Robinson Cano and his Rough 2015 Season

Jun 4, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) blows a bubble during an at bat in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. The Rays beat the Mariners 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Timid Approach At The Plate:

I think that this can be said about the whole Mariners’ lineup, but I would love to see Robinson Cano be much more aggressive, especially on the first pitch. Robinson Cano is on pace for just under 75 at bats in which he is putting the first pitch in play, which would be a career low. For his career, when the count is 0-0, Robinson Cano is a .373 hitter (409/1097). That is absolutely raking, and with Nelson Cruz hitting right behind him, he has a great opportunity to jump all over the first pitch if he likes it.

When the count is 0-0, Robby is hitting 9 for 31 (.290) this season. While that isn’t close to his .373 career average on the first pitch, it is still much higher than his .245 BA this season. He has struggled this year against the curveball, and at 0-0 that is your best bet to get a fastball and do some damage with it.

I love and appreciate hitters being patient and working the count, but the M’s don’t need Cano to be the one to do that. They need him to take a pitch that he likes, and drive it somewhere. I firmly believe that it would be in Cano’s best interest to go up to the dish and be aggressive, try and take advantage of a fastball count, and hopefully get some easy base knocks because of it.

Next: Decline in Hitting to All Fields