Where are the Cano lovers now?

Stick...

Cano is not an average defensive 2B. And saying you'd take Pedroia over Cano is just silly. Pedroia started off just as bad last year. Look at the numbers, they don't lie. You are taking credit for not overrating him, yet you fail to see that all Yankees fans and baseball people in general love this kid. There is a reason for that, and it's not because people are overrating him. He is arguably our best defensive infielder. OK. I'll give you credit on one thing, he may be getting overrated  because he plays in NY, falling into the Jeter syndrome. But defensively he is great. And just for the record, the only 2B that's better than Cano is Utley. That's it. Utley is as close to a 5 tool 2B as they come. I would also take that a step further and say Cano might have a bit of an edge over Utley on defense. And don't forget, Cano is only 25. He's going to be a defensive wiz for the next 10+ years. No, he's probably not worth more to us than Johan would have been. But he comes at a quarter of the price Johan does, and he plays a position that the Yankees won't have to worry about replacing for a long time.

Besides, I still think that the Twins didn't really want Cano, and my guess is they really wouldn't have taken him. They made that earlier trade with the Rays, and filled their need at 2B, so a Cano deal was moot at that point, and in my opinion that's where all talk should have ended.

I will agree that our defensive outfield sucks, with the exception of Melky. And I hate to say it, but I'm really looking forward to the day that Gonzalez replaces Jeter at SS. We really need to move him from SS soon. Jeter means a lot to this team, but I think he'll be more suited to play at a different position, maybe 1B or OF.

Actually, Stick I have seen Utley play. And I've got to say he is pretty good, but I still say Cano is just as good and younger. And sure, you can argue that all those guys you mentioned are better than Cano, but you'd be arguing to lose. The only one of those guys I would put even remotely close to Cano is Roberts. Even that's a stretch, because it seems he's all of the sudden in decline, both offensively and defensively. Kinsler plays a pretty good 2B, but is not as good as Cano defensively, besides that fact that his offense is way overrated and too inconsistent. Pedroia is good and should soon be considered one of the better 2B in the league, but I still don't see him coming anywhere close to Cano's defensive abilities, after it's all said and done. We could even throw Phillips in there. He too is inconsistent defensively and Cano crushes him in every offensive category. Hudson is arguably the best defensive 2B, but no where near good, offensively. I would put Cano at second best in all of MLB, for the 2B position.  

You really need to forget about Johan. He's gone, a distant memory now. Yes! it would have been nice to get him, but it wouldn't have been nice to pay him all that cash. I know money is not an object for the Yankees, but that's a lot of cash to be forking out towards the end of that looooooooooooooong contract, when Johan won't be living up to those numbers we are use to seeing from him. Besides the fact, that he is now in the NL, arguably the weaker league, and he is really not that dominant, as all expected him to be. Maybe him not throwing his slider towards the end of last season, was a sign of things to come for Johan, who knows really?!?! And you need to find something that states that the Twins were willing to take Cano in a deal for Johan, because it just sounds like a wishful idea on your part. I really don't think the Twins wanted Cano, if I'm wrong, you'll have to prove it.

By the way, Girardi benched Cano the other night because of the tough lefty we were facing in, Erik Bedard. He is arguably one of the better lefties in the game and he usually kills the Yankees. Couple that with Cano struggling a bit right now, and you have your reason for the benching. Stop sounding like you don't know baseball, or didn't know that, because I know you do. Gonzalez can hit a bit and there is no questioning his defensive ability. He is flat out better than most of our infielders, starters and bench players, with the glove.

Plus Johan is nothing but a Choke job big games. Everyone wants to hate on Wang and his playoff performance but Santana is not much better. Rasner will be a great number 4. Moose is pitching well, Wang is nasty, and Pettitte will be better. I like A. Gonzalez but he doesn't have the history that Cano does and Cano and Melky bring so much energy to the team.

I am a Cano lover and when he winds up hitting 320 again so will everyone else.