Mike Blowers agrees with Scott Servais: Mariners’ Robinson Cano is an All-Star Game snub
Jul 5, 2017, 4:35 PM | Updated: 4:46 pm
Despite having 16 home runs and 60 RBIs this season, Robinson Cano is not an All-Star. (AP)
(AP)
After the initial All-Star Game rosters were announced on Sunday, Mariners manager Scott Servais was happy to know that Nelson Cruz would represent Seattle for the American League. He wasn’t happy that no other Mariners joined him on the list, though, especially Robinson Cano.
“Disappointed we didn’t have more than one (player named to the All-Star Game),” Servais told Rick Rizzs on a Mariners broadcast on 710 ESPN Seattle. “I think Robinson Cano is certainly deserving of going. He’s had an awesome first half.”
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There’s no arguing that. Cano entered Wednesday hitting .276 with a .332 on-base percentage and .492 slugging percentage, but even more impressive is that the seven-time All-Star second baseman has 17 home runs and 60 RBIs even after missing some time with a quad injury that required a stint on the disabled list.
ROOT Sports analyst and former Mariners third baseman Mike Blowers told “Bob, Groz and Tom” on Wednesday that Servais has good reason to be sticking up for Cano.
“I absolutely agree with everything he said. I think Robbie is certainly deserving to be in the All-Star Game,” Blowers said. “You look at his overall numbers … and where he ranks as far as the league goes and what he means to this team, how they’ve really struggled when he’s not in the lineup – yeah, I think he’s deserving.”
Blowers added that there’s something to be said for Servais making a point to say in public that he believes one of his players got snubbed.
“I think it means a lot,” he said. “Robbie knows that he probably should be on the club, so he doesn’t need anybody to tell him that, but I think it means a lot when you have your manager and other players on the team acknowledge that fact.”
Not all hope is lost, however. There’s still a chance Cano could be a late add to the AL’s roster, something helped by the fact that Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro could miss the game due to injury.
Blowers hit on several more topics on the Mariners, including the recent struggles at the plate for Kyle Seager and Mike Zunino, in his weekly interview with “Bob, Groz and Tom,” which you can hear in its entirety here.
