Mariners: Spotlight follows Cano's every step

PEORIA, Ariz. PEORIA, Ariz. Second baseman Robinson Cano is absent again from the Seattle Mariners on another short personal hiatus. This time, hes back in the Dominican Republic to attend to a family matter.

Club officials knew about the issue in advance, and manager Lloyd McClendon said Cano is expected to return in time for Tuesday nights game against San Diego.

The trip coincides with the Mariners first camp open date, Monday, and minimizes his absence. But it also begs a question: Will Cano find time for another round of broomstick-and-beans before he returns?

That story quickly made the rounds early last week after he explained how he honed his batting eye during a four-day recovery from an infection in his mouth that prompted root-canal surgery.

Yep, hitting black beans with a broomstick.

I have to keep my eyes on the beans because theyre so little, he explained. You have to follow them all the way. Thats what you want in the game. You want to follow the pitch all the way.

That makes a great image, doesnt it? And the story got big play. Then again, everything about Cano seems to get big play since he spurned the Yankees by signing a 10-year deal with the Mariners for $240 million.

I love this game, he explained, and I didnt want to sit at home and not do anything. Thats what I did the last two days (of his absence).

Cano then rocked three straight singles last Monday in his return to the lineup. The first two came against Royals ace James Shields. The other was against former All-Star reliever Aaron Crow.

Beans and a broomstick.

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Mariners: Spotlight follows Cano's every step