Now all that’s left for Giancarlo is right
THE big glass is half-full.
Giancarlo Stanton has half of it all figured out over his fifirst 40 games as a Yankee. That’s nnot a bad start to his career in pinststripes.
Stanton destroys left-handed pipitching and on a wet, chilly Sundaday afternoon at Yankee Stadium he was a monster masher again, ththis time versus A’s lefty Brett Andederson, collecting three hits agagainst Anderson, a home run and ththree RBIs in the Yankees’ 6-2 win ovover Oakland.
WWith the victory, the Yankees mamatched the Red Sox for the best re record After in his the fifth- majors inning at 28- solo 12. home rurun into the Yankees bullpen, Stantonton upped his average to .457 this seseason against southpaws with sevseven of his 10 home runs coming agagainst lefties.
AAs for right-handers, if you must askask, the right-handed hitting Stantonton came into the day batting .185 but delivered a double in the seventh against righty Santiago Casilla, giving him a four-hit day as he fell a triple shy of the cycle.
Stanton’s next hit will be the 1,000th hit of his career.
“We’re naturally supposed to hit better against lefties,’’ Stanton said. “It’s getting there. Everything is still new. I haven’t been to every park. There are no excuses, but it is still new stuff. Make new adjustments, new routines as they come. Just keep pushing.’’
Over the course of his career, Stanton is batting .298 versus lefties and 40 points lower versus right-handers.
At least Stanton has it going against lefties and the Yankees’ next game will be Tuesday in Washington against lefty Gio Gonzalez.
Perhaps this day will be looked back upon as the day Stanton started to get it together as a Yankee.
“He’s a great player,’’ Aaron Boone said. “I know as long as he is getting in his work and settling in, the production is going to be there over time. I think his game plan has been really strong. One thing I will predict: In the end it will be massive production.’’
Already, Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius are the first quartet of Yankee teammates to hit at least 10 home runs each in the team’s first 40 games.
On Sunday it was Stanton who unfurled the top sail of success for the Yankees.
But Stanton’s extremely closed stance has something to do with his incredible success against lefthanders and his issues versus righties. “It’s set up to handle both,’’ Stanton said.
This is still a work in progress, but at least the Yankees can count on Stanton doing extreme damage to left-handers as he figures out this whole New York thing and learns what life is all about with a contender.
Remember, this is rarified air for Stanton, who had been stuck all those years in Miami out of the running with the Marlins. And taking advantage of his strengths will help ease the growing pains.
Stanton is a fastball hitter and his first-inning, two-run single and fifth-inning home run into the Yankees bullpen both came on fastballs away. He does not have to worry about the inner half against lefties and he makes them pay the home-run toll.
“He is much more in sync versus lefties … super aggressive,’’ noted one scout at the game.
In 120 at-bats against right-handers, Stanton owns 11 RBIs. In 35 atbats against lefties, Stanton has produced 15 RBIs.
Left-handers are quaking in their spikes against Stanton.
If only Stanton could face a lefthanded pitcher every game. If only the Yankees could play outside the AL East.
The Yankees are 11-9 versus the AL East, 17-3 against all other divisions. This was a strong homestand for the Yankees who went 7-2 even with three games against Boston.
A strong homestand for Stanton, too, as he batted .323, raising his average to .252.
We are in an age where everyone wants instant success but it usually doesn’t work that way in baseball. There is a process, and even though Stanton spent eight years in Miami it really is a whole new ballgame in The Bronx. He has to figure it out and while he’s doing that at least the glass is overflowing with success against left-handers.
That’s a good start.