Yankees manager promises to look into Giancarlo Stanton’s baserunning gaffe

The slow running of Giancarlo Stanton deprived the Yankees of a run against the Astros on Saturday. As the fans grow impatient, Yankees manager Aaron Boone discussed about it during his post-game press meet and offered to look into the baserunning incident.

Boone was questioned about Giancarlo Stanton’s performance on the bases and mentioned that he would need to review the incident. He admitted that the player should have more speed when he was moving in the right direction.

“I’d have to look at it,” said the Yankees manager. “Sometimes, if he gets going in the right direction, he’s got more than that. Sometimes if it’s not an efficient route, he’s going to protect a bit more. But yeah, he’s good, he’s healthy.”

Overall, Boone confirmed that there was no issue related to Giancarlo Stanton’s health condition.

Aaron Boone says Giancarlo Stanton is healthy, but "didn't think he got a great round on third" when he was thrown out at home.#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/2H4vSu5lfN

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 5, 2023

Giancarlo Stanton’s slow baserunning cost Yankees a run

Giancarlo Stanton’s performance on the bases during the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Astros raised some concerns. In a notable incident during the bottom of the third inning, the Yankees hitter had the opportunity to score from second base on a single from DJ LeMahieu. However, his lack of speed resulted in an embarrassing out. It was evident that most MLB players would have easily reached home plate, but Giancarlo Stanton’s slow movement raised eyebrows, prompting the manager to reassure reporters that he is indeed healthy.

This is absolutely wild. Has Giancarlo Stanton literally instructed to not run at more than 0.1%, or is he that slow? 😂pic.twitter.com/whHaqbnN9K

— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) August 5, 2023

Following Giancarlo Stanton’s two-out double in the third inning, an opportunity arose to potentially break the 1-1 tie as D.J. LeMahieu connected with a single to right-center field.

However, Astros center fielder Mauricio Dubon swiftly made a strong play, skillfully catching the ball on the rise after a single bounce and then launching a powerful throw to home plate. Despite Giancarlo Stanton’s initial advantage, Dubon’s throw reached home several feet ahead of him, resulting in the out.

Upon review, the replays didn’t favor Giancarlo Stanton’s base-running efforts. It was evident that he began running as soon as the ball was hit, but his pace on the basepaths could be accurately described as a casual jog. Giancarlo Stanton, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 245 pounds, has never been renowned for his speed, but this particular display showcased an even slower level of movement.

Consequently, the Yankees’ inning came to a close with that play resulting in an out.

Fortunately, Giancarlo Stanton’s out didn’t prevent the Yankees from securing the win though they lost a run. Thanks to Nestor Cortes’ impressive return (four innings pitched, one earned run) and a solid five shutout innings by the Yankees’ bullpen, they were able to spoil Justin Verlander’s comeback with the Astros following his high-profile trade from the New York Mets.

Boone rules out Stanton injury scare

Following the game, reporters inquired about Giancarlo Stanton’s baserunning and if the outfielder has any hamstring injury that earlier kept him on the injured list.

“G is good, I just didn’t think he got a great round on third and got a little careful over there,” the Yankees manager replied.

Maintaining Giancarlo Stanton’s health has been a consistent concern for the Yankees during his time with the team. Since his acquisition from the Marlins in 2018, he has been absent for a total of 464 games out of a potential 972. In the current season, he has appeared in 60 of New York’s 111 games.

As Giancarlo Stanton’s speed has diminished with age, the Yankees have chosen to deploy the 33-year-old as their designated hitter in 36 games this season, rather than relying on him as an everyday outfielder. Although Boone maintains that Giancarlo Stanton is in good health, his lackluster performance on the basepaths during Saturday’s game did little to support that claim.

In the grand scheme of things, losing one run won’t have a significant impact on Giancarlo Stanton or the Yankees. Nonetheless, it was an unfortunate moment, and what’s more critical is that it could have been avoided. This incident adds to a challenging season for the Yankees hitter, where he’s currently batting .212/.287/.477 with 17 home runs in 247 plate appearances.

Fortunately, it wasn’t the most egregious baserunning incident in the AL East on Saturday. That dubious distinction belonged to the Red Sox at Fenway Park, where a poor display of baserunning in the bottom of the ninth allowed the Blue Jays to secure a victory.

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