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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Public Enemy Number One: Robinson Cano?!


In a game full of true ‘villains’ - cheaters and drug abusers and out-and-out criminals - an entire stadium, during an exhibition home run hitting contest that, while fun (or supposed to be) means nothing in the grand scheme of things, decided to pour its collective vitriol out on one of baseball’s best and brightest young stars.


Last year’s Home Run Derby was one of the most memorable contests in some time. Baseball is a sport with a rich history of being passed down from generation to generation. With his father on the mound, Robinson Cano launched bomb after bomb and for a moment it was as if the Cano’s were back in their backyard sharing that time-honored tradition of father-son baseball bonding. When it was all over, Cano leapt into his father’s arms victorious and every headline the next day harped on about the feel-good nature of that moment.


Flash forward a season, and both Cano’s looked as though they wanted to be anywhere but on the diamond as the ruthless Kansas City crowd cheered every Cano out mercilessly (this including his final out, the ‘gold’ ball that, when hit for a home run, turns into a charitable donation). Some fan went as far as to fly a plane over the stadium with a banner that read ‘You blew it, Cano’ in reference to his not selecting Billy Butler for his American League squad. Some fans claim their issue is not with Cano leaving Butler off but with him saying he would bring a Royals player along and going back on his word, but according to Cano, Major League Baseball wanted his selections a week before the All Star rosters were announced so he didn’t know who would be representing Kansas City at the Midsummer Classic.

Robinson Cano hugs his father after failing to hit a home run in the 2012 Home Run Derby. (Yahoo! Sports)

This whole ugly episode starts with, of all people, Billy Butler. Butler’s had himself a nice first half and was selected as an All Star reserve, meaning he will get a chance to play in the game in front of his hometown fans. You know, in the game that actually counts. It’s impossible to argue with Cano’s choice of Jose Bautista (27 home runs) and while Prince Fielder’s HR totals are low, he is a prolific home run hitter who won the contest in 2009 and can (and did) put on quite a memorable show. Mark Trumbo seems to be the player fans expected Cano to leave out in the cold, even with his 22 home runs compared to Butler’s 16. Butler’s 16 home runs, by the way, leave him 16th in the American League (not MLB, the A.L.) in that category, so Cano passed up a lot of home run hitters more deserving. Just because he happens to play in the ballpark doesn’t mean a player is entitled to a spot. And they say Yankee fans have a sense of entitlement!

While last year’s Home Run Derby was memorable for sentimental reasons, the 2008 affair at the original Yankee Stadium will always be remembered for the remarkable show Josh Hamilton put on, launching some of the longest home runs the old ballpark in the Bronx ever witnessed. Hamilton didn’t even win yet his performance will forever be remembered as one of the greatest Home Run Derby showings ever. The Yankee Stadium crowd oohed and aahed appropriately, loving every minute of the spectacular show they were watching, and guess what? Not a single Yankee participated in that Derby. The final season at historic Yankee Stadium and no Yankee participant? After last night, it’s a shock that no one rioted.

In the end, what is supposed to be a fun night that celebrates the game of baseball and the accomplishments of the first half turned into an ugly affair that did nothing but make the fans of Kansas City look bad. Prince Fielder’s eventual victory (on Robinson Cano’s American League squad that finished one, two and three in the contest) is almost an afterthought. What will be remembered about the 2012 Home Run Derby is nothing to write home about.

7 comments:

theMick said...

Perfectly articulated article. I couldn't agree more

Anonymous said...

I've been checking every day for over a year so glad you're back. Also one of my favorites you've written thus far. I would love to see your take on the first half as well and predictions for the second.

Saint Joseph School District Instructional Coaches said...

Being loyal is important in the midwest, but more important is keeping your word.
Check out what Cano spoke and then tried to weasel out of his words in the press conference just yesterday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHVSadb4l2Q
Very proud to be a KC fan

Lara Schutz said...

He said it would be the right thing to do (which I don't agree with. A nice gesture, yes. The right thing? No. Picking the most deserving players is right). And given that he had to submit his picks before the rosters were set and he didn't know who would be representing KC at the All Star Game, Cano went with what he considered to be the best team (which it clearly was). Oh and loyalty is important in New York, too.

As a KC fan, I understand being upset with Cano initially. Some good-natured ribbing and a few jeers would be par for the course. But the backlash unleashed last night was unreal. And given that every home run contributed to charity in a state ravaged by tornadoes last year, it was in especially poor taste. And I would say the same thing if the tables were turned and Butler and Cano switched places. Had it been a meaningful game or something it's a different story. But it was supposed to be a fun night for the league's biggest stars and unfortunately it turned sour.

Lara Schutz said...

That being said, @Mrs. Studer's 8th Grade RW, thank you for reading. I truly appreciate hearing from all sides and enjoy a good dialogue!

Anonymous said...

This disgusted me so much that I turned off the Derby after Cano's round and almost didn't watch the All-Star game, either. I have said time and time again, I am a baseball fan first and foremost. I have a great appreciation for the talent these players showcase day in and day out, ALL players, not just Yankees. It's something I cannot do, and pressure I would not be able to handle. Kansas City fans had no place to treat Cano so viciously. If they want to blame someone, blame MLB's front office for implementing this "captain" formula or blame their own front office for not fielding a more potent ballclub. Your team has had a losing season 17 of the last 18 years and your boos have never been louder. Your priorities a just a tad out of order. And by the way, Cano didn't "blow it." He picked three hitters that put on a show, and he'll still go home and shine his trophy from 2011.

You're an excellent writer, Lara. I hope you continue blogging. I will definitely follow you if you do. I really enjoyed reading this one.

Lara Schutz said...

@mashort07, I completely lost interest after that display, too. I couldn't agree more with your assessment.

And thank you so much for the compliment, it means a lot. I do plan on keeping up with the blog better than I have in the past so check back! I'd rather write a few lengthier pieces like this a month than a bunch of insubstantial fluff pieces every day.