visiting player as the Yanks host Seattle tonight.

Jimmy Fallon did a funny skit where Yankees’ fans booed a huge cardboard cutout of Cano, then Cano himself stepped out from behind the cutout.

Cano should expect some boos tonight. What he did was a business decision, and quite frankly, it’s hard to argue against taking a 10-yr., $240MM deal. But to say the Yanks “disrespected” him? I wish I was “disrespected” with a 7-yr., $170-175MM offer. Sorry, Robbie, let Seattle pay you $24MM a year at ages 38-40. I won’t.

Cano has been doing ok, but the HR are down, as expected. Safeco isn’t Yankee Stadium. Robbie is at .301-1-11 heading into tonight. OPS+ 114. Good but not $240MM/10 yr. good.

The Yanks needed to fill a bunch of holes this offseason, and if they did give Cano the extra $$ he wanted, would they then have been able to get Ellsbury, Tanaka, Beltran and McCann? Probably not.

Now Ellsbury has been good,  .312-0-11 and 8/10 in SB. His D has been great (he saved a run Saturday in the Yanks’ 4-3 win).  His two triples lead the majors. OPS+ 124. Solid.

Beltran the same. Good so far. 5 HR leads the team. 13 RBI tied with Solarte (!) for the team lead.  .275, OPS+ 133.

Tanaka has been great. 3-0, 2.27.  Five starts, 35 2/3 IP, an average of over 7 a start. 46 K/6 walks. ERA+ 185. An ace.

Which brings us to the fourth big free agent signing the Yanks made this offseason.

McCann.

McCann needs to get it going. Signed to be a middle of the order presence, McCann is at just .235-3-9 after 25 games. OPS+ 79. Two of the three HR and three of the nine RBI came in one game. His lefty pull-hitter bat was expected to do more than that.

The jury is still out on Jeter, who’s been ok, but whose OPS+ of 90 reveals (so far) that at almost 40, the power may not be there anymore (only three of his 21 hits are for extra bases) and the Jeter we remember who used to be good for about 20 SB/yr. hasn’t even attempted one yet. You wonder, after that ankle injury, how many SB Derek will even attempt this year. The jury is still out on Teixeira also. He missed two weeks of this year. Recent HRs against Boston and Sunday night against the Angels are encouraging but it’s early.

The Yanks are 15-10, and in first place by 2 1/2. Three of the four big free agents have done well so far.

But for the Yanks to be a better team, that fourth big free agent signing (McCann) has to get it going and become the middle of the lineup presence we thought he would be. From 2006-2013, McCann averaged 131 g./yr., .277-21-80, OPS+ 118. Posada-type numbers.

Yankees fans hope he gets to those numbers. So far it’s been a slow start. Here’s hoping he turns it on, starting tonight.

 

Since when is Robbie Cano Rodney Dangerfield?

So Robbie Cano at his press conference insinuates that he didn’t get any respect from the Yankees?

$170 MM over 7 years is no respect? Since when did Robbie Cano turn into Rodney Dangerfield?

I wish I was shown such disrespect.

Eat my shorts, Robbie.

Meanwhile, apparently Boone Logan is close to signing with Colorado.

Hello, Goodbye. A busy day for the Yankees.

Yesterday, the Yanks introduced their new catcher, Brian McCann. They hope he will add to the great Yankees tradition of Dickey, Berra, Howard, Munson and Posada.

Today, they wave goodbye to maybe the best Yankees second baseman of them all, Robbie Cano. It’s arguable who is best, Lazzeri, Gordon or Cano. Willie Randolph is probably a notch below.

Cano accepted a $240MM, 10 yr. deal with Seattle today.

I just can’t see it. You are paying a middle infielder (who probably won’t be playing that key position after the age of 37) $24 MM at the age of 40? Really? Would Robbie’s talents really translate that well to DH or 1B?

As I wrote earlier this week and wanted you to think about, and think about hard,

ROBBIE CANO PRICED HIMSELF OUT OF THE BRONX.

Read that sentence a few times. Let it soak in a little.  Can you think of any player, EVER, that would price himself off of the Yankees. The Yankees?

But that Cano did. Enjoy Seattle, Robbie. You may have kissed Monument Park goodbye. Not to mention Cooperstown.

As Steve Miller sang, ‘”Take the Money and Run.”

It’s all about the buck. Forget about being a team player. Forget that a 7 year, $170MM deal is more than fair. It was all about getting a tenth year. Heck, Seattle thought they had a 9 yr., $225 MM deal all wrapped up, when Jay-Z (ugh) wanted a tenth year and $250MM. Seattle’s owner balked, then caved in.

Let’s think about this.

Yes, the Yanks grossly overpaid for Ellsbury. The Red Sox’ deal w/Crawford was bad, $142MM for 7 years. So the Yanks gave Ellsbury, a similar type player, a $153MM deal for 7 years. More than Crawford. Ummm….

But let’s do some math, here. Cano by himself, 10 years, $240MM.

McCann $85MM for 5 years (option for 6 takes deal to $100MM) and Ellsbury for 7 years at $135MM means $220 MM. $20 MM LESS than what Cano signed for.

Cano for McCann and Ellsbury… at $20MM less.

You can’t put all your eggs in Robbie’s basket. The Yanks have more holes to fill. They could best do that by letting Robbie go. (We won’t get into A-Rod’s deal.)

The Yanks filled depth by signing Kelly Johnson to a 1 year deal, relatively cheap. He can play 2B, hit .235-16-52 last year for the Rays. He could take over at 2B, play 3B, LF, but I see him more as a utility guy.

They also re-signed Kuroda to a one-year deal at $16MM.

Then they made a splash, signing Carlos Beltran to play RF for 3 years (they didn’t want to go there but did) at $45MM.

So now you have an excellent defensive OF of Gardner in LF, Ellsbury in CF and Beltran in RF. Soriano moves to DH.

Some are suggesting Soriano, who started his career at 2B, go back there. Um, NO! He will be 38 next year and hasn’t played 2B since 2005.

BTW, Beltran has 358 career HR—–the same number as Yogi Berra.

You can see a big deal coming, hopefully for pitching. Right now, Ichiro and Wells are backup outfielders. I would rather keep Ichiro, but with two lefty hitters in Gardner and Ellsbury, and a switch-hitter in Beltran, he may be expendable. I hate Wells, but he is the one who could be kept for his lefty bat.

Some think Gardner may be dealt. If so, only to the Reds in a package deal for Brandon Phillips, who would take over second base. You could package a catcher in the deal along w/Gardner. The Reds are losing leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo to free agency. Gardner fills a need for a new leadoff hitter. The Reds lost a catcher this week, sending one to the Rays. The Yanks have catching depth behind McCann with Cervelli, Romine, Murphy and Sanchez. Gardner and one of the catchers could be a starting point to get Phillips to replace Cano.

Of course, Johnson could be at 2B, or could go to 3b. But it seems more likely that a trade could be done for Phillips, or the Yanks could be zeroing in on Omar Infante to play second.

Pitching is the key to the kingdom, however, and after re-signing Kuroda, the Yanks still have two rotation spots to fill after CC, Nova and Kuroda. The #5 spot could be a competition between Pineda, Phelps, Warren and Nuno. You could also sign someone like Roy Halladay or Johan Santana to a minor-league deal to see what each has left after major injuries set both back recently (think Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon a few years back, low-risk, high-reward). Matt Garza would be a nice addition for the 4 spot. Of course, I’d prefer Tanaka, but will he be posted at all? Plus, if there will be the $20MM cap for the posting fee, that means his salary then counts against the cap, hurting the Yankees.

Then there is the bullpen. Mo is gone, Logan probably too, and Joba. Some holes there as well.

Will Cano be missed? Sure. But by NOT putting all your eggs in Cano’s basket, you can fill other holes.

The A-Rod deal was a mistake. Both by Texas (original deal) and by the Yankees (renegotiated deal). The Pujols deal will be a bad one. Maybe the Ellsbury deal as well. As also Prince Fielder.

Yay for Robbie for getting the deal. I’d probably take it too. But as for legacy, as I wrote, Monument Park and maybe Cooperstown are maybe no more.

Expect to be walked and pitched around a lot in that lineup, Robbie.

But by not putting all their eggs in Cano’s basket, the Yanks filled other needs.

There will be more moves coming (for example, with the Brendan Ryan and Kelly Johnson deals, Nunez is probably on the block). Pitching needs must be met.

But by NOT caving in Cano, the Yanks can fill more holes than just Robbie, and that may help them get back to the postseason and World Series quicker.

It’s one thing to take the $$$. It’s another to be a team player, recognize that more holes need to be filled to make you a champion again and accept a very fair offer.

In the end, it was all about Robbie (as it is for most players). Robbie’s dad, Jose, mentioned that the Yanks weren’t showing his son much love.

I only wish I was shown 7 years and $170MM of love.

Enjoy Seattle, Robbie. You were great, maybe the best Yankees’ second baseman ever.

Yes, the Yanks probably overpaid for Ellsbury.

But you priced yourself out of the Bronx with your greed, and to that I can only say:

Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.