The Yankees used only 4 players at Second Base during the 2008 series. Here they are:
Robinson Cano (159 games). All Cano’s 159 games involved some time at Second Base although for three of them he entered the game as a pinch hitter before moving to that position. His previous years’ performances were the reason for the confidence they placed in him. The nadir of that confidence came when Girardi benched him for not running down infield hits.
| Year | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | TB | BB | SO | SB | CS | OBP | SLG | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 132 | 522 | 78 | 155 | 34 | 4 | 14 | 62 | 239 | 16 | 68 | 1 | 3 | .320 | .458 | .297 | |
| 2006 | 122 | 482 | 62 | 165 | 41 | 1 | 15 | 78 | 253 | 18 | 54 | 5 | 2 | .365 | .525 | .342 | |
| 2007 | 160 | 617 | 93 | 189 | 41 | 7 | 19 | 97 | 301 | 39 | 85 | 4 | 5 | .353 | .488 | .306 |
With Cano you’re essentially looking at someone who hits singles well but this year he fell away in some major offensive categories
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | TB | BB | SO | SB | CS | OBP | SLG | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 159 | 597 | 70 | 162 | 35 | 3 | 14 | 72 | 245 | 26 | 65 | 2 | 4 | .305 | .410 | .271 |
Effectively, he produced less hits in 597 at-bats this year, than he had in 115 less turns at the plate in 2006
Question marks against Cano are such that if any team requested him as part of a trade then the Yankees wouldn’t need much persuading. In reality, this is unlikely to happen. Other teams are as likely to be as wary of his falling away as the Yankees are right now. Expect him to be in the line-up on opening day.
Alberto Gonzalez (28 games). Only 4 of Gonzalez’s 28 appearances in a New York shirt came at Second Base. I’ll say more about him when we get to the shortstops.
Wilson Betemit (87 games). Only 3 of Betemit’s appearances came at Second Base. See my first base analysis for some comments on his season. Update: Betemit’s time as a Yankee came to an end last week as he was a key piece in the trade that brought the White Sox’s Nick Swisher to the Bronx. This leaves the Yankees with the task of finding a suitable backup for the middle infield positions. Last season’s principal choices Betemit and Gonzalez are no longer around.
Cody Ransom (33 games). Only 2 of Ransom’s games involved time at Second Base. See my first base analysis for some comments on his season.
So Cano seems very likely to be the first choice second baseman, at least at the beginning of the season. Expect the Yankees to try and pick up a solid bench player during the off-season to help out at 2b, 3b and ss.
