Yanks won’t go back ... back ... back to Derby
Giancarlo on thought of another HR show: ‘I don’t want to’
The 2018 Home Run Derby won’t feature any Yankees.
Giancarlo Stanton, the derby winner in 2016, said he won’t be competing in this year’s event on July 16 in D.C.
“I don’t want to,” said Stanton, who is among the candidates for the final vote to make the All-Star team. “I’ve done it plenty of times. I can take a year off. I can take two years off if I want.”
Stanton was upset by Gary Sanchez in the first round in 2017. Participating in the derby, though, did not affect him. He hit 33 homers and posted a 1.095 OPS in the second half en route to capturing NL MVP honors.
Aaron Judge, however, was affected after winning
the derby in 2017, even though he’s never actually said so outright. In any case, he won’t be defending his title.
Bothered by a left shoulder injury that ultimately required offseason surgery, Judge hit .179 with seven homers in his first 44 games following the All-Star break before turning it on in September.
Judge has had the same stance on not participating since the spring.
“The main reason why I did it is for the fans. That’s really the only reason why I did it is for the fans, to put on a good show,” Judge said. “This year we’ve got something special going on, and I’m kind of sad I’m not doing it. But we’ve got something pretty special here and I just want to stay healthy going into the second half.”
Gleyber Torres probably won’t be able to participate in the festivities due to his right hip strain. But even so, the 21-year-old rookie had already said he wouldn’t have competed in the derby if asked.
CHAPMAN AND HICKS HELD OUT
While Aaron Boone said before the game that Aroldis Chapman (left knee) and Aaron Hicks (left hamstring) could be available for Sunday’s game, the manager elected to stay away from both of them. Chapman and Hicks both left Saturday’s game due to injury. Clint Frazier got the start in left, with Brett Gardner shifting over to center, while David Robertson recorded the save in the 10th.
Asked how his knee felt after the game, Chapman, who has been pitching with left knee tendinitis for a while, said he was still feeling a little bit of discomfort.
Asked if he’d be able to pitch on Monday in Baltimore, the flamethrowing closer responded: “We’ll see.”
Boone had said of Hicks pregame: “Aaron is doing well. We’ll try to stay away from him, but I view him as an option.”
OF NOTE
Tyler Wade could start at shortstop for Didi Gregorius in one of Monday’s two games, Boone said. … CC Sabathia will start Game 1 of the doubleheader, while Luis Cessa will get the ball in Game 2. Boone replied that he was “glad” that Sunday’s game was moved back to its original 1:07 p.m. start time rather than being ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball game of the week.