TAMPA – The Yankees witnessed in October what Giancarlo Stanton can do when he is healthy and on time.
The problem is that this happened infrequently during his time in the Bronx, thanks to prolonged absences due to injuries and setbacks.
Now, at 31 and with seven years left on his contract having declined an off-season opt-out, Stanton has another chance to live up to the huge expectations that have come up with the deal he signed with the Marlins and in his exchange with the Yankees.
“I think we are tired of looking at the end of the year in that locker room and not being where we want to be,” said Stanton. “You don’t want those memories to continue year after year. We have to take that leap and overcome this obstacle this year. “
Having Stanton in the middle of the lineup throughout the season would help.
“The idea is always to be there fighting the team as much as possible to change that narrative,” said Stanton on Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “As well as… just go out and do what I can and what I need to do to stay outside and not keep it as a thought all the time. ”
But it will be a thought until Stanton – similar to Aaron Judge – shows that he can remain injury free.
The glimpses he gave the Yankees in the playoffs when he defeated six homers in seven games left his teammates and coach Aaron Boone wanting more.
Stanton admitted that he made notes about what he was able to do in the Yankees tiebreaker games last season, otherwise disappointing, to see how he can keep him going throughout the season.
“What was on my mind and the preparation [I did] and continue until this year and keep improving, ”said Stanton.
So far, there have been no problems on the field, with Stanton making reps on the right field, while the Yankees test whether he could be an option in defense – although he said he could be better off as a full-time designated hitter in an effort to preserve your body.
Stanton said he fully supported the possibility of playing on the right pitch “during the season, as much as the team needs”.
Most importantly, they want to have it available to get it right.
After playing 158 games and hitting 38 home runs in his first season with stripes, Stanton appeared in only 41 regular season games in the past two years before playing in all seven playoff games last year.
That’s when he opened his eyes, once again, to guys like Luke Voit.
“It shows that he was an MVP for a reason,” said Voit. “My God, the home runs he was doing were home runs from the light tower. They were impressive. If we can put him on the pitch, we know he will be unbelievable. “
Aaron Boone said he believes Stanton is more dangerous on the plate than when he was appointed NL MVP with the Marlins in 2017.
“We saw [in the playoffs] what I feel if he was healthy at 19 and 20, what we would have seen over those seasons, ” said the manager. “If he can stay healthy, he will have a special season. I feel, in many ways, that he is a better hitter than when he won the MVP. “
Boone highlighted the work that Stanton did with his “approach and focus” as part of the “evolution of a great and talented player”.
None of this will matter, however, if it is set aside.
Stanton said his goal in this off-season was to become “more dynamic to maintain strength as much as he can without sticking to the gym … [and] be prepared a little differently and see. “