The Yankees appeared to dodge another potential disaster when an MRI exam revealed no major damage to Robinson Cano's shoulder, but the fact that their second baseman tried to hide it from the team might display a little more than his national pride.
Cano initially hid the soreness in his throwing arm from the club so he could participate in the World Baseball Classic tournament for the Dominican Republic. As Cano told reporters, "It's about your country, not playing to have fun."
That's an admirable thought, and it shows why there are benefits to the polarizing tournament that reveal the type of natural pride fans would like to see their favorite players have on a more consistent basis.
That said, Cano didn't do his regular team or the Dominican team any favors by hiding an injury. That doesn't bode well for his maturation process at a time when the Yankees desperately need him to rebound from a poor season in 2008.
Cano's maturity has been questioned during his time as a Yankee, from his sometimes lackadaisical play in the field to his inability to make offensive adjustments last year when he batted .271 -- 35 points below his 2007 average.
With Alex Rodriguez out of the lineup, the Yankees need Cano to step up even more, and they can only hope he shows better judgment as the year goes on. He was back at second base on March 20, so the Yankees hope the injury is behind him.
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