Any conflict between Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano and former Mariners first base coach Andy Van Slyke may not have been known during the season, but Van Slyke had plenty of negative things to say about Cano on Thursday.During an appearance on CBS Sports Radio 920 in St. Louis, Van Slyke blamed Cano’s poor play this season for causing members of the coaching staff and front office to lose their jobs. "Robinson Cano cost the GM his job, the hitting coach got fired because of Cano and then the manager and coaches got fired because of Cano, because that's how much impact he has on the organization," Van Slyke said during the interview. "He was the worst player and it cost people their jobs in the process."
General manager Jack Zduriencik, manager Lloyd McClendon and his coaching staff were all fired following the season. The Mariners finished with a 76–86 record. Van Slyke went even further, saying that Cano was one of the worst players he has ever seen. "Robinson Cano was the single worst third-place everyday player I've ever seen, for the first half of a Major League Baseball season," Van Slyke said, referencing Cano's batting third in the order. "He couldn't drive home Miss Daisy if he tried. He couldn't do it. He couldn't get a hit when it mattered. He played the worst defense I've ever seen at second. I mean the worst defensive second baseman ever, I've ever seen, in 20 years in the big leagues."Cano hit .287, his lowest batting average in six seasons, with 21 home runs and 79 RBIs. He committed six errors at second base.Van Slyke didn’t stop there, also making comments about Los Angeles Dodgers rightfielder Yasiel Puig, who plays alongside his son Scott Van Slyke. "When the best player – the highest-paid player on the Los Angeles Dodgers – goes to the GM and... is asked what are [the needs of the Dodgers], this particular highest-paid player said, 'The first thing you need to do is get rid of Puig.' That's all you need to know," he said. SI.com
