Robinson Cano is no longer with the New York Yankees, but hitting coach Kevin Long says he is still bothered by the fact he couldn't get through to his former star pupil to always hustle to first base on routine ground balls.

"If somebody told me I was a dog, I'd have to fix that. When you choose not to, you leave yourself open to taking heat, and that's your fault. For whatever reason, Robbie chose not to," Long told the New York Daily News on Sunday.

Cano, 31, left New York this offseason, signing a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. The five-time All-Star, who hit .314 with 27 home runs and 107 RBIs last season, is set to meet with the Cactus League media in Arizona for the first time Tuesday.

Long told the Daily News that he is proud of how hard Cano worked in other areas to overcome deficiencies in his game during his nine seasons with the Yankees.