Yankeetorial: Cano’s hitting .500, but is he giving 1.000?

Once upon a time, famous shortstops symbolized the differences betweeen the Yanks and Redsocks.

Derek Jeter stood as the heart and soul of the World Champion Yankees. Nomar Garciaparra put up fine numbers with the comfy-cozy, also-ran Redsocks.

These days, the teams are characterized by their secondbasemen.

Wincing, everybody?

On their side, Dustin Pedroia battles every at bat, dirties his uniform every game, and plays like his dick is the size of a trailer hitch.

On our side is Robbie Cano.

For the record, in November, we hoped Robbie would be gone by now. He has squandered the best years of his baseball career, lounging around second base like a hooker at a Shriner convention. He watches more games than Michael Kay. After he pondered the ball that rolled into right field last year, ending our long, cruel season, we should have bought him a ticket to Scranton and left him in the coal museum with a lit stick of dynamite.

Well, we kept him. They say Robbie lost weight and has recommitted himself to the game. Maybe he stared into the glass and saw himself someday playing for Ottawa on an April night when the wind-chill hits minus 5. Maybe he wised up.

We hope so.

But here is the truth, or the best attempt at it we have to offer:

The Redsocks will probably have better numbers from their secondbasemen this year. But they better not be getting more effort.

If Robbie thinks the publicity over Arod, or our expensive free agents, or the new Stadium, or injuries, or whatever -- if he thinks they'll provide cover for him to loaf one day -- for him squander more of our time -- nope: he is wrong.

The Yankiverse gave him one more chance.

We must form a united front:

From now on, we don’t care what Cano hits. His average could be .500. Hell with him. Unless he gives 100 percent, unless he's ready to play hard every game, all the time... we want Cody Ransom out there.

We will not be out-hustled. Are you listening, Robbie?