Red Sox Nightmare: Giancarlo Stanton joins Aaron Judge with Yankees
By Earl Nash
Giancarlo Stanton, the “Next Babe Ruth,” will team up with AL ROY, Aaron Judge in the 3-4 slots of the Bombers’ batting order. What can the Red Sox do now?
It’s the worst nightmare for the Boston Red Sox since they sent Babe Ruth to the Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, back-to-back, in the 3 and 4 slots in the Bombers’ batting order.
As Elias pointed out via ESPN, there’s been only one other time when the team with the most home runs added the player with the most home runs: 1919, when the Yankees traded for Ruth.
The only other team to lead the majors in HR and then add the individual HR leader for the following season was the 1920 Yankees, who acquired Babe Ruth from the Red Sox on Dec. 26, 1919 (h/t @EliasSports)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 9, 2017
New Yankee manager Aaron Boone has a run-producing machine. He can generate tons of runs from just the first five slots in the order.
If Stanton bats cleanup, he provides “protection” for Judge in the three hole; pitchers cannot “pitch around” the AL ROY, which means he will see more hittable pitches; think fastballs.
If Gardner leads off and is followed by another OBP hitter, it makes it likely that one of them will be dancing off first with Judge at the plate, who can expect fewer breaking balls, especially curves with the a man on first.
In this scenario, the Yankees’ No. 1 or No. 2 batter is on and the other had made an out.
Here’s the sliver of a silver lining for the Red Sox: it will take the Two Beasts some time to rumble down to First and give the Red Sox a shot at a double play.
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The key for the Yanks is to put two batters in the 1-2 slots, who have good batting eyes and high OBP.
With HRs waiting in the 3-4 slots with Judge and Stanton, a base runner [or two] would be worth RBIs for the Two Beasts.
Seeking a No. 5 batter to protect Stanton, Boone would likely turn to his DH, who is more and more likely to be fumble fingers catcher Gary Sanchez.
While this is not the fabled “Murderer’s Row” of Ruth’s era, the first five batters in the Yankee order are poised to produce as many runs.
How can the Red Sox counter such a run producing quintet?
- Avoid walking either of the first two batters.
- If you must throw fastballs, place them in their weakest hitting zone.
- Although adding to pressure on the catchers with a man on base, work in breaking balls.
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Or, the Red Sox can add power to their batting order, signing FA J.D. Martinez and trading for Jose Abreu, and just out-power the Bombers with 9-7 game scores.