GIANCAR-KNOW
Mattingly understands from experience zone Stanton is in
Don Mattingly is one of the few people on the planet who can understand just how hot Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is right now.
Since the All-Star break, Stanton has been on an absolute tear, hitting .316 with 18 home runs and 36 RBIs.
Stanton’s impressive stretch was highlighted so far by his hitting home runs in six consecutive games, from Aug. 10-15. Few players know what it’s like to be that locked in. Mattingly, the Marlins manager and former Yankees first baseman, is one of them.
On July 18, 1987, Mattingly homered in his eighth straight game — a feat only two others have accomplished in major league history (Dale Long in 1956 and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993).
So how does it feel to be in that kind of zone?
“Pretty good,” Mattingly said with a laugh prior to the Marlins facing the Mets at Citi Field on Friday, “It’s really about riding the wave. … When you get a hot streak, you’re just trying to ride it out and stay where you’re at for as long as you possibly can.”
Still, Mattingly insisted his and Stanton’s streaks were different: “I looked at mine as more of a little hot streak. I was swinging the bat good and happened to be getting some balls in the air. Giancarlo is different. He gets the ball in the air, it’s going out of the ballpark. … I just happened to be hot for a few days.”
The former American League MVP, who retired in 1995, was rooting for Stanton to break his record. “I was hoping he’d get to like 15,” he said. Stanton’s propensity to strike out is actually helping him, Mattingly said. Pitchers are not afraid to challenge him.
“The thing about Giancarlo is, he’s a little bit like Big Mac [Mark McGwire]. … You feel like you can get him out if you make pitches,” Mattingly said. “He strikes out enough, and swings and misses enough, that you think if I can get the ball here, we can get this guy. And then the danger comes.”
“I think that gets him pitched to, because you still see there is swing and miss in his game, so you still feel like there’s a swing and miss there.” he added. “So I think the danger in that is you don’t get to your spots, and then you pay.”
Mets catcher Rene Rivera suggested they are going to challenge Stanton during the weekend series.
“For sure, we’ll go after him,” Rivera said before the Mets lost to the Yankees 7-5 on Thursday.
Perhaps the Mets should tread lightly. Stanton, who has a major league-leading and club-record 44 homers, is hot and Mattingly doesn’t envision him slowing down.
“If he fell asleep the rest of the year, he’s going to hit 50 [homers],” Mattingly joked. And 60? “Why not?” Mattingly said.