Mental consistency the key for Stanton
PHILADELPHIA FrankMenechino, the Miami Marlins’ assistant hitting coach, has worked with Giancarlo Stanton for four seasons now — through slumps, injuries, a Home Run Derby title and scorching-hot stretches that nearlywonStantonan NLMVPaward.
But this month, as Stanton has started the season with another one of those scorching-hot stretches, Menechino is more comfortable telling the slugger what he did wrong, even if the on-field product looked good. It’s a result of Stanton’s complete dedication to his mental approach to hitting.
“He doesn’t want to results-oriented,” Menechino said. “Because he can do stuff wrong and still have results.”
Being process-oriented as opposed to results-oriented is an increasingly common mindset in the sport, and one Stanton has bought into more thoroughly this season. He can do something wrong but still get extra bases. He can do everything right but still make an out. The latter of those is preferred, because itmeansbetter results over the course of a long season.
“He’s more vocal about it,” Menehcino said. “Before, he would hold it in and try to do everything himself. [Coaches] in the past would look at the results and say, ‘Oh, it’s fine, don’t say nothing.’ Butnow what he’s doing is … [saying], ‘This iswhatIwant to do, make sure I do it.’
“For him to say that to us means a lot, because now you don’t feel bad when you tell him it’s wrongandhehit ahomer.” be
Stanton’s direction to Menechino and hitting coachMikePagliarulowas simple: If he gets away from his approach — his mindset when he’s at the plate, looking for the right pitch in the right spot — say something immediately. Don’t wait till after the game. Don’t wait for a string of potentially bad games.
Likewise, Stanton said he has been working to stick to that mental game plan even if it doesn’t produce results for a game or several. In the past, he said, he’d fret too quickly andrush tomake a change. Not anymore.
Approach, approach, approach.
“Trusting it. Fully,” Stanton said. “Youcan go0 for 5 tonight with the best approach, the best everything, and understanding that’sOK.”
It’s working so far. Entering Wednesday, Stanton led the Marlins with 1.0 Wins Above Replacement, according to BaseballReference. Hewas hitting .300 with a .367 OBP and .614 slugging percentage, another team-best. He hit seven homers, one shy of his March/April career best of eight, which he hit last year and in 2014.