Robinson Cano MVP Chase Continues With Two More Homers
The Robinson Cano MVP chase took another step forward. Cano hit two more home runs against the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, June 9. Cano went 3-for-5 on the night, raising his batting average on the season to 0.298. The All-Star second baseman for the Seattle Mariners has been putting together an extremely impressive season and ranks among the league leaders in home runs and RBIs this year.
On Thursday, Cano connected for a home run off Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin in the first inning. In the eighth inning, he hit another one off of Indians setup guy Brian Shaw. It continued a torrid month that Cano has been having at the plate in June. It also turned into the third consecutive multi-hit game for Cano, with all of them coming against the Indians.
After 60 games this season, the Robinson Cano MVP talk has really started to heat up. He already has 18 home runs, 50 RBIs, and leads the American League in total bases with 145. Cano also has 46 runs scored, 73 hits, and a 0.944 OPS that ranks among the best in Major League Baseball. It is very clear that he is having a resurgent season with the Mariners.
There are several other players who are in the conversation for AL MVP this season and they are David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox, Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles, Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, and Jackie Bradley of the Red Sox. Players like Mark Trumbo, Victor Martinez, and Nelson Cruz have also been mentioned this year. It shows how wide-open the field has become, and how any of these players could emerge as the favorite.
In the MVP race, Robinson Cano stacks up very well against the leading contenders. Cano ranks third in home runs (18), second in RBIs (50), first in total bases (145), sixth in doubles (16), seventh in OPS (0.944), fourth in runs scored (46), and sixth in hits (73). Factoring in the defense that Cano has played during the 2016 MLB season might just put him ahead of the competition. Currently, Cano is tied with Mike Trout for the best WAR (Wins Above Replacement) for all position players in the American League.
Cano has been putting together another impressive season on defense, ranking among the best at second base once again. While the Gold Glove will likely go to Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox, Cano is certainly holding his own in all facets of the game. For MVP voters who rely heavily on stats like WAR to determine who is the best, Cano is definitely making a case for the award again this year. He may need to keep it up to create some separation from the group of candidates though.
An improved offense has helped the Seattle Mariners post a 33-27 record so far this season. By continuing to win games and potentially nabbing a playoff spot, the Mariners (as a team) would put Robinson Cano in a better position to win an MVP Award. As long as the team remains in contention, Cano will have his name mentioned by MLB analysts looking forward. That’s important, because most MVP winners come from teams that wind up playing in mid-October.
An important series for the Mariners begins on Friday night (June 10) against the Texas Rangers. It’s a huge stage for the Mariners as they try to chase down the Rangers in the AL West. For the Robinson Cano MVP campaign to kick into another gear, he will need to have a big series that helps the team put games in the win column again. It might also help garner more votes toward starting the All-Star Game in Cincinnati this summer.
[Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Image]
