A 21-game on base streak, 1.201 OPS during the winning streak, with four home runs and nine RBIs, and he’s got 22 homers on the year. I can't believe I am rattling off numbers for Giancarlo Stanton who was basically dead to me and most fans for the better half of this year and last year. But somehow, he's reinvented himself and he's living the best version right now as the Yankees keep the pressure on and the focus straight ahead.
What's the source of this new found strength and consistency? Defense. According to Yahoo Sports, Stanton likes playing out in the field and credits that activity to his increased performance at the plate. "I think it's helped kinda just not just focusing on hitting," he said. "I mean you always want to be your best in the box and I feel like in the best mind frame, but that also means turning it off for a second and using that focus somewhere else. So yeah, being out there you obviously have to worry about what position you're at, the flight of each ball, the situations out there, so yeah, it helps me in some way," said Stanton about playing more consistently in the field instead of just staying loose and focused as the designated hitter every night.
“He’s a unicorn,” said manager Aaron Boone. “He does things every night that are a little bit different than anyone else. … Every time he hits a ball, like a ground ball that you see an infielder maybe think he’s got a beat on -- they tend to get through, because they’re hit a little bit harder than you think," reported MLB.com. And this unicorn is helping this team power through the middle of August like we have not seen the likes of since 1985. That was the last time this franchise won 11 straight.
And to think just a month ago, Stanton was a player Brian Cashman would have loved to have unloaded. His performance was just not demonstrating a return on investment. I think we could all agree with that statement, but as of late, he has turned the page or perhaps abandoned his old playbook for a renewed version of himself.
Still a lot of baseball to go and certainly the unicorn can't carry the entire team on his back. Yet, he does not appear to have to, because the rest of the team is stepping up with the same force and power that Stanton is showing. Pitching has been 2.40 ERA in the last 10-games. And the bullpen has done a 360 as well, anchored by Jonathan Loaisiga who has just been simply spectacular. Newbies Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo are lethal both defensively and offensively and the Yankees are not acting like little leaguers on the basepaths. It is truly a team effort.
“What’s been nice about it is, it’s been the entire roster,” Boone said. “All 26 guys in there are playing important roles in this and having big hands in us winning ball games. And that’s a fun thing to be a part of," reported MLB.com.
Yep, Stanton's a unicorn but the rest of the Yankee herd is certainly complimenting him. 11 in the row as the Bombers head to the west coast. Let's hope they can keep the streak alive and cruise into September with the upper hand ready to take on the AL East in grand style!
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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