Thursday, September 26, 2013

An open letter to Robbie Cano

Dear Madam or Sir,

First, what a joy it's been to root for you all these years. No matter what happens, or where you go, I will always be thankful  you played for the Yankees.

Today, your blood-sucking, shark-nado agents said you want a 10-year deal for $300 million - just $30 million per season. 

Good luck with that.

If you can get it, take it. A guy gets one crack at that kind of goosh. It's OK. We get it. Money is money. That's why you're out there. To bag the green, bank the potatoes - to bathe in Lake Sheckel.  

I'd hate to see you go. 

But I'd hate more to see you be a $300 million Yankee.

If that's how much it takes to keep you in pinstripes... well...  hello, David Adams!

Listen: If you leave, you'll make a $300 million mistake. Stay, and you become the face of the Yankees, an icon of New York, and the star of a team that eventually will challenge. (Next year, we'll suck.) With a great second-baseman, we can rise in 2015.

Chase the money, and wherever you go, you'll be defined by your salary. When your team sucks - it will, eventually - you'll be the reason they couldn't buy a closer, or a catcher, or whatever. They're stuck with you, that overpriced, greedy mercenary who is wasting their money. This spring, did you see how they passed Vernon Wells around like a plate of liver? That's you in 2018 - with five years left.


Listen: In a few years, it won't seem so easy. Those pitches that almost fool you, the ones you flick for singles: they'll get caught. In a few years, the game will speed up, and the ball will shrink. Ask Ichiro. In a few years, that two-week groin pull will become a season-ender. Do you really want to be baseball's richest player? Be careful what you ask for.

Robbie Cano, doncha go! I hope you stay a Yankee. But I'm tired of watching high-priced stars limp to the finish line. It is killing the Yankees, and - trust me on this - it is wearing out their fans.

Want the money? Get the money. We'll miss you. But we're in fourth with you, and we can finish fourth without you. Good luck. Thanks for 2009. Where's Corbin Joseph?

4 comments:

Mike said...

I should up and just say "Amen, Duque", but I have to say this: Robinson Cano is probably as talented a second baseman as I have ever seen, and yet I just cannot fathom the idea of paying $300 million to a man who often (at least from my admittedly distant perspective) chooses not to run out ground balls. Immediately after you hit a grounder, the only thing you can control is the effort you put into getting to first base before the baseball arrives there. I may be missing something important due to only having seen the man play on television; perhaps he goes at full strength every time. I also may have been spoiled by watching Derek and (yes) Alex and a few others run with as much power as they could muster what seems like every time. But that's a pretty good way to be spoiled.

Cano (if I remember right) bunted for a double a week or so ago. The man (as we all know) can make things happen. He's extremely talented and I'd miss him if he left. But yeah: let someone else pay the man $300M, say thanks for the memories, and try to catch Willie Randolph in a bottle (and while you're at it, try to catch Brian Doyle, too).

So, yeah: amen, Duque.

KD said...

I will miss Robbie's talent but not his attitude. seen him in person at least 100 times and it is the same show as on the tube. he makes some kind of calculation concerning his odds of being safe, and expends effort accordingly. anyone remember the time Joe made him sit for a few games due to his dogging it? That's Robbie in a nutshell.

good luck with those big dollar dreams, Robbie, but you were never really a true Yankee in my eyes.

JM said...

Cano's problem is that he's too talented and he knows it. So much comes easily to him that he doesn't have to try as hard as many others, so too many times he doesn't bother. He's always been that way, though I do remember him working on his defense some years ago because he was told it wasn't good enough and he had to shape up.

It's the pretty girl syndrome. People are so nice to you, guys buy you drinks all the time even when you're not particularly nice to them, you think it's normal. And then the wrinkles start to come...

Alvaro Espinosa said...

I agree.