Yanks pull Cano from Winter League play

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

The Yankees reportedly have written Robinson Cano a letter to withdraw from Dominican Winterball. They want to prevent Cano from aggravating a calf injury, which is still healing.

Yanks pull Cano from Winter League ball

I think this has two sides. On one hand I say, it is Cano's spare time. He is preparing for the coming season, so who are the Yankees to tell him what to do.

But on the other hand, the Yankees are his employer. I can imagine that they want him to start the new season without an injury. They don't want to pay an injured player... (one Pavano is enough ).

What do you think of this? Do they have the right to do so?

[TonyStarks]

The Yankees also did not allow him to play for the Dominicans in the WBC.

Also, Melky Cabrera was told he wasn't going to be playing for the Dominicans and Mariano Rivera was asked not to play for Panama.

The Yankees are their employers as you stated and they don't want them getting hurt in those exhibition leagues. I didn't completely and still don't completely agree but they are playing them alot of money.

Honestly though, Cano should be resting his calf. He did play in the most games he's ever played this season (157) regular season games not counting Spring Training or the Playoffs. I wouldn't want him to come into next season tired from all the action.

[Yankeefan90]

I think they told their players this year not to play because this year was very hard tiring year. The Yanks want them to come to ST fresh and ready to play. While I think they should do what they want to do in thier spare time, the Yanks are paying them alot of money so they just want to make sure there is no injuries come March.

[DoubleX]

I think they told their players this year not to play because this year was very hard tiring year. The Yanks want them to come to ST fresh and ready to play. While I think they should do what they want to do in thier spare time, the Yanks are paying them alot of money so they just want to make sure there is no injuries come March.

Exactly. It's their spare time, but on the other hand, the team does pay these guys a lot of money (and Cano in particular will likely be in line for a big payday in a few years), so I think they owe a little bit more year round to the team and being ready to play for the team when the season starts. Plus, you never know what can happen. Look at Juan Rivera, he broke his leg in winter ball last year and he missed almost the entire season (and he was primed to break out this year). Or a few years ago, Aaron Boone missed the entire season from playing a pickup basketball game in the offseason.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Exactly. It's their spare time, but on the other hand, the team does pay these guys a lot of money (and Cano in particular will likely be in line for a big payday in a few years), so I think they owe a little bit more year round to the team and being ready to play for the team when the season starts. Plus, you never know what can happen. Look at Juan Rivera, he broke his leg in winter ball last year and he missed almost the entire season (and he was primed to break out this year). Or a few years ago, Aaron Boone missed the entire season from playing a pickup basketball game in the offseason.

Like I said, the Yankees pay their salaries. But does that mean that a player needs to stay home and just sit in his chair? The only thing not dangerous is breathing...

[MedicCook]

Even though these guys are on 'spare' time the team has every right to tell them what they can and can not do with that spare time. It is even in their contracts what they are not allowed to do. Boone violated his contract with that basketball game.

[DoubleX]

Like I said, the Yankees pay their salaries. But does that mean that a player needs to stay home and just sit in his chair? The only thing not dangerous is breathing...

So if you're the Yankees, you wouldn't be pissed off if Cano played in a winter ball game and ruptured a tendon or something and had to miss most if not the entire MLB season? Say it's three or four years from now when the team is likely paying Cano millions of dollars...How would you feel then if Cano were badly injured playing winter ball?

Cano's job is to play for the Yankees, and that should be a year round obligation, especially considering how much money the players are paid. If the team feels that part of that obligation includes doing or not doing certain things during the offseason in order to be ready to play for the season, that's part of the job, IMO.

[nyyfan]

I think that is just stupid to pull a player from playing baseball in the off-season. That is the only way to get better and those type of players that play in winter leagues IMO are the ones that play for the game not the money.

[MedicCook]

I think that is just stupid to pull a player from playing baseball in the off-season. That is the only way to get better and those type of players that play in winter leagues IMO are the ones that play for the game not the money.

It is also a greater way to injure yourself, and be tired out during the season. Cano already has an injured calf which makes it even more of a reason for him to shut it down until spring training.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

So if you're the Yankees, you wouldn't be pissed off if Cano played in a winter ball game and ruptured a tendon or something and had to miss most if not the entire MLB season? Say it's three or four years from now when the team is likely paying Cano millions of dollars...How would you feel then if Cano were badly injured playing winter ball?

Cano's job is to play for the Yankees, and that should be a year round obligation, especially considering how much money the players are paid. If the team feels that part of that obligation includes doing or not doing certain things during the offseason in order to be ready to play for the season, that's part of the job, IMO.

In the case of Cano, I can imagine that they don't want him to aggravate the injured calf. But like nyyfan said; it is a way to improve yourself.

[TonyStarks]

Like I said, the Yankees pay their salaries. But does that mean that a player needs to stay home and just sit in his chair? The only thing not dangerous is breathing...

Cano should be at home having a BP pitcher throw him pitches for hours...and he just sits there working on his Strike Zone recognition.

His BBs were up this year and we saw the production but with better K zone recognition he'll only see better pitches.

[DoubleX]

In the case of Cano, I can imagine that they don't want him to aggravate the injured calf. But like nyyfan said; it is a way to improve yourself.

It certainly is a way to improve yourself, but you have to weigh the risks. There's a much higher chance that Cano could get injured playing in a competitive game during the offseason than working out in a controlled environment, such as what Tony suggested.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

It certainly is a way to improve yourself, but you have to weigh the risks. There's a much higher chance that Cano could get injured playing in a competitive game during the offseason than working out in a controlled environment, such as what Tony suggested.

I understand that playing a competitive game is risky. And because of his injury, I think the Yankees are right to say that he should stay at home. But IMO you will learn more by playing games than by only training.

[aona2000]

I think that is just stupid to pull a player from playing baseball in the off-season. That is the only way to get better and those type of players that play in winter leagues IMO are the ones that play for the game not the money.

Agree in your appreciation.

[MedicCook]

I understand that playing a competitive game is risky. And because of his injury, I think the Yankees are right to say that he should stay at home. But IMO you will learn more by playing games than by only training.

He has been playing professional ball for many years at this point. I don't think he is really going to be learning all that much down there. The Yankees are the ones with the investment in him, if they say shut down, it's time to shut down.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

He has been playing professional ball for many years at this point. I don't think he is really going to be learning all that much down there. The Yankees are the ones with the investment in him, if they say shut down, it's time to shut down.

I think you can only improve your hitting by playing games with real live pitching. Not a guy who is throwing some batting practice.

[nyyfan]

I think you can only improve your hitting by playing games with real live pitching. Not a guy who is throwing some batting practice.

[MedicCook]

I think you can only improve your hitting by playing games with real live pitching. Not a guy who is throwing some batting practice.

Which is true but over doing it can be a problem especially when he already has a nagging injury. Would you rather hear about him playing great in winter ball than see him play great for the Yankees in 2008?

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Which is true but over doing it can be a problem especially when he already has a nagging injury. Would you rather hear about him playing great in winter ball than see him play great for the Yankees in 2008?

I already said that I can imagine why the Yankees pulled him from Winter League ball. An injury must have the time to heal. But in general I think that a player can improve by playing as much as possible.