TAMPA – The Yankees witnessed in October what Giancarlo Stanton could do when he is healthy and his timing is right.
The problem is that it happened so rarely during the time in the Bronx, due to prolonged absences due to injuries and failures.
Now, at 31 and with seven years left on his contract, refusing to give up off-season, Stanton gets another chance to live up to the huge expectations that came with the deal he signed with the Marlins and in his trade. with the Yankees.
“I think we’re tired of looking around at the end of the year in that locker room and not being where we want to be,” Stanton said. “You do not want these memories to continue year after year. We have to make this leap and get over that hump this year. “
Help Stanton in the middle of the band throughout the season.
“It’s always the idea to fight the team as much as possible to change that narrative,” Stanton said Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “Just like… to go out and do what I can and must do to stay there 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 unharmed.
The smiles he gave the Yankees in the playoffs, when he crushed six homers in seven games, left his colleagues and manager Aaron Boone wanting more.
Stanton admitted that he took notes on what he managed to do in the disappointing playoffs of the Yankees last season, to see how he can maintain it during a season.
“It simply came to our notice then [I did] and keep going until this year and keep getting better, “Stanton said.
So far, there have been no problems in the camp, with Stanton taking rehearsals in the right field as the Yankees test whether he could be an option on defense – despite the fact that they said he could be better as a full-time designated hitter in -an effort. to keep his body.
Stanton said it was also for the opportunity to play on the field “during the season as much as the team needs.”
More importantly, they want to have him available to hit.
After playing 158 games and hitting 38 homers in his first season in a row, Stanton has appeared in just 41 regular-season games in the past two years, before playing in all seven games in playoff last year.
Then he opened the eyes, once again, to guys like Luke Voit.
“It shows you that he was an MVP for a reason,” Voit said. “God, the runs he hit were runs in the light tower. They were impressive. If we can bring him to the field, we know he will be incredible “.
Aaron Boone said he believes Stanton is more dangerous on the plate than when he was named NL MVP with the Marlins in 2017.
“We saw [in the playoffs] how I feel if he was healthy in ’19 and ’20, which we would have seen during those seasons, “said the manager.” If he can stay healthy, he will return in a special season. I feel in In many ways, he’s a better player than when he won the MVP. “
Boone highlighted Stanton’s work with his “approach and focus” as part of the “evolution of an excellent and talented player.”
None of this will matter, however, if it is eliminated.
Stanton said his goal this season is to become “more dynamic to keep as much power as possible without being stuck to the gym … [and] be prepared a little differently and see. ”