Cano has to get going or the M’s aren’t going anywhere
A GRIP ON SPORTS • In reality, the Mariners were lucky to be in extra innings. Intellectually, we can comprehend that. But still, when they lose a home game in the 12th inning on a ground ball Logan Morrison should have corralled and a bases-loaded walk, it’s still hard to take. Read on.
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• It’s really hard to take when there were multiple opportunities to win the game again. One in particular stands out. It came in the bottom of the 10th, with the game tied at 3. With two outs, Seth Smith sent a drive deep to right. David Murphy leaped at the wall and got his glove on the ball right at the yellow line. He couldn’t hold it. Smith motored into second, missing a game-winning home run by a matter of inches. No matter. The rock of the lineup, Robinson Cano was waiting. Right-hander Cody Allen was on the mound. The book says you walk Cano, right? After all, throughout his career he's been one of the most feared left-handed hitters in the game. What’s that you say? That’s last year’s book? Or the year before? But not this year's. Nope. The M’s signed Nelson Cruz in the offseason to protect Cano and now the right-handed hitting outfielder has eclipsed him. Allen and the Indians decided to pitch to Cano. The guy who is playing on a 10-year contract that will pay him as much as anyone in baseball. First base was open. The winning run was on second. Cano grounded out, meekly, to Allen. On to the 11th and to another defeat. Let’s put this as clearly as I can: Despite all the troubles the M’s are having with the pitching, despite the model-thin averages up and down the lineup, if Cano was just matching his career averages, the M’s would be at least five games over .500 instead of two under. It’s that simple. Cano is hitting .251 (he’s a .308 career hitter). His on-base percentage is .295 (.356 career). He has an OPS of .639 (.851). Two home runs in 195 at-bats. Sixteen RBI. He’s not even a good three-hole hitter right now, let alone the highest-paid one in the league. If you are looking for a scapegoat, Cano’s your man. It’s pretty simple. If he doesn’t start hitting, the M’s are going nowhere. If he does, they have still have a chance to make the postseason. It’s in his hands.
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• WSU: The Cougar women posted their second-highest placing in the NCAA rowing championships. ... I love how some high school football players use the word “commitment” in the same sentence with “if a better opportunity to were to present itself, I would look into it.” ... Klay Thompson must be getting better. He was at the A's game in the bright sunshine yesterday. ... Utah’s veteran quarterback wants to make his last year his best.
• Preps: The 22nd annual Jack Blair girls’ all-star basketball game is tonight at U-Hi. Greg Lee has an advance.
• Seahawks: Here are a few things to watch for during the second week of OTAs.
• Mariners: Basically, the M’s ran out of major-league caliber relief pitchers yesterday while Cleveland didn’t. Still, if Morrison had been able to handle Jose Ramirez’s ground ball “double” in the top of the 12th, the teams might still be playing. But Dominc Leone (pictured) just isn’t good enough to get four outs right now. He seemed to wilt when Michael Brantley stepped into the batter’s box with two outs and the bases loaded, throwing four consecutive balls and giving the game away. The final: 6-3 Cleveland. ... There is some good news. Hisashi Iwakuma is getting closer to throwing off a mound. That means he’s closer to returning. ... Mike Montgomery will probably be recalled from Tacoma and make James Paxton’s next start. ... John McGrath understands the M’s lack of depth is crushing them right now.
• Sounders: At least one Seattle team won Sunday afternoon, and in an exciting manner. The Sounders trailed early but rallied to win 2-1 over the New York Red Bulls on a stoppage time goal by Chad Barrett (or Clint Dempsey if you think his ball crossed the line before Barrett touched it). The win gave the Sounders seven points in the past eight days, two wins and a draw. ... Brad Evans was called for the USMNT’s next match, then had to leave the game with an injury, though it didn’t seem too bad. ... The Red Bulls were pretty down afterward but Sigi Schmid and his Sounders, as could be expected, were upbeat.
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• Another morning, another day on the radio. I’ll be joining Dennis and Keith on 700 ESPN for one more day and then go silent (sort of) for the next month. You can listen here between 3 and 6 p.m. if you desire. Until later ...
