Ever since hip-hop extraordinaire turned sports agent Jay-Z helped score his superstar second-base client Robinson Cano a lucrative $240 million contract with Seattle things have been different for the Bronx Bombers.
The city of Seattle has welcomed Cano with open arms. However, the Yankees have the opposite reaction.
The speculation of Cano’s reception at Yankee Stadium was eventually parlayed into a skit on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b9rOji_PWY&w=560&h=315]
The Mariners are now the bottom feeders of the AL West but they sure have had the upper hand over the Yankees so far in this three game road series as Seattle leads the series 2-0. Cano has been the huge factor in those wins against his former team.
On Tuesday, in his first game at Yankee Stadium in a Mariner uniform, Cano was showered with boos from the Yankee faithful. Subsequently, every time Cano approached the batter’s box the boos continued. Here is a video of his first at-bat.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNe4Y81uTRc&w=560&h=315]
This type of reception from Yankees fans should come as no surprise. However, when former Yankee Nick Swisher returned to Yankee Stadium last season in an Indians uniform he received a standing ovation. Then again Swisher was not called a “sellout” by the Yankees fan base.
Nonetheless, like a true professional the boos and jeers did not phase Cano in the first two games in this series. He has had three RBI’s within the last two games plus a .294 batting average in last night’s 4-2 victory over the Pinstripes.
Hopefully for their sake Cano can continue to have strong outings like these and help to propel the Mariners up the standings in the AL West. It will also take the strong pitching of King Felix and Roenis Elias to turn their fortunes around as well.
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