Though Aaron Judge is the captain of the New York Yankees, Giancarlo Stanton is a veteran leader in their clubhouse too.
So after news surfaced Monday that Stanton had woken the Yankees up after a dismal game in Texas in August — The Athletic reported that Monday — they wondered whether Stanton had another inspiring message to the Bombers with their season potentially on the verge of ending.
The Yankees trail the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 in the best-of-5 American League Division Series. Game 3, which will feature staff co-ace Carlos Rodon against old playoff nemesis Shane Bieber, is Tuesday at 8:08 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.
Giancarlo Stanton Sent Yankees ‘A Wakeup Call’ In Texas
The Yankees were in the midst of their fourth straight midseason malaise and had fallen into third place — and just six games over .500 while trying to stave off rivals like the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and others and simply get into the playoffs — when they dropped their fourth straight game against the Texas Rangers on Aug. 4 in North Texas.
So Stanton, the 2017 NL MVP and reigning ALCS MVP who will turn 36 in November and is running out of time to win his first World Series, decided to speak up.
“I knew we were so much better than that at the time,â Stanton told The Athletic last week. âIt was going to take a lot more than that to be able to have moments like [the Yankees’ champagne spray after advancing to the ALDS.
âSometimes you have to do things you donât always do [or] donât want to do. I can say I felt pretty bad about it for a while afterward. I meant no harm with it.â
Yet, the speech had the opposite impact than Stanton’s initial feelings, even though the Yankees fell the next day.
âA wakeup call,â Judge told The Athletic of Stanton’s speech. âIt was good for everybody to hear and for all of us to kind of look in the mirror, like, âHey, am I really giving it my best? Am I really giving it my all? Time to turn around and get things moving.ââ
The Yankees proceeded to go 34-15 over their final 49 games then beat the Red Sox in three games in the AL Wild Card Series.
âA guy like [Stanton], who has been around the game and has been around a lot of teams and had a lot of great moments … can say it,” Judge said. “Hearing it from one of your guys thatâs out there battling with you every day, it’s a good little reality check.”
Game 2 May Have Been That Wakeup Call For The Yankees
The Yankees looked like they were still recovering from the emotional series against the Red Sox in Game 1. Then, Max Friend and Co. spotted the Blue Jays an insurmountable 12-0 advantage in Game 2.
But John Schneider may have opened the door a crack for the Yankees by pulling Toronto Trey Yesavage after 5 1/3 hitless innings. Their offense broke out for seven runs on 10 hits against Toronto’s bullpen over the final 3 2/3 innings, which prompted manager Aaron Boone to have some hope, despite the 2-0 hole.
“Thereâs been a lot of weird things that have happened in baseball this year,” Boone said. “This would not be the weirdest, us rallying. Weâll come ready to go Tuesday, expect to win, and then look to win again and push it back here.â
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