Exhibition Explosion

 
While I saw the Yankees (travel squads) four times, this year's Spring Training vacation didn't include a stop at Steinbrenner Field.  Since teams usually send just a few starters to away games, that meant I watched the new and improved Giancarlo Stanton.   But anyone tuning in last night on YES got to witness it for themself -- albeit in a game that didn't count.  Three home runs, two of them monster shots: a first inning blast that hit off the top of the batter's eye in center field; and equally potent rocket that soared over the left field scoreboard for a second inning grand slam.  Tack on a third homer that traveled "just" 426 feet to center, and you've got well over 1300 feet of pure production.  The Yankees DH capped his night with a sacrifice fly for eight RBI's.  

(Not seeing Stanton or Steinbrenner Field in person, these images are from my archives -- both timestamped 2018, his first season in pinstripes.)

I didn't realize -- did you? -- that Stanton has never hit more than two home runs in a regular season game.  So maybe last night's explosion is a hint of a monster season that begins a week from today.  After all, this is the time of the baseball year one can bathe in optimism.







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