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Yankees Hot Corner – Stanton carrying weight in Judge’s absence

The New York Yankees fans are a fickle group;  If you don’t start producing immediately you’ll be booed out of Yankee Stadium and ridiculed on sports radio to no end.  This epidemic has hit many times, from Tino Martinez to Randy Johnson.  The epidemic made its way back to the Bronx with Giancarlo Stanton, as he was showered with Bronx cheers every time he came up to bat in March and April.

Fast forward four months and Stanton is one of the most consistent hitters in baseball, bringing his average up nearly 60 points from the beginning of the season.  Balls that Stanton would chase earlier in the season he’s holding back on, and he’s finally driving the ball the other way.  Stanton is currently batting .285 with 32 home runs and 80 RBIs.  For most players that’s a career year, but Stanton is looking to do much more as the season winds down.

The whole reason why Giancarlo Stanton came to New York (well the most important one) was because he wanted to win a championship.  As told on Sunday Night Baseball, Stanton turned down trades to both the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants because he didn’t like the direction of the team or the prospects that were coming up from the farm system.  He went to the Yankees because he saw a team that can win now and eight years down the line.  He wanted to be a part of something special, and he’s currently the bellcow of the Yankees’ offense with Aaron Judge sidelined still.

Stanton’s hot streak has come at the perfect time as Aaron Judge is still nursing a mysterious bone fracture in his arm.  He’s been working out but he still hasn’t been able to swing a bat yet, so Judge may not be back until the tail end of September.  Stanton has fit right into the top of the lineup and has produced day in and day out.  His defense has improved and although he’ll never be the most graceful in right or left field has played serviceable.  He’s never going to replace Judge but at least he can carry the weight while Judge heals.

What’s great about this Yankees team is that Stanton doesn’t need to do it alone, although he’s heavily relied upon.  Guys like Miguel Andujar, Aaron Hicks and Neil Walker have stepped up as well.  It’ll never be a baseball season without some major injuries along the way, but those who ridiculed the Yankees for getting Stanton in the first place should be thankful they have him now.  He is an excellent player, a former MVP and hot as a bat out of hell right now.  If only fans were able to take their boos back now.

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