Breaking Point

From USA Today (props to RAB):

Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano was benched Sunday after manager Joe Girardi became upset with his lack of hustle on a fielding play against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cliff Floyd led off the fourth inning with a hard grounder between first baseman Jason Giambi and Cano. Giambi dived and the ball went off his glove and into right-center field. Cano didn’t immediately go after it and Floyd beat right fielder Xavier Nady’s throw to second for the unusual double.

Girardi switched Cody Ransom from third to second and inserted Wilson Betemit at third before Tampa Bay batted in the fifth.

“That’s a ball that we have to hustle after and get and keep Cliff Floyd from getting to second,” Girardi said after New York’s 8-4 victory.

The Yankees open a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night, and Girardi said he hadn’t decided whether Cano will be in the lineup.

“Sometimes I let the team down,” Cano said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time I play hard. It’s kind of frustrating not helping the team, and he’s right.”

Cano is nearing the end of a disappointing season, batting .260 after hitting over .300 in each of the previous two years. He admitted that he sometimes carries his frustration at the plate over to the field.

This gaffe was particularly rough on the 25-year-old Cano.

“That’s embarrassing,” he said. “You’re playing and you’re taken out of the game. … It’s a situation that no player would like to be in.”

I defend Cano a lot, but I agree with Girardi on this one. Lately, Cano has had too many lapses in the field. Errors happen and sometimes they’re like bananas—they come in bunches. However, this situation is different. When you’re simply not playing hard, that’s certainly grounds for disciplinary action.

This is embarrassing stuff, and sometimes, a little embarrassment goes a long way.

Finally…

First, I have to say, Derek Jeter, congratulations. Jeter has been a man on a mission as of late and he finally tied Lou Gehrig for the most hits, ever, in Yankee Stadium (with a booming homer to boot). Jeter will obviously take the record and he’ll never be topped, as the new stadium will give birth to entirely new records (they don’t carry over).

Jeter wasn’t the only story today, however.

Carl Pavano left today’s game in the 6th inning with a hip injury. It was a sad sight (he got booed and was pitching well), but what else can you expect from the guy (I’m amazed that he didn’t explode during his first game). I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Yankees shut him down and give his rotation spot to Ian Kennedy (or another starter). He’s basically pitching for a new contract with another club right now. Speaking of spots, Phil Hughes will start on Wednesday and he’ll face off against the White Sox. He’s had a string of good outings in the minors, so he’s looking to keep it going.

GM Suggestions

From Ken Davidoff (Newsday):

Basically, it’s a matter of stay tuned. Cashman has refused to discuss his future, either with his bosses or the media, until the season’s completion. We’re headed toward what has become a Yankees tradition of late: An October far more intriguing because of what happens off the field than actual baseball.

If Cashman leaves? Damon Oppenheimer would be a serious candidate to succeed Cashman, based on his performance in the amateur draft – sorry, Jim, no donut bet ;). Assistant GM Jean Afterman could get an interview, although she hasn’t really been groomed for the job. The Yankees would be foolish not to reach out to Pat Gillick, who worked with the Yankees in his pre-GM days and is retiring from the Phillies. Gerry Hunsicker, currently with the Rays, would be another natural candidate, given his strong work with the Astros.

It would be interesting to see what Oppenheimer could do if given the GM role. Life without Brian Cashman seems to frighten a lot of people, but the folks listed above have great baseball minds and could probably do a ton of damage with a $200 million payroll.