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Audio By Carbonatix
The New York Yankees took a commanding 2-1 series lead yesterday over the Kansas City Royals with a 3-2 win on the road in Game 3 at Kauffman Stadium. While superstar Aaron Judge continues his postseason struggles, it’s oft-criticized Yankee Giancarlo Stanton that keeps stepping up, hitting a home run late in the 8th inning that gave the Yankees the 3-2 lead.
After the game, both players were asked about the postseason and how they approach it. Their answers may illustrate why Stanton is a great postseason player and Judge has historically struggled.
For his postseason career, Judge has slashed .203/.308./440. Those aren’t awful numbers for a normal player. But, when you consider that his regular season career OPS of 1.010, it’s a pretty significant dropoff.
This postseason, he’s 1-11, and has just 2 hits in his last 27 plate appearances in the playoffs dating back to the 2022 ALCS. That is strikingly bad. He’s clearly pressing up there, and is not himself.
Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton has been a monster in his postseason career. He’s a lifetime .973 OPS hitter in the playoffs, 100 points higher than his regular season OPS. He’s 4-13 through three games, including the mammoth home run on Wednesday night.
GIANCARLO STANTON COMES TO LIFE IN THE POSTSEASON ONCE AGAIN!!!! pic.twitter.com/Aaf1b9ou7v
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 10, 2024
Take a look at how each player answers a question about postseason pressure.
Judge and Stanton both asked what makes Stanton so good in the post season. Two different answers.
Judge: “I don’t think the post season or season is any different, he just comes up with big hits when we need him”
Stanton: “The weight of the moment. Every pitch can be the… pic.twitter.com/PjQ0ctvABF
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) October 10, 2024
It seems like Giancarlo Stanton has the right idea.