Aaron Judge pins Giancarlo Stanton’s slump on shady Yankees tactics

Yankees captain Aaron Judge claims that the mistaken strategy of the Yankees is behind the slump of his teammate Giancarlo Stanton. He is still hopeful to see the power hitter getting back to his form and believes that the 33-year-old is still capable of hitting 40-50 home runs in a season.

“I think if we give him the chance to just keep him in the outfield a little bit longer, keep him moving, that’s the biggest thing,” Aaron Judge said. “I think if there’s a way we can find a way to mix him in the outfield a little bit more, keep him moving, that’ll help him out.”

Giancarlo Stanton endured another injury-plagued season for the New York Yankees, managing to play just 101 games. Despite hitting 24 home runs, he struggled with a low .191 batting average and .695 OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging). His OPS+ has now declined three consecutive seasons, bottoming out at a career-worst 87 this year. For most players nearing 34 years old, this steep drop in production would signal a significant decline in skills.

However, Giancarlo Stanton insists he hasn’t “lost it,” as he mentioned to reporter Bob Klapisch on October 2.

Aaron Judge still has faith in Giancarlo Stanton

According to Aaron Judge, the Yankees haven’t utilized Giancarlo Stanton properly. He specifically told giving Giancarlo Stanton more time in the outfield and keeping him active would benefit the slugger. Aaron Judge explained how he found it challenging personally to go from sitting on the bench to hitting as a designated hitter. Staying engaged defensively keeps a player more involved in the game.

“I’ve been DH-ing a couple of these days. It’s tough to go from just kind of sitting on the bench to hitting,” he said. “You’re really not in the game as much as you are when you’re playing defense.”

Aaron Judge suggested finding ways for Giancarlo Stanton to play the outfield more could help get him back on track. He reiterated his belief that giving the player more opportunities to play the outfield could help get the slugger back on track.

From Aaron Judge’s perspective, increased outfield time and keeping active defensively would benefit Giancarlo Stanton. He highlighted the difficulties of going straight from the bench to hitting as the designated hitter. The Yankees captain stressed the importance of staying fully engaged in the game through playing the field. He concluded that working Giancarlo Stanton into the outfield more often could positively impact his performance.

“I think if we give him the chance to just keep him in the outfield a little bit longer, keep him moving, that’s the biggest thing,” Aaron Judge said, via The Athletic. “I’ve been DH-ing a couple of these days. It’s tough to go from just kind of sitting on the bench to hitting. You’re really not in the game as much as you are when you’re playing defense. I think if there’s a way we can find a way to mix him in the outfield a little bit more, keep him moving, that’ll help him out.”

This aligns with Giancarlo Stanton’s own preferences. Last season, the player expressed wanting more time at outfield according to NJ Advance Media reporting.

Giancarlo Stanton stated he feels he contributes more when playing defense. The opportunity to get on the field and be involved beyond just hitting is something the veteran has advocated for. Aaron Judge’s comments suggest he agrees that putting Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield more regularly could help him rebound from his recent struggles.

The slugger has a hefty $118 million contract running through 2027, though $30 million is covered by his former team, the Miami Marlins. The Yankees aren’t considering releasing Giancarlo Stanton yet to free up a roster spot, believing his potential contributions still hold value. But they could be nearing that point unless they can improve his performance.

Casey’s view matches Judge’s stance on Giancarlo Stanton

Despite struggling with a .191 average and career-low .695 OPS this season, the former MVP still offers something useful according to the Yankees. Ex-Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey, who took over in July, thinks a fresh start could benefit Giancarlo Stanton. He told The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty that Stanton should go back to basics and rebuild from the ground up.

Casey added Giancarlo Stanton could better utilize his natural athleticism, particularly in his batting approach. Right now, the slugger employs a cautious, wide stance without much load, Casey observed. He believes there is more athletic potential in Giancarlo Stanton’s swing. Casey suggested looking at the player’s past success, when he stood more upright, added rhythm to his hand movements, and incorporated a more dance-like quality in the batter’s box.

The former coach suggested Giancarlo Stanton should take time away from baseball this offseason. Casey believes this challenging, trying year warrants hitting the reset button for the power hitter. He made these comments before the Yankees’ final regular season game.

Casey thinks Giancarlo Stanton could benefit from starting over from the ground up. He advised returning to the fundamentals that brought past success and re-establishing a solid foundation. As Casey mentioned, becoming more athletic in his batting approach and improving his pitch recognition could also help Giancarlo Stanton move forward.

However, can the Yankees find more outfield playing time for Giancarlo Stanton next season? What would be the logistics? During the 2022 spring training, there was a plan to have Judge play left field when Harrison Bader covered center, opening right field for Giancarlo Stanton. But would this strategy still work if the Yankees acquire a full-time center fielder over the offseason?

Resolving Giancarlo Stanton’s struggles is a major weakness the Yankees must address this winter. The former MVP will need to reboot and rediscover his All-Star form.

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