Cano ready for Home Run Derby

In the days leading up to Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit Saturday, it was noted on the video board at Yankee Stadium that Robinson Cano actually is more than 60 hits ahead of Jeter's pace at the same stage of their careers. Cano smiled at the mention of that little factoid before facing Tampa Bay Sunday afternoon.

"I mean, he's already got 3,000 hits," Cano said of Jeter. "I'm not going to lie -- I would like to be there one day. You wonder how it would feel to hit 3,000. [On Saturday], I feel like it was me. I feel so happy for him."

Then Cano went out and got his 1,175th hit and only the fourth of the day for the Yankees off the Rays' James Shields, a single through the right side to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Two throwing errors allowed Cano to score the game's only run.

Immediately after the game, Cano left for Tuesday night's All-Star Game in Phoenix, where he will be joined by teammates Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin and David Robertson, who was added to the American League roster Sunday. CC Sabathia also was added on a day when he earned his 13th win with a four-hit shutout, but he declined. Three Yankees nursing injuries -- Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez -- also have declined.

In a way, their absence will elevate Cano, not only because of his numbers this season (15 home runs, 57 RBIs, .296 average) but because he will be on center stage in Monday's Home Run Derby.

Granderson, whose 25 home runs are tied for second in the majors with Mark Teixeira behind the 31 by Toronto's Jose Bautista, said he's picking Cano to win it all.

"It's amazing the things I've seen him do in batting practice," Granderson said of Cano. "I think he's got a very legit shot to go out there and win it."

Cano, who is batting cleanup in A-Rod's absence, admitted he's leaning toward having his father pitch to him (Jose Cano, 49, pitched six games for the 1989 Astros). "It's always good to take somebody that knows you and where you like the ball and where you can hit it good," he said.

Some players who have taken part in the home run contest worry how the fatigue of going into the late rounds and the possibility of changing their swing might affect them later in the season. But Cano said he's not concerned about that.

"There's always people saying, 'You're going to get tired,' but if you see me early before the game, you get another extra 60, 70 swings," Cano said of his pregame routine. "It's the same thing as BP. The only problem is you're going to look for a pitch you can drive out of the park."

Home runs won't be Cano's focus when the season resumes, just getting big hits like Sunday's in his effort to follow in Jeter's footsteps to 3,000.

"I'll get there one day if I stay healthy," Cano said. "When I'm healthy, I can do pretty good stuff."