ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There is a time for everything — a time for jokes, a time for seriousness, a time for winning. But on a recent morning, in the hours leading up to a spring training game, Robinson Cano decided it was a time for fun.
Nick Swisher, one of the team's resident jokesters, had just broken the silence by letting out a loud, rollicking laugh. Without missing a beat, Cano followed with a spot-on impression, barely containing his delight in mimicking Swisher's laughter. Soon, the two stood side-by-side, filling a corner of the clubhouse with chatter.
"You can laugh in here, you can make jokes, you can listen to music," Cano said. "A lot of people ask me, 'Why are you guys so serious in the game?' We're serious in the game. But we have fun. Everything has its time. There's time for the game, a time for fun, a time to be serious."
Understanding these distinctions is at the heart of Cano's rapid ascent from unheralded prospect to burgeoning talent. When the Yankees begin their pursuit of World Series championship No. 28 today, they will do it with Cano hitting third, a position in the order that only reinforces his growing stature.
"He's a superstar," general manager Brian Cashman said. "He's the best player on our team."
The roster features the likes Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, players destined for Cooperstown. But the real driver of the Yankees' potent offense is Cano, the 29-year-old homegrown product who has blossomed into one of the elite talents in the game.
Last year, he hit 28 homers, batted in 118 runs and hit .302 — a season worthy of consideration for the MVP award. He did it while playing 159 games, the fifth-straight season in which he's equalled or eclipsed that mark.
"He's matched his physical abilities with the sheer determination to be the best he can possibly be," Cashman said. "And he has Hall of Fame aspirations. It's not just about having a good season. He wants to be amazing."
As a result, Cano's profile has exploded, approaching the ranks of Jeter and Rodriguez.
Cano stole the show at the All-Star Game, running away with the Home Run Derby, smiling as he deposited pitch after pitch into the stands. He did it again in an appearance on "The Tonight Show." Sharing the stage with longtime host Jay Leno and actor Denzel Washington, Cano looked as comfortable in front of the cameras as he would joking in the clubhouse with his teammates.
Earlier this week, to mark the beginning of baseball season, ESPN unveiled the latest of its popular "This Is Sportscenter" commercials. For the first time, the company produced a spot in both English and Spanish. Both ads feature Cano.
"Robbie's a likeable guy," said Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who has watched Cano's evolution from close range. "He gets along with most everybody. That's always important. He's a good guy so people want to be around him. He enjoys himself. He enjoys laughing all the time. He's got a good personality."
Fans have taken notice, too. Thursday, when Major League Baseball released its annual rankings of jerseys sold last season, Cano's No. 24 ranked 17th. It was the first time he cracked the top 20, joining Rodriguez and Jeter.
It was yet another sign of Cano's emergence as a star, one that came only because he has handled increasing expectations.
"When you play in a city like New York, you've got to produce all the time," Cano said. "If you don't do your job, you know what can happen. Maybe a trade, or you might be gone. You've got to stay on top of the game here all the time. And I like that. I love that."
Indeed, Cano has learned to thrive under pressure. To Jeter, it's what has allowed Cano's natural abilities to show through.
"When he first got called up, he struggled a little bit," Jeter said. "But he always had fun, which is key. He enjoyed himself. It makes him able to relax. That's probably the thing that stands out the most. He genuinely enjoys himself, and he still does. He gets a hit now and he looks like he's never gotten a hit before in his life."
Manager Joe Girardi once benched Cano for his lack of his hustle, a gaffe that defined the early part of his career. Since then, the manager has watched Cano grow into a clubhouse presence, one who has helped set the tone.
"Robbie has a smile that's kind of infectious," Girardi said. "He's able to play with a smile on his face and he's relaxed. That probably helps him as well. That's the way he is. He's fun to be around. It's a pressure game, playing in the big leagues, playing for the New York Yankees. Robbie's able to go about it with a relaxed attitude and people are able to feed off that."
Relaxation, Cano said, is the key to handling the pressure. There is a time and place for everything, he's said often. He demonstrated it in front of his locker, taking his batting stance, a grimace on his face, his muscles tightened, hardly able to move. His point proven, he loosens up, cracks a smile, and swings with the ease of a superstar, one who believes that this is his time.
Said Cano: "If you enjoy, you get more relaxed, you can do anything."
Marc Carig: mcarig@starledger.com; twitter.com/MarcCarig
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers. Five Filters recommends: Donate to Wikileaks.
0 意見:
Post a Comment