Why the Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton can't run faster, plus more ALDS notes

NEW YORK – The New York Yankees won Game 1 of the American League Division Series without the help of their key stars.

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton each went 0-for-4, and Gerrit Cole wasn't sharp. But it was the team's maligned players that helped the Yankees win Saturday night. Alex Verdugo's clutch RBI single gave the Yankees a late lead, and Gleyber Torres hit a two-run home run. Clay Holmes recorded five outs and looked as good as he has all year.

It wasn't the Yankees' prettiest overall performance, but a win is a win. With Game 2 scheduled for Monday night, here are a few notes about the day off:

Giancarlo Stanton's inability to run was costly in Game 1

According to Statcast, Giancarlo Stanton was the 284th fastest player in the MLB this season among 288 players with at least 100 competitive sprints. Stanton's inability to find extra tackle on the basepaths cost the Yankees two runs in Game 1.

In the bottom of the fourth, with two outs and Stanton on first base, Oswaldo Cabrera doubled into the right-center field gap. The ball escaped Royals centerfielder Kyle Isbel, which should have allowed a normal baserunner to score, especially with the ability to run on contact. But Stanton was pinned at third base. Then Alex Verdugo came out to end the inning.

Then, in the bottom of the sixth, with the score tied at 5-5, Stanton hit a grounder to third baseman Maikel Garcia. Garcia made a diving stop, had time to collect himself and get to his feet to pick off Stanton at first base. Stanton's sprint speed was measured at 25.5 ft/s, which would have been his ninth-fastest speed of the regular season.

GIANCARLO STANTON FLYING DOWN THE BASELINE pic.twitter.com/ve4KRUgudc

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 6, 2024

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked if it was realistic to implement their plans on the bases with someone who runs at “half speed.”

“He’s more than half,” Boone said. “It's a controlled walk that he knows he has to adopt. He burned himself when he tried to accelerate or throttle again. Then he knows he has been (compromised). It's something you have to live with somehow. Whether you’ve seen it over the years with a particular player who is incredibly slow but still effective, we just have to accept that.”

Stanton injured his hamstring while running the bases this summer. He also injured his hamstring last season because he ran harder than usual after hitting the wall twice.

The reality is that Stanton is so fast at this point in his career.

“He’s got to do what he’s got to do,” Boone said. “He tries to reach his top speed as smoothly as possible.”

Stanton finished Game 1 0-for-4 with a walk. When he's not hitting home runs and slugging, his inability to run the bases becomes a disadvantage. — Chris Kirschner

Alex Verdugo redux

All Boone needed was one word to answer whether Verdugo would be back in left field after his great performance in Game 1.

“Yes,” said the manager.

In the week leading up to the series, it had looked like the situation in left field might be uncertain as the starts went to rookies Jasson Domínguez and Verdugo. As recently as Saturday, Boone said he expects Domínguez to play an important role for the team during the playoffs. And maybe that will happen.

But Verdugo proved he was worthy of the Yankees' trust on Saturday when he went 2-for-3 with a walk and RBI single in the seventh inning. He also made two strong defensive plays and his enthusiastic teammates mobbed him in the dugout.

On Saturday, Verdugo told reporters that Boone actually told him he would start Game 1 a few days ago. Boone had kept this a secret while speaking to reporters all week. He was booed at Saturday's player introduction by fans who were frustrated with his performance at the plate in the regular season (a career-low 83 OPS+) and were captivated by Domínguez's upward trajectory.

“Mentally, man, I feel like I'm being completely honest with myself because the fans are booing me, the fans are coming at me,” Verdugo said Saturday. “I understand it. I booed myself too. We went through a course where I just let it get a little out of control. For me, it was just me really leaning on my guys in the clubhouse. They all turned their backs on me.” — Brendan Kuty

Carlos Rodón will start for the Yankees in Game 2 on Monday night against Royals left-hander Cole Ragans. He spoke to reporters on Sunday and provided some interesting information.

On controlling his emotions: Rodón said he expects a wild atmosphere at Yankee Stadium and that he wants to harness “that energy” on every pitch. Rodón has previously spoken about not letting his emotions get the better of him on the mound and that he believes he's done a better job of that this year. But, he added, the fire fuels him. “That’s kind of who I am,” he said. “It’s a fine line – it could take me to very high highs and super low lows. Because it can go either way. It's a double-edged sword. I want to stay on the right side of the line where we want to go high, we’re going up.”

A new diet? Rodón played at a lighter weight this season than he did in 2023. He said his wife, Ashley, helped keep his diet on track. “We had a lot of help figuring out what were the right things to put into the body,” he said. “We all like to eat ice cream. Trust me, I do, as you know. All kinds of sweets. But you have to remember that food is fuel. It wasn't just food. It was about putting in the work and putting in the effort in the weight room.” Rodón mentioned something new he added to his diet. “I don’t like beets that much,” he said. “But it depends on the day and whether they are prepared correctly, maybe with a little feta cheese. I like it.” – Kuty

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