Most importantly, Giancarlo Stanton did not get hurt.
Less important but still encouraging, the outfielder turned DH turned outfielder played an acceptable right field.
Patrolling the outfield for the first time in nearly two years, Stanton handled everything sent his way — and made a strong throw to the plate — in Saturday’s 5-4 win over the Astros in The Bronx.
Playing the field so Aaron Judge could serve as designated hitter while he rehabs his flexor strain in his elbow, Stanton held his own.
He caught a few fly balls and moved around like he has over the past few years: deliberately, conscious not to pull anything.
“I thought he was really efficient, under control,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Talking to him, felt like he moved well.”
Stanton, who had last played the field on Sept. 14, 2023, had his best moment in the fourth. With Jesús Sánchez on second, Carlos Correa grounded a single through the right side. Stanton charged and unleashed a strong, one-hop throw to the plate that proved a half-second late, Ben Rice’s swipe tag not in time, but the throw betrayed no issues from a player with elbow tendinitis.
“Really good throw,” Boone said of Stanton, who had been preparing for over a week to ensure his body would hold up to the added demands.
Stanton, who also contributed a bases-loaded walk and RBI single, said he did not know when he would next play the field but thought it would be “soon.”
“It’s good to be out there,” said Stanton, who enjoyed the roll call again.
In Roger Clemens’ first Old-Timers’ Day, he was back on the mound both to throw batting practice and to pitch in the alumni game — he did not drill any hitter — then remembered both the electric and the strange from 25 years ago.
“The Rocket” recalled what his kids regard as his best game — which was not either of his 20-strikeout efforts.
Instead, it was Game 4 of the 2000 ALCS, in which he struck out 15 while pitching a one-hitter against the Mariners to bring the Yankees to within a game of the pennant.
“My boys at home … point to that game as being the best they’ve ever seen me,” said Clemens, who cannot escape his odd moment from the next series.
In Game 2 of the World Series, he fielded a shattered bat from Mike Piazza and threw it back toward the Mets catcher, leading to both dugouts clearing. Clemens said he was throwing it toward the on-deck circle.
“There was obviously no intent,” Clemens said. “It was weird because the bat took like two bounces and comes right at me. I had great fielding form. … I whistled it over there and everybody made a big deal. But it was a pretty good ways from him. I didn’t know he was running, and Mike said that same thing, too — he didn’t know where the baseball was.
“But my first instinct when I shattered that bat in about four pieces … I thought it was a baseball coming at me.”
Derek Jeter did not attend this year’s Old-Timers’ Day — the first since 2019 that included an alumni game — due to what the Yankees said was a prior family commitment.
Instead, after all the Old-Timers were introduced during an event that celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 2000 World Series champions, Jeter — the World Series MVP during the five-game victory over the Mets — sent a video that was played in The Bronx.
“Hello everyone,” Jeter said. “Sorry I couldn’t be in person this year, but I did want to reach out to say what’s up to my teammates on the 2000 World Series championship team. It’s been hard to believe it’s been 25 years. Twenty-sixth title in franchise history. The last team to win three in a row. Quite frankly it might be the last team you see a team win three in a row. And we beat the Mets on top of it.
“To the Yankees fans, thank you as always for being so passionate and energetic and undoubtedly the greatest fans in the world.”
Without Jeter on hand, the loudest ovation went to Mariano Rivera — before the closer tore his Achilles.
Credit: Source link
