Stanton tests leg, but remains on bench
Giancarlo Stanton ran the bases prior to Game 4 of the ALCS Thursday afternoon at what appeared to be far from full speed.
That represented progress to Aaron Boone, but not enough to put Stanton in the lineup following two games on the bench. And the manager indicated if Stanton eventually does get into the lineup, it could be as the designated hitter.
“I felt like [Thursday] for the first day was better,’’ Boone said of Stanton, who hasn’t been in the lineup since Game 1, when he suffered a strained right quadriceps running to first base on a single in the second inning. “Sixty percent run-wise probably. I am not ready to put him in the outfield. I feel like he is close to a DH option. Certainly a hitter off the bench for us in a spot.’’
After starting Aaron Hicks in center field and batting the switch hitter ninth in Game 3, Boone moved Hicks into the third spot for Game 4 against Zack Greinke and started Brett Gardner in left for a second straight game.
That relegated Stanton to a seat on the bench with catcher Austin Romine and outfielder Cameron Maybin.
Boone was waiting to see what unfolded in Game 4 before committing to Stanton as the DH, a spot Edwin Encarnacion has started at in all six postseason games, lugging a .200 (5-for-25) October average into Game 4.
“We will see how we do [Thursday night] and where we are at [Friday],’’ Boone said about starting Stanton at DH.
If Boone goes that route, Encarnacion slides to the bench or first base. That is a difficult decision for the manager, even with Encarnacion’s cold bat.
“That’s the next question. If you [DH Stanton] what is the move? That is a tough one,’’ Boone said. “The other thing is you go into that spot we are not replacing a guy who isn’t a very good player. I want to feel [Stanton] is good to go. He is not going to be all the way 100 percent. Obviously we aren’t going to get there. Him going in, he is replacing a really good player.’’
Stanton looked shaky fielding ground balls in left field prior to Game 3 Tuesday and the running program Thursday was pedestrian at best.
However, according to Boone, Stanton’s work in the batting cage has gone well.
“BP is good, hitting-wise he has been good,’’ Boone said. “He feels pretty good where he is at swing-wise.’’
Boone never counts anything out, but it didn’t sound like taking Stanton off the ALCS roster was an option before Game 4. If that move is made, Stanton wouldn’t be eligible to play in the World Series should the Yankees rebound from the 2-1 hole they were in entering Game 4.
“I feel like we are making enough progress to continue and try do that,’’ Boone said of keeping Stanton on the roster.