The Star-Ledger-US PRESSWIRE

For the New York Yankees to comeback and win the series against the Detroit Tigers, Robinson Cano, not Alex Rodriguez, will have to really step up. It is not everyday when a player batting .347 with six home runs and 24 RBI in the final month of the season heads into the playoffs and looks like he has gotten hit by a wall.

With Rodriguez’s postseason struggles continuing, Cano is quietly getting by on his own terrible performance. Cano is 2-for-32 in the 2012 MLB playoffs and has not gotten a hit since Oct. 8 in Game 2 against the Baltimore Orioles. This has everyone questioning where Cano went. Why are we not seeing the Robinson Cano that has been the most dangerous hitter in the Yankees’ lineup for six months of the year? Why are we not seeing the Cano that hustles down the line on every ball that he connected on?

Cano has the obligation to be the leader of the Yankees. If not play for a World Series championship, play for your contract in 2013. If Cano was having a blowout time in the playoffs, he could use that has leverage in off-season negotiations with the Yankees or with some other team. Is lack of motivation is hurting the team and himself.

If its not a questionable call at second base where Cano tagged out Omar Infante or if its not the fact that the heart of the Yankees lineup is completely broken, what will light a fire underneath Cano?

He needs to be the answer the club is waiting for, it not it could cost him confidence, in himself and what the Yankees have in him for the future of the team.

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