July 18, 2012
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Robbie Cano and the Boo Birds
The baseball All-Star game has passed with the Senior Circuit (aka National League) pounding the Junior Circuit (aka American League). The National League will have home field advantage this year, but this is not the reason for this blog.
Rather, the home run derby is topic and the vociferous boos that Robinson Cano of the New Yankees received when he came up to bat. Some have said that it was much a boo about nothing. Fans boo players all the time, and that Cano deserved it. There is some truth to that, but in my analysis there was something clearly amiss during his at bat.
First, there is the perceived injustice of the Kansas City fans. Supposedly, Cano has been put on record as saying that he WILL choose Billy Butler of the KC Royals to fill the final slot for the AL. I have yet to see this promise in print as direct quotes. I have read that Cano thought that Butler SHOULD be the pick, and that it was the right thing to do, but this is not a binding promise. His pick to fill that last spot? Mike Trout of the LA Angels. Let’s compare some stats:
Bulter: .348 AVG, 12 HR, 61 R, 42 RBI, 30 SB; 68 Games
Trout: .294 AVG, 17 HR, 32 R, 54 RBI, 2 SB; 87 Games
Clearly, Butler CAN hit the long ball, and he is from KC although only 6 of his 17 home runs were hit at home. COULD Butler have competed well in the competition? Yes, he could have, and the home town fans would have appreciated it. But when it comes to the Derby, winning isn’t everything….at least for the baseball fan. At best, the HR derby is show of power. The longer the HR the better….with exceptions. Did you see the low ball shot to CF that Trout hit? Everyone was talking about because it wasn’t your typical home run. It wasn’t the moon shots that Fielder (the eventual winner) hit, but one of those “line drive” shots that was a display of raw power. Could Butler have done this? Probably not. Now, I know that KC fans were clamoring for something cheer about, but is the All Star game about the city or is it about baseball? The home run derby, which does nothing for either AL or NL is about baseball, not the city. As a fan, you just got to see the “best” home run hitters in baseball, and for some of you KC fans, you got to catch some of those home runs. You know what else? You just got a glimpse at one of the best young talent in baseball. Sure, KC is in the American League so from time to time you’ll get to see Trout when he comes to town, but imagine if you were an NL town. Again, the HR Derby is about baseball, not about city allegiance.
Second, booing against a player is one thing, acceptable even, but CHEERING against someone purely for failure purposes is quite another. This is probably the most bothersome aspect of the Cano spectacle. In games fans often cheer when players fail. The strikeout is a prime example, but note that there is always a contrasting side. The pitcher made that strikeout. Even during the cheering of an error, it results from direct competition from an opponent. Where was such a contrast with Cano? In fact, the only contrasts seems to be the booing at his at bat with the cheer when he fails. Is it about competition? No. If it was, then other competitors should have been booed as well. Instead, you have Cano’s father throwing pitches, hearing the boos. You don’t think that bothered him at all? Don’t you remember last year’s HR Derby, where the Father/Son duo was the story of the Derby? Why KC fans, would you jeer at Cano’s family in the stands because of the choice of Trout? The only reason is spite. KC fans feel spurned and that’s understandable, but the cacophony of boos and cheers which increased to new levels with each recorded out was unwarranted. It was beneath the baseball fan.
In the end, it’s not even about the level of booing for in all likelihood Cano has heard worse. Rather the All star game is about respect and watching your baseball stars shine regardless of team affiliation.
*Disclaimer: I am a Yankee fan so perhaps my view is colored, but foremost I am a baseball fan.
