Robbie Cano and the Elusive Extra-Base Hit

[PolarVortex]

I was referring to his contract. I would say with confidence that most of the posters here did not assume that, because most of the posters here have grounded expectations or no expectations at all. I'm referring to the general public who associate a contract that is 200 + million to someone who typically hits 40 hrs and 140 rbi (like an Albert Pujols)

But Polar let me ask you this. What are your expectations of Cano? It seems like you have been openly critical of him every step of the way and it almost seems like you are actively rooting against him to meet his power numbers just so you can say I told you so to the posters here.

My expectations of Cano, as the third highest paid player in baseball? More than what he has shown. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that he has had a top 5 batting average all year, is second on the team in RBI and plays an above average second base. And I honestly don't carre about homeruns as long as his slugging percentage is within a reasonable range of what it was last year. But, it isn't.

He has not yet played at the level they are paying him for. Not yet. The batting average is great and all, but his RBI pace and his OPS are the equivalent of what we were paying Kendry Morales $7 million for last year.

If you want a numerical value of my minimal expectations for him:
60 extra base hits
85 runs
95 RBI

 

[octagondd]

He had his best years (26-29 years old) hitting in a top ten HR friendly stadium, as well as 10 games each in 3 other top 15 HR friendly parks(obviously rosters matter, but lets just look at the simple stats.) The Trop is the only one he saw with consistency that is a pitcher's park. That is 110 games in hitter friendly parks at a minimum. Now, you move him to Safeco which is consistently bottom 10 in HRs and also playing in 3 other bottom 15 parks for HRs on a consistent basis as well as his age factor. Complete opposite with 110 games in pitcher friendly parks. I know people did not expect 40 HRs from him, but even expecting 25 - 30 is a bit of a reach considering these factors. Did we overpay? Yes, probably, but I think his abilities will see less of a decline over the long term than true power hitters.

I absolutely understand what Polar is saying. The contract is something we have gotten used to seeing being given to 40 HR power hitters, and not to players of Cano's history of high average, consistent hitting. He just isn't a true power hitter and never really has been. Like I said before, I hope for 20-25 HRs for a few seasons and 15-20 after that. I believe his OBP, Avg and RBIs will still be there though and that is nothing but good for the M's.

All that said, I hope he turns around this sluggish start and can hit almost a dinger a week from here on out. That will put him on schedule for about 17 or so which would be good considering his slow start.

 

[dude82]

We'll see where he ends up at the end of the season. If he wins the batting title, but doesn't have the big power numbers people thought he'd have, would his season be considered a disappointment? I'd be hard-pressed to call a season in which a player won the batting title a disappointment, but maybe that's just me.

 

[Shanemansj13]

He's played 73 games at Safeco Field and hit 6 homeruns. How many games should we expect him to take to get adjusted?

Would you rather him hit .220 and have belted 17 homers. I know it is disappointing so far but he is hitting good so far

 

[PolarVortex]

Would you rather him hit .220 and have belted 17 homers. I know it is disappointing so far but he is hitting good so far

That is not an answer to the question I asked, so I'll ask it again. Cano has played 73 games in Safeco Field. How many more games does he need 'to adjust'?

 

[StanMarsh51]

He is hitting for average at least. You have to take in consideration he was in Yankee Stadium, a high schooler can jack HR's in that park, a little different. It will take time to get adjusted.

Then again, 16 of Cano's 27 home runs last year were on the road. There's a lot more to it than Yankee Stadium.

 

[StanMarsh51]

We'll see where he ends up at the end of the season. If he wins the batting title, but doesn't have the big power numbers people thought he'd have, would his season be considered a disappointment? I'd be hard-pressed to call a season in which a player won the batting title a disappointment, but maybe that's just me.

Depends what his overall season looks like. If his OBP and slugging are both nothing special, I'd say it's a disappointment.

 

[blstoker]

Depends what his overall season looks like. If his OBP and slugging are both nothing special, I'd say it's a disappointment.

Actually, I would think that it would be more important what his run and RBI numbers look like than his OBP and slugging. This offense has been so bad for so long, that having someone come in with even close to 100 in runs and RBI would be a huge improvement.

 

[PolarVortex]

Actually, I would think that it would be more important what his run and RBI numbers look like than his OBP and slugging. This offense has been so bad for so long, that having someone come in with even close to 100 in runs and RBI would be a huge improvement.

RBI and runs scored are more of team stats, especially non-homerun RBI as they are dependent on base runners. I think if he is maintaining the same batting average with runners in scoring position that he had with the Fraudkees, then it would be hard to complain regardless of how many RBI he had. He is hitting .362 with RISP this yeear. last year he hit .357. His career average is .285.

Right now he is on pace for 81 runs scored and 89 RBI. Those aren't not great stats by his standard, but they are tolerable.

 

[blstoker]

RBI and runs scored are more of team stats, especially non-homerun RBI as they are dependent on base runners. I think if he is maintaining the same batting average with runners in scoring position that he had with the Fraudkees, then it would be hard to complain regardless of how many RBI he had. He is hitting .362 with RISP this yeear. last year he hit .357. His career average is .285.

Of course they're team stats, but the assumption was that he was leading the league in average, in that case I would rather see him turn that average into runs (either himself or others) than just making sure he's making it on base. OPS is a little overrated when you think that the batting average is used twice for that stat (in a way) and I'd rather see how well he's able to turn his times on base into actual runs.