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Robinson Cano has finally fired back at Andy Van Slyke for pointed comments the former Mariners coach made last November about Seattle's $240 million second baseman.
Talking to 710 ESPN Seattle's "Brock and Salk" in an interview that will air Friday morning, Cano shared a telling story about a discussion he had with Van Slyke last season regarding shortstop Brad Miller.
Related: Latest news, photos, video and more from Mariners spring training
"I want to say one thing that I never say. There's one time I had this conversation with Brad Miller," said Cano. "I say, 'Hey, Miller, I think you can be a leadoff (hitter) and sometimes you can help us if you're hitting second if you could take a pitch for us hitting behind you ... We can see what was the movement was on that pitch."
Two days later, Cano said he had the following exchange with Van Slyke:
"Andy came into my locker. 'Hey, I wanna talk to you.' I said, 'Oh, yeah, go ahead, Andy, what's up?' He was like, 'I'm gonna play the bad guy.' I said, 'Bad guy of what? What happened?' (Van Slyke said) 'I know you talked to Miller, but I mean, you know, he's a guy that you cannot say anything.' I said, 'I didn't say anything to him. I just said what is good for the team.' He said, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it, but when it comes to hitting don't talk to him.' I said, 'That's how you feel like it, perfect.' After that day..."
It's certainly curious that Van Slyke told Cano, a six-time All-Star with a career .307 batting average, to not give a young player hitting tips. It's also an interesting insight into the previous coaching staff's handling of Miller, who hit .258 in 2015 while converting into a utility player then was one of the first players traded in the offseason by new Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto.
On St. Louis' CBS Sports Radio 920 in November, Van Slyke blamed Cano and his below-average 2015 season for the firings of general manager Jack Zduriencik, manager Lloyd McClendon and other members of the coaching staff. He also called Cano, whose batting average dipped as low as .236 last June, "the single worst third-place everyday player I've ever seen, for the first half of a Major League Baseball season."
Cano, who underwent double sports hernia surgery in October to alleviate stomach ailments that plagued him in 2015, was surprised by Van Slyke's comments.
"We get along and I don't know what happened, but the thing is like I said I don't pay attention to his comment," Cano said.
Cano seems to be enjoying new manager Scott Servais' coaching staff in spring training, as Shannon Drayer wrote earlier this week.
The full interview with Cano on "Brock and Salk" will be available on the podcast page of 710Sports.com after it airs Friday.
Talking to 710 ESPN Seattle's "Brock and Salk" in an interview that will air Friday morning, Cano shared a telling story about a discussion he had with Van Slyke last season regarding shortstop Brad Miller.
Related: Latest news, photos, video and more from Mariners spring training
"I want to say one thing that I never say. There's one time I had this conversation with Brad Miller," said Cano. "I say, 'Hey, Miller, I think you can be a leadoff (hitter) and sometimes you can help us if you're hitting second if you could take a pitch for us hitting behind you ... We can see what was the movement was on that pitch."
Two days later, Cano said he had the following exchange with Van Slyke:
"Andy came into my locker. 'Hey, I wanna talk to you.' I said, 'Oh, yeah, go ahead, Andy, what's up?' He was like, 'I'm gonna play the bad guy.' I said, 'Bad guy of what? What happened?' (Van Slyke said) 'I know you talked to Miller, but I mean, you know, he's a guy that you cannot say anything.' I said, 'I didn't say anything to him. I just said what is good for the team.' He said, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it, but when it comes to hitting don't talk to him.' I said, 'That's how you feel like it, perfect.' After that day..."
It's certainly curious that Van Slyke told Cano, a six-time All-Star with a career .307 batting average, to not give a young player hitting tips. It's also an interesting insight into the previous coaching staff's handling of Miller, who hit .258 in 2015 while converting into a utility player then was one of the first players traded in the offseason by new Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto.
On St. Louis' CBS Sports Radio 920 in November, Van Slyke blamed Cano and his below-average 2015 season for the firings of general manager Jack Zduriencik, manager Lloyd McClendon and other members of the coaching staff. He also called Cano, whose batting average dipped as low as .236 last June, "the single worst third-place everyday player I've ever seen, for the first half of a Major League Baseball season."
Cano, who underwent double sports hernia surgery in October to alleviate stomach ailments that plagued him in 2015, was surprised by Van Slyke's comments.
"We get along and I don't know what happened, but the thing is like I said I don't pay attention to his comment," Cano said.
Cano seems to be enjoying new manager Scott Servais' coaching staff in spring training, as Shannon Drayer wrote earlier this week.
The full interview with Cano on "Brock and Salk" will be available on the podcast page of 710Sports.com after it airs Friday.
