The Bold and the Brittle

Shohei Ohtani grabbed a headline Monday with a three-run homer that helped lead the Angels to a 7-4 win over the Indians. Crushing a ball that was almost at eye-level, it was his major league-leading 13th of season; according to MLB.com, it traveled 431 feet. It continues the renaissance of this remarkable two-way talent, who appears healthy again after arm problems kept him from showing his remarkable combination of skills.

Giancarlo Stanton, on the other hand, landed on the Injured List. A pulled quad will sideline the stunningly fragile Yankee for a while, ending what had been a hot start to his 2021 -- but not as hot as Ohtani's. After playing in just 41 of 222 games in 2019 and '20, it appeared that an off-season of a new fitness routine incorporating yoga might keep him in the lineup most of the time. But Monday's announcement -- piled on top of the absence of Aaron Hicks, Gleyber Torres and Rougned Odor -- will only fuel more unhappiness from Yankee fans who wonder if they'll ever see the ex-Marlin with the massive contract tap his full potential.


 

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