Robinson Cano explains new view of Mariners in Year 4 with team
Mar 2, 2017, 6:00 AM | Updated: 10:05 am
Robinson Cano says he's become a better leader than he was with the Yankees. (AP)
(AP)
When Robinson Cano was a New York Yankee and saw the Mariners on the schedule, he had a specific idea of how the series would go.
“We play four games, we’re gonna win three,” Cano told “Brock and Salk” Wednesday from the Peoria Sports Complex. “The only one we’re going to lose is because Felix (Hernandez) is pitching. I’m being serious. He has to go 120 pitches, nine innings to win a game. If they’d bring him out in the seventh, eighth inning, you know something can happen. Especially when we come to Seattle.”
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Cano, who is starting his fourth year with the Mariners, says the script has changed in Seattle, and that he expects a jump from a group he said played “really good” in 2016.
The Mariners’ expectations have been high ever since 2014, when Cano signed a 10-year, $240 million contract that would keep the All-Star second baseman in Seattle until he’s 40. After a good first year and rough second season, Cano had a resurgent 2016 campaign, slugging a career-best 39 home runs and posting a .290/.350/.533 slash line.
Cano credited manager Scott Servais and the coaching staff for pushing for players’ personalities to shine. Cano said he is having fun, describing the excitement of the Wild Card race last season as among the top five favorite moments of his career.
To that end, Cano was asked about stories out of New York over the past few years that indicated Cano wasn’t happy in Seattle and/or regretted his decision to leave the Bronx.
His response: “They say that because I wasn’t doing good. That doesn’t say I’m not happy. I wasn’t happy in ’08 when I didn’t start the first half really good in New York. I mean, this is what I always say: I love baseball. This is a major league team, so we’re in the big leagues. The way I’ve been treated by fans, owners, front office, managers, I mean, it’s been really good. I love to be here and I love what Jerry (Dipoto)’s doing – putting the pieces together so this team can win a championship.”
Adding to the fun is the major acquisition from this offseason: shortstop Jean Segura. Cano and Segura have been friends for years.
“I told him, at first you will be around me so you get to know everyone and then leave me alone, please,” Cano joked. “… He’s a great, great kid. One thing that I love about him, he listens. I think as players, when you listen, you can get far in this game.”
Along with introducing Segura to the fun-loving gang, Cano said he’s grown personally since coming to Seattle. He said he considers himself a better leader than when he arrived from the Yankees.
“Now I have more time here; now I know where I’m going, I know where I have to go, I know everyone in here,” he said. “And then the thing that Scott is doing, you get to know everyone.
“Our goal is guys to feel comfortable, part of the family, help us to win games,” he said. “Knowing there’s time to joke around, there’s time to do whatever you want, there’s time when you have to focus and play the game.”
Other highlights from the conversation:
His view of the media: “This is the way I look at the media side: You guys have a job to do. Sometimes as a human being – not a player, but a human being – sometimes you don’t want to talk. You go home, you see your family: ‘Hey, hello,’ then you go to your room, use your phone or lay down, you don’t want to talk to people. But I understand that we’ve got to take a moment to talk to the media every day because that’s their job and I think the only way as a player, we’ll get mad when there’s like rumors that are not true. But besides that, I don’t mind to talk to the media. … I would say, if you are nice to the media, they will be nice to you.”
On his natural ability: “Honestly, I don’t do anything to work on my hands. … I’ve been blessed that I’m able to play this game that is so relaxed, not try and do too much, just be myself. Because I think this game, if you be yourself, you learn what kind of player you are. You’re always going to be in your comfort zone no matter the situation.”
On what to expect from Felix Hernandez: “Honestly, physically he looks really good. Way different guy. I saw him pitch yesterday, his feet was moving really good. His fastball was there. I hope everything goes well for him.”
On not planning to retire anytime soon: “No, no, no, no no, not yet. Whenever the time, I don’t want to say after this contract or before or whatever. Whenever the time comes, I’m gonna be ready to go home. That’s why I try to give this game so much and it’s not even – I don’t want to talk about that yet.”
On Seattle’s offseason trades: “I would say most of the trades that Jerry made this offseason – pretty impressive.”
