Jeter and Cano provide solid defense for Bombers
02/01/2006 10:00 AM ET
Around the Horn: Middle infielders
Jeter and Cano provide solid defense for Bombers
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
The following is the fifth in a series of weekly stories on MLB.com examining each Major League club, position by position. Each Wednesday until Spring Training camps open, we'll preview a different position. Today: Middle infielders.
NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi have the MVP awards, Bernie Williams has the batting titles, Gary Sheffield has the intimidating swing and Hideki Matsui has an entire country chronicling his every move.
None of it matters. Derek Jeter is the face of the New York Yankees.
Jeter enters his 11th full season as the Yankees' shortstop, looking to build on yet another solid season in 2005.
The six-time All-Star didn't make it to the Midsummer Classic last season, though one could argue that it was among the finest all-around seasons of his career.
Jeter, who had 19 homers and 70 RBIs, batted .309 and posted a .389 on-base percentage, ranking sixth in the American League in both categories. He finished second only to A-Rod with 122 runs scored, placed third in the league with 202 hits (his fourth career 200-hit season), and his 290 times on base was the second-best total in the league, trailing only A-Rod's 301.
But Jeter didn't only get it done with the bat last year, as he captured his second consecutive Gold Glove Award as the league's top fielding shortstop.
"He works hard at his defense," said general manager Brian Cashman. "He's gotten better and better, and now he's got two. Hopefully there are many more to come."
Jeter's .979 fielding percentage was the third-best mark of his career, trailing only the .986 he posted in 1998 and .981 from 2004. The shortstop committed 15 errors, two more than he posted in 2004.
Although Orlando Cabrera of the Angels had a better fielding percentage and fewer errors than Jeter, the Yankees shortstop had 454 assists -- 107 more than his Los Angeles counterpart.
Jeter's range has improved annually, allowing him to get to more balls. He has also been helped by the presence of A-Rod at third, essentially giving New York a pair of shortstops on the left side of the infield.
On Jeter's other side will be Robinson Cano, as the Yankees appear to have found their second baseman of the future.
Cano made quite an impression after taking over the second-base job in early May, posting a solid rookie campaign.
The runner-up in the AL Rookie of the Year vote, Cano hit .297 with 14 home runs, 62 RBIs and 34 doubles, leading all AL rookie hitters in average, slugging percentage (.458), doubles, runs (78), hits (155), multi-hit games (47) and at-bats (522).
Cano also ranked first among all hitters in the AL with a .335 batting average on the road.
While he hit second for much of the second half of 2005, Cano will likely find himself dropped down to the No. 9 spot this season, as Johnny Damon's presence at the top of the lineup will move Jeter back to his traditional No. 2 spot.
If Cano's offensive ability is clearly there, he still has some room to improve when it comes to his defense. Cano ranked seventh among AL second basemen in fielding percentage, and his 17 errors were the second most in the league at the position. He is still a raw talent, but he and Jeter work well together as a double-play combination.
Miguel Cairo, who played for the Yankees in 2004, returns to the Bronx as the backup infielder. Two years ago, Cairo hit .292 with six homers and 42 RBIs in 360 at-bats for the Yanks, playing second base, third base and shortstop.
Last season, Cairo started 82 games at second for the Mets, as well as six at first and one in right field. He hit .251 with two homers and 19 RBIs in 327 at-bats.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Around the Horn: Middle infielders
Jeter and Cano provide solid defense for Bombers
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
The following is the fifth in a series of weekly stories on MLB.com examining each Major League club, position by position. Each Wednesday until Spring Training camps open, we'll preview a different position. Today: Middle infielders.
NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi have the MVP awards, Bernie Williams has the batting titles, Gary Sheffield has the intimidating swing and Hideki Matsui has an entire country chronicling his every move.
None of it matters. Derek Jeter is the face of the New York Yankees.
Jeter enters his 11th full season as the Yankees' shortstop, looking to build on yet another solid season in 2005.
The six-time All-Star didn't make it to the Midsummer Classic last season, though one could argue that it was among the finest all-around seasons of his career.
Jeter, who had 19 homers and 70 RBIs, batted .309 and posted a .389 on-base percentage, ranking sixth in the American League in both categories. He finished second only to A-Rod with 122 runs scored, placed third in the league with 202 hits (his fourth career 200-hit season), and his 290 times on base was the second-best total in the league, trailing only A-Rod's 301.
But Jeter didn't only get it done with the bat last year, as he captured his second consecutive Gold Glove Award as the league's top fielding shortstop.
"He works hard at his defense," said general manager Brian Cashman. "He's gotten better and better, and now he's got two. Hopefully there are many more to come."
Jeter's .979 fielding percentage was the third-best mark of his career, trailing only the .986 he posted in 1998 and .981 from 2004. The shortstop committed 15 errors, two more than he posted in 2004.
Although Orlando Cabrera of the Angels had a better fielding percentage and fewer errors than Jeter, the Yankees shortstop had 454 assists -- 107 more than his Los Angeles counterpart.
Jeter's range has improved annually, allowing him to get to more balls. He has also been helped by the presence of A-Rod at third, essentially giving New York a pair of shortstops on the left side of the infield.
On Jeter's other side will be Robinson Cano, as the Yankees appear to have found their second baseman of the future.
Cano made quite an impression after taking over the second-base job in early May, posting a solid rookie campaign.
The runner-up in the AL Rookie of the Year vote, Cano hit .297 with 14 home runs, 62 RBIs and 34 doubles, leading all AL rookie hitters in average, slugging percentage (.458), doubles, runs (78), hits (155), multi-hit games (47) and at-bats (522).
Cano also ranked first among all hitters in the AL with a .335 batting average on the road.
While he hit second for much of the second half of 2005, Cano will likely find himself dropped down to the No. 9 spot this season, as Johnny Damon's presence at the top of the lineup will move Jeter back to his traditional No. 2 spot.
If Cano's offensive ability is clearly there, he still has some room to improve when it comes to his defense. Cano ranked seventh among AL second basemen in fielding percentage, and his 17 errors were the second most in the league at the position. He is still a raw talent, but he and Jeter work well together as a double-play combination.
Miguel Cairo, who played for the Yankees in 2004, returns to the Bronx as the backup infielder. Two years ago, Cairo hit .292 with six homers and 42 RBIs in 360 at-bats for the Yanks, playing second base, third base and shortstop.
Last season, Cairo started 82 games at second for the Mets, as well as six at first and one in right field. He hit .251 with two homers and 19 RBIs in 327 at-bats.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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