N.Y. Mets: The Great Robinson Cano Conundrum

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

First time shame on me; Second time shame on you

Robinson Cano: To Hustle Or Not To Hustle Is Never A Question.

Two very specific incidences involving Robinson Cano's performance at Miami (or lack thereof) have fans back home and around the known Metsian universe up in arms.

Lower your arms fellow fans, as nothing will change.

Truth is ...

Days of ramifications are over; we see it everywhere. They can't punish him or place a dunce cap upon his head. They're certainly not going to bench him. Mets can only work with Cano, not against him. Cano will continue being as Cano does. This is the new condition of baseball.

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) May 19, 2019

Moreover, I do not foresee the Mets plugging him into the starting line-up upon their return home to Citi Field on Monday night for sake of avoiding having their premiere player being showered with boos by irate fans.  We all know how much the Wilpons hate stuff like that.  The front office will chalk it up to needing a day off (during a home stand, because that makes sense).

Although Cano's utter blindness for appearances is tough to reconcile, none of us should be taken aback.  We locally were all aware throughout his first nine seasons with the Yankees (2005~2013) of Cano's battle with UDDLHS (urgency deficit disorder and lack of hustle syndrome).  Brodie Van Wagenen knew it too.  But no one cared much for as long as he played in the Bronx, or better yet in complete anonymity at Seattle.  Now that Brodie has imported Cano to Flushing Mets fans are aghast with what they see ...

... a 36-year old second baseman who is owed $24 million a year through the 2023 season, slashing a limp .245/.293/.374, with just three home runs and 13 RBI through 163 at-bats.  Through the first quarter season we've watched Cano compromise even the team's worst laid plans.  He's been consistent with making excuses, but not so much wielding a bat.

Brodie took on $120 millions dollars of pure risk in the hopes Cano would spearhead the Mets offense.  His investment has thus far yielded nothing but losses.  In fact, Sunday's non-effort makes five losses in a row for the Mets.  In order to hedge said losses, the manager's employment is now in jeopardy.

Sort of like trickle down economics ...