Giancarlo Stanton, out since April, makes WC roster
New York Yankees fans are probably pretty excited to see slugger Giancarlo Stanton make the roster for the team’s AL Wild Card series against the rival Red Sox. And why wouldn’t they be?
The veteran slugger hasn’t played since April in yet another season lost to injuries. He is notably active while captain and three-time MVP Aaron Judge remains out with a calf strain. Now add that Stanton has hit a modest .254 in the playoffs since Joining the Yankees, but with 18 home runs. The former MVP has also hit the Red Sox well, batting .272 with 17 homers against New York’s archrival.
Slow your roll, folks. Slipping Giancarlo Stanton into the lineup isn’t as easy as it seems. In fact, it’s more likely we see him sporadically as opposed to being a lineup fixture again.
Let’s start in outfield. Playing Stanton there is a nonstarter. To say his legs are made of glass is an insult to glass. No, those three spots are set: Cody Bellinger in left, Spencer Jones in center, and Heliot Ramos over in right. Against righties and lefties.
Stanton can’t automatically DH against righties either. Luis Garcia Jr. at first base pushes Ben Rice into the DH slot, and Rice hit 41 home runs in the regular season. Benching him is not happening. Period.
As in: it sure looks like the Yankees are looking at Giancarlo Stanton as one half of a bench power platoon. Stanton against tough lefties, Trent Grisham against right-handed pitching. Important note considering the Red Sox included on their roster lefty ace Garrett Crochet who, like Stanton, has not appeared in a game since April. He’s a bullpen option against lefty-heavy lineups.
Cue Aaron Boone and bench coach Brad Ausmus having to play lineup chess late in games.
But in reality, it’s blatantly obvious this is the Yankees’ plan for Stanton and, against righties, Grisham. If he hits a home run, mission accomplished. Pinch runners should be automatic if he reaches base otherwise.
Game 1 of the Yankees-Red Sox Wild Card Series kicks off at 8 p.m. on Tuesday night. NBC and Peacock have the broadcast.
Josh Benjamin has been a staff writer at ESNY since 2018. He has had opinions about everything, especially the Yankees and Knicks. He co-hosts the “Bleacher Creatures” podcast and is always looking for new pieces of sports history to uncover, usually with a Yankee Tavern chicken parm sub in hand.
