With Jeter just hearsay

Stanton told Sports Illustrated about the meeting. “I’m not going to be forced somewhere, on a deadline, just because it’s convenient for you guys. I’ve put up with enough here. Derek, I know you don’t fully understand where I’m coming from. But (GM) Mike (Hill) does. He’s been here. He can fill you in. This may not go exactly how I planned. But it’s definitely not going to go how you have planned.”

Stanton has gotten off to a slow start, and was booed during his first homestand after a pair of five-strikeout, Platinum Sombrero performances. He has three homers and

an MLB-high 25 Ks. Stanton did get six hits during the Red Sox series, so he’s starting to pick it up offensively.

“Much better,” Stanton replied when asked how he feels at the plate. “My balance points are better, I’m picking the ball up better. Just got to continue.”

As for facing the Marlins for the first time, Stanton said: “Just like any other game. It’s cool they still have a lot of guys that I’m familiar with, but I think it’ll be a little bit different when I go to Miami, rather than playing them in New York.” tanton won’t be exchanging pleasantries with any of his ex-pitcher teammates either — at least not until his at-bats are over, anyway.

“That’s game time,” Stanton said. “We’re fighting there. He’s fighting to get me out and I’m fighting to get a hit. You mess around after sometimes — something funny happens and you get a smirk here and there — once you’re getting to first base or whatever then you joke about it, but it’s game time.”

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