New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton is poised to come up with a monstrous second half in the Bronx.
Giancarlo, non si può stoparlo!
Also known in the English language as “Giancarlo, you can’t be stopped!”
And to the tune of that call, Giancarlo Stanton has proved little by little this season that indeed, he may not be able to be “stopped.” For example, take a look at the fireworks that were launched on Wednesday’s July 4 matinee at the Stadium:
Giancarlo Stanton HOME RUN… But what's even more impressive is @RealMichaelKay's impersonation of John Sterling. #YANKSonYES live stream: https://t.co/JJEX7jECYd pic.twitter.com/mp3mD4KpDz
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 4, 2018
It was his three-run shot that gave the New York Yankees a four-run cushion they wouldn’t look back on, but there is more to the recent success of Giancarlo Stanton that most would like to think.
Just a year ago, Stanton was coming off one of the most impressive seasons one could ask for. Not only impressive but it was MVP caliber as he took home his first National League MVP award. He hit a whopping .281 with 59 homers and 132 RBI to go along with 123 runs scored. And those numbers were over the course of 168 cumulative hits.
As we head into the MLB All-Star break, Stanton is once again beginning to heat up just as the weather is, but on a very similar to pace to his MVP season just a year ago:
Giancarlo Stanton's last 20 games
? .359 AVG
? 5 HR
? 14 RBI
? 1.029 OPS pic.twitter.com/eMBh5WZ4kV— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 4, 2018
Giancarlo Stanton has been notorious to demolish left-handed pitching more so then right-handed. It is one of the distinct categories he has not skipped a beat in. Last season he hit a slash line of .325/.452/.770 with an OPS of 1.221. Halfway through this season, he has hit a .345/.404/.759 slash line with a 1.163 OPS. Realistically looking at those lines, it’s safe to say he is on the same torrid pace to maintain his dominance against southpaws.
It doesn’t stop there. Stanton’s 59 homers last year lead all of the Major Leagues, not to mention RBI. On July 4 of 2017, Giancarlo’s numbers read 21 homers and 50 RBI. On July 4 of 2018, his numbers read 21 homers and 51 RBI. In the words of the late Yogi Berra, “It’s deja vu all over again.”
Staying by the numbers, if you look at his totals from last season and what he has accumulated up to this point this year, you can make the semi-risky assumption that he will get to those same numbers. He currently sits with 87 hits, a .267 batting average, 21 home runs, and 51 RBI. All of the statistics just about matchup to the pace he should be on to match 2017 numbers.
The secret to this formula has been the patient pace Stanton has set himself on. As you notice, month by month he quietly has raised his overall batting average and on-base percentages. Is it the weather? Maybe. What it could definitely be is a formula, seemed to be used by Giancarlo in two consecutive seasons now, where he paces himself rather than trying to burn himself.
Giancarlo Stanton:
Apr: .230/.313/.425/.737
May: .264/.330/.516/.847
Jun: .298/.373/.577/.950
Jul: .357/.357/.643/1.000 #SSS— Yankeesource (@YankeeSource) July 5, 2018
For those watching in recent games, they will notice Stanton beginning to walk more. Maybe not in the past couple games but in June itself he had 11 of his 31 total bases on balls. As big-time power hitters walk more and more it means just one thing: They are starting to see the ball a lot easier.
Giancarlo Stanton has proved to us by now that he is susceptible to streaky hitting. He can have a 4-4 game with two home runs and come back the next night 0-4 with two strikeouts. The point is, with the abnormal amount of baserunners he is capable of driving in, he has again put himself in the mix to duplicate the season and second half he had just a year ago.
All of the above proves why he can put on another show in the dog days of summer and down the homestretch. But, what he needs to be careful of is the most unproductive statistic in all of the major sports: Strikeouts. With only 163 total a year ago, Stanton is over the pace to shatter that number this year as he already has 115 strikeouts.
If he can somehow hone in those troubles I don’t see why he can’t accomplish what he did just a season ago, as stated by manager Aaron Boone.
“He won that MVP on the strength of a couple months that were historically great. So I would never put anything past this guy with his ability and his talent and his skill set.” (per New York Daily News, Peter Botte)
These months can be just as historic, but now we must wait to find out.
