Stanton: Give Marlins statue the hook
LAKELAND, Fla. — The financially-depleted Marlins were able to shed most of Giancarlo Stanton’s massive salary, and the reigning NL MVP thinks his former team should get rid of their home run sculpture too. “I can’t stand that sculpture,” Stanton told Sports Illustrated. “I never liked it. I hope (Derek) Jeter takes it down. He said he wants to. I hope he does. All it does is suggest that this place is a circus, and we’re the main attraction.” “The circus is over now,” Stanton added. Jeter reportedly wants to move the $2.5 million statue, but it won’t be easy. Artist Red Groom, the man behind the seven-story sculpture, would have to approve the removal, and he told the Miami Herald in February he wants the statue to remain right at Marlins Park.
“What I would like is for it to stay there,” Groom said. “I wish it would just stay there and be hit in the bean with baseballs.”
Jeter has yet to comment publicly about the idea of removing the statue.
“It’s big. I mean, it’s unique. It’s a unique sculpture,” Jeter said. “We’re having a dialogue. We’re trying to figure out any ways we can make this in-game experience better for fans.”
Stanton and the Yankees will visit the Marlins on Aug. 21-22.
WORD ON BIRD
Greg Bird is hitting .159 in the spring, but Aaron Boone isn’t concerned. “We’re happy with his strike-zone discipline. It’s just a matter of time. I think his patience at the plate is at an elite level, and that will allow him over time to be a really good hitter. If we can keep him healthy, we feel like a big season is in store.”
Boone reiterated there is a chance Bird could hit third in the order, but said it could also be a fluid situation.
AILING JAcOBy
Jacoby Ellsbury’s flu-like symptoms have subsided, and Boone said the 34-year-old veteran could get back in a spring game on Thursday in Fort Myers. Ellsbury, who has missed much of the spring due to an oblique injury, is slated to start the season on the disabled list . ... Sonny Gray threw in a minor-league game in Tampa, going six innings. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild was encouraged by the outing . ... Luis Cessa will start on Wednesday, Jordan Montgomery on Thursday and Masahiro Tanaka on Friday . ... Bench coach Josh Bard and Rothschild will accompany Luis Severino to Lake Buena Vista for his final spring tuneup on Saturday, while Boone will stay back at home vs. Toronto as part of the split-squad day . ... Stanton will not play left on Opening Day, as Brett Gardner will be in the lineup . ... The Yankees received righty Angelo Gomez as a Rule 5 return from the Braves and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton.