Robert Sabo for the NY Post

With a 6-5 victory in Game 1, the New York Yankees take a 1-0 lead in the American League Division Series (ALDS) against Kansas City Royals. Gleyber Torres, Austin Wells, Juan Soto, and Alex Verdugo delivered crucial runs and RBIs before Luke Weaver secured his career-first playoff save.

Having said that, New York Yankees stars Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton had an off day as they struggled to get outside the batter’s box. Stanton, especially, is posing a threat to the Yanks offense due to his limitations. The Yanks, meanwhile, are forced to make peace with it to keep the powerful hitter less prone to injury.

Giancarlo Stanton’s Lack Of Speed Limiting His Efficiency On Base?

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In a significant development, the New York Yankees and manager Aaron Boone have accepted Giancarlo Stanton’s limited speed as part of keeping him healthy, both in the regular season and now in the playoffs. Stanton, who has dealt with recurring lower-body injuries, including calf, hamstring, and quad issues, struggled to score in key moments during Sunday’s ALDS Game 1 win over the Kansas City Royals. He failed to score from first on Oswaldo Cabrera’s double to right-center and couldn’t beat out a chopper to third with Juan Soto on base, potentially costing the Yanks two crucial runs. “It is something we’ve kind of got to live with. He’s trying to get to what is his top speed in a fluid way,” Boone said on Stanton’s limitations.

Moreover, Aaron Boone further acknowledged that the team is aware of Giancarlo Stanton’s limitations and is trying to avoid putting him in situations that could risk further injury, particularly in October when every out counts. Despite his slow sprint speed (5.07 seconds to first base, the third slowest in MLB during the 2024 season), Stanton remains a key player for the New York Yankees. Boone explained that Stanton’s running style has been modified to prevent injury, a lesson learned from previous seasons when pushing himself led to setbacks. Having said that, even though Stanton’s speed has diminished, Boone insists that this careful approach allowed Stanton to stay on the field longer this season. His 2024 campaign marked his most games played and plate appearances since 2021, and his offensive numbers, including a higher OPS, reflected this precisely.

Carlos Rodon Wants To Feed On Yankees Crowd’s Energy

Carlos Rodón of the New York Yankees walks around the stadium after a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 22, 2022 in the Bronx, New York. (New York Yankees/Getty Images)
New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon is gearing up for his playoff start, drawing motivation from the electric atmosphere at the Yankee Stadium. “The energy definitely fuels me. I’m going to try to use that to my advantage for sure,” Rodon said ahead of his ALDS Game 2 start against the Royals.

Carlos Rodon has faced challenges this season but sees the postseason as an opportunity for redemption. He acknowledged that the Yankee fans’ loud support can be a double-edged sword but plans to use it to his advantage. Hence, this matchup offers Rodon a chance to prove his worth in the postseason spotlight and help the Bombers on their quest for a deep playoff run.