Giancarlo Stanton is slow. That’s a common phrase in the baseball lexicon and for a good reason. Though, the bombastic Big G is always just one hit away from changing the game, his best days as a baserunner are behind him. But then that raises an interesting question – Is Stanton actually slow, or does the fear of getting an injury make him slow? Former Miami Marlins President David Samson has given his two cents on this topic.

The New York Yankees have finally made it back to the ALCS. After a disastrous 2023, the team has found a way to win, but they keep consistently winning most games. However, in the center of it all is Giancarlo Stanton, the superstar who almost always comes up with clutch hits. But that doesn’t mean he’s away from criticism. On the contrary, broadcasters have always questioned Stanton’s baserunning. Only this time, Samson is going after the announcer.

“So he’s (Stanton) is not that slow,” Samson said in his podcast. “That’s another misconception that Bob Costas has promulgated. He doesn’t want to go full speed because he thinks he will get hurt and he’s more valuable hitting than running.” One can understand where Samson is coming from. After all, since the turn of this decade, Stanton has struggled monumentally to stay fit. But then Stanton came up with a stolen base in Game 3 (to the delight of every Yankees fan). As for him being more valuable hitting – the answer lies in His numbers.

Giancarlo Stanton led the Yankees in ALDS With 6 hits. However, the most important number is Stanton’s OPS of 1.132. Such was Stanton’s domination against the Kansas City Royals that the Yankee below him in OPS (Oswaldo Cabrera.900) was closer to 4th to Him. Perhaps this is the reason Samson called Stanton the most clutch player that the Yankees have had “since Jeter”. So what does Captain Clutch think of him?

Derek Jeter finds Giancarlo Stanton irreplaceable within the Yankees squad

Giancarlo Stanton has always been a rather polarizing figure within the Yankees fanbase. Though he’s always been a massive game-changer, his high costs and long injuries have proved frustrating for the Bronx Bombers. Despite all of that, Stanton’s importance cannot be understated.

And why is that? Well, Derek Jeter has answered that very question. 

“He’s the one that helps out the lineup. Everyone talks Soto-Judge, Soto-Judge. But Stanton’s the one that can change the game,” Derek Jeter said about Big G. “He can change the series with just one swing.” And that has been consistent with Stanton. When all the bats failed, Big G’s bat guided the team through. His clutch hits and massive mentality have proved a fine advantage for the Yankees; especially when Aaron Judge has struggled. 

So now that Giancarlo Stanton has guided the Pinstripes to the ALCS, one wonders if there’s more gas left in his tank. After all, if the Yankees want to win their first Pennant since 2009, they’d need Big G to do the Big G things. And maybe steal another base to show his speed.

So is Stanton the most clutch Yankee since Jeter? Let us know in the comments.