New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has had enough of answering questions about his Miami Marlins past.
Giancarlo Stanton must be listening to a lot of Billy Joel lately. The outfielder knows what he’s needing, and he doesn’t want to waste more time, because he’s in a New York Yankees state of mind.
“Honestly, I’m over talking about the difference about here and Miami and what went on last year,’’ Stanton told the New York Post’s Dan Martin on Tuesday. “I’d like to move on.”
Stanton came to New York in a blockbuster trade after hitting 59 homers and earning his first MVP with the Miami Marlins in 2017.
By comparison, his first campaign in pinstripes was a down year. The 29-year-old hit 38 dingers and drove in 100 runs; however, he set a new career high with 211 strikeouts and weakly slashed .238/.273/.381 in the postseason.
The four-time All-Star claims he’s now fully settled into his new digs, though, including an unfamiliar position in left field.
“I have a better idea of how to play left field with half a year playing there under my belt,’’ Stanton told Martin. “Everything is much more comfortable after a season in New York. It helps me, for sure.’’
Stanton also noted that he’s better prepared for the intense media scrutiny that comes along with playing in New York:
“There’s always gonna be a buzz about something here. You have to filter that out and go out and play. I know how to separate them better now.”
Theoretically, the more relaxed and grounded Stanton is, the more stressed and frazzled opposing pitchers will be. Such a relationship could have a positive ripple effect on Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and the rest of the lineup.
The point is, if all goes well, Stanton can be the catalyst for an extremely potent Bombers offense in 2019.
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