Second baseman Robinson Cano already was receiving plenty of attention as his first day of spring training approached, and one of his former coaches didn’t do much to dim the spotlight.
On the eve of Cano reporting for his first camp with the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long opened up a can of worms by questioning Cano’s hustle in an interview with reporters. The comments obviously didn’t sit well with new Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon.
McClendon said he was disappointed and surprised by Long’s comments, and he wrapped up an emotional response by saying: “Anytime anybody attacks one of my players, then I’m going to defend them. If you don’t like it, tough (expletive).”
And with that, Cano finally took the field for his first Mariners workout.
Cano himself seemed excited about the change of scenery, but he acknowledged that things are a lot different in terms of playoff expectations.
When the former Yankee was asked how close the Mariners are to contending for a pennant, Cano told The Seattle Times: “I don’t want to say we are close. But I know we have a team that we can go out here and compete.”
It’s certainly a different atmosphere for a player who spent most of his career in the shadows of bigger stars in New York. By virtue of his contract — and his ability — Cano figures to be the face of his new team.
The prized free agent signee already is penciled in to the No. 3 spot in the batting order, a role that went to seven different Mariners over the past seven season openers — among them Milton Bradley, Casey Kotchman and Mike Sweeney. It’s a spot the Mariners were so desperate to fill long-term that they spent $240 million luring Cano from New York.
The buzz around Cano might quiet down a bit this spring as long as no one in Yankees camp makes additional headline-worthy comments, but once the 2014 season begins, it will be hard for the Mariners’ latest No. 3 hitter to hide.
NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Stephen Pryor made a surprise return to the mound during the final weekend of February, throwing a 20-pitch bullpen session. It marked the first time Pryor threw with the team since he underwent surgery to repair a torn shoulder tendon last August, and he wasn’t initially expected to be ready for the season opener. The flame-throwing reliever could give the Mariners a solid setup man to team with RHP Danny Farquhar and closer Fernando Rodney. “We’re very pleased,” manager Lloyd McClendon told MLB.com. “We’ll just keep him moving forward. You get a guy like that healthy and back to where he was, he has the ability to help shorten up games.”
–OF Dustin Ackley made the transition from second base to outfield last season. He closed out the year playing mainly in center field, and he looked like a candidate for a starting job there this year. However, manager Lloyd McClendon told reporters during the first week of spring training that Ackley’s days as a center fielder likely are over. McClendon plans to use Ackley primarily in left field, and Ackley’s lack of arm strength appears to be a big reason why.
–RHP Brandon Maurer suffered some back tightness during a Feb. 21 throwing session but said the following day that he was feeling “100 percent” better. Maurer struggled as a member of the rotation last season, eventually getting demoted and turned into a reliever, but the Mariners hope he can be in the mix for a starting spot again — especially if RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (finger) isn’t ready when the season begins.
–1B/OF Corey Hart is a leading contender to earn the starting job in right field, manager Lloyd McClendon said recently, but it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he ends up serving as the Mariners’ main designated hitter. Not only is Hart coming off surgeries on both knees — he sat out the entire 2013 season — but the Mariners also are running out of DH options now that free agent Nelson Cruz signed with the Baltimore Orioles. The best free agent option could be Kendrys Morales, who did a solid job in that role with Seattle last season but has yet to find a suitor on the open market.
–RHP Erasmo Ramirez is scheduled to be the first Mariners starter to take the hill in a spring training game, as he will pitch Feb. 27 against the San Diego Padres. Ramirez has an inside track on a spot in the rotation, and keeping him healthy is the priority this spring after an injury-plagued March set him back in 2013. The Mariners also hope that Ramirez can regain the pinpoint control he had as a late-season call-up in 2012 if he is to be a No. 3 or 4 starter this season.
–RHP Taijuan Walker was the Mariners’ top-rated player among Baseball America’s latest list of prospects, checking in at No. 11 overall. Walker, 21, was solid in a limited stint with the Mariners late last season (1-0, 3.60 ERA in three starts) but showed up for spring training with a sore shoulder. He since took the mound for throwing sessions and said he was fully healthy heading into what could be his first full season as a major league pitcher.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I have zero expectations for Jesus Montero. Any expectations I had are gone.” — GM Jack Zduriencik, after the promising-catcher-turned-minor-league-first-baseman showed up for spring training out of shape at a reported 270 pounds.