The New York Yankees, the league’s finest power-hitting team, lived up to the nickname “Bronx Bombers” this season. Giancarlo Stanton believes the squad may need to alter their strategy after falling behind 0-2 to the similarly strong Houston Astros.
Stanton spoke out after the Yankees managed just four hits in the 3-2 loss in Game 2 due to their poor hitting performance. The longest such single-season skid in franchise history, it’s their ninth straight game with six hits or fewer going back to the regular season.
Giancarlo Stanton remarked, “We need to shorten up a bit and put the ball in play. “If you put the ball into play, you never know what can happen.”
The Yankees’ strategy throughout the regular season of slugging home runs has allowed them to survive this long. With 254, they led the league in long balls, but with just 1308, they tied for 16th place in the league in terms of overall hits.
Playing for power alone won’t be sufficient against the Astros, who are a formidable team from top to bottom, and Stanton is aware of this. Perhaps it was symbolic that Aaron Judge’s effort at a home run in Minute Maid Park was unsuccessful due to the contentious open roof.
The Yankees must play as though they have only two metaphorical lives remaining. Instead of swinging for the fences, they should venture outside of their comfort zone and reduce their strides.
Giancarlo Stanton’s severe message to the Yankees after losing the ALCS series to the Astros 0-2 first appeared on ClutchPoints.
