Is New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton actually angling for a playoff return?
Last month, New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton appeared to be nearing a return from a calf injury that had kept him sidelined since late April ... until he injured the other calf while in the final stages of his recovery.
It appeared to be an injury that would rule Stanton out for the remainder of the campaign, and the Yankees seemed to be operating under the assumption that he would be done.
However, manager Aaron Boone recently noted a couple of times that Stanton has been hitting, and while he said that a Stanton return isn't imminent, he didn't completely rule out the possibility of the 36-year-old coming back.
Then, on Tuesday, Stanton was seen doing agility drills in the outfield prior to the back half of the Yankees' doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Is it possible that Stanton could return for the playoffs?
It certainly doesn't seem all that realistic, and the chances of Stanton actually playing in the Wild Card Series seem slim to none. But let's say New York advances to the Division Series. Is there a slight chance he could be back by then?
Let's think about this for a second: there is a weird universe in which the Yankees go on a deep October run and actually get both Stanton and Aaron Judge back in the lineup.
Is it a pie in the sky possibility? Sure. Again, I already said it doesn't seem all that realistic. But I also don't think it's 100 percent impossible.
If Stanton had no chance of returning, I don't think he would be working this hard at the moment. Yes, these guys surely work out regardless, but it seems like the former NL MVP is angling toward attempting a playoff return.
We know what Stanton does in the postseason. He is one of the greatest playoff hitters in MLB history, and his presence in the lineup alone would be significant.
Because of how much focus there is on Judge, Stanton has always been overlooked and, let's just say it, disrespected in Yankee fan circles. And can anyone honestly sit there with a straight face and say they would prefer Judge over Stanton at the plate in a big spot in October?
It's not outlandish to think that the Yankees could get by the Boston Red Sox without both Judge and Stanton. I also don't think it's crazy to say that they can advance to the ALCS sans both sluggers. Have you seen the American League?
If New York does somehow manage to win a series or two, don't be entirely shocked if Stanton channels Willis Reed ... and if Judge follows suit.
