Don Mattingly not shocked by fans’ tough love with Giancarlo Stanton

 

Giancarlo Stanton was never truly exposed to an onslaught of boos from disgruntled Marlins fans during his playing days in Miami. But the reigning National League MVP is experiencing the side effects to skids and slumps in the Big Apple, and Stanton’s former manager isn’t surprised by the harsh response from Yankees fans.

“It’s New York,” Marlins’ skipper Don Mattingly told the New York Post prior to Miami’s 12-1 loss to the Yankees on Monday. “You struggle, you pay, that’s all there is to it. It’s a day-in, day-out place. It doesn’t matter what you did last year. I’m not surprised by it, but also in the same sense, I know it changes once he gets his feel and stuff like that.”

Take Mattingly’s thoughts into consideration. He played 14 seasons at first base with the Yankees from 1982 to 1995, and during that time, the franchise was in a rut. Although Mattingly’s first playoff appearance came in the final year of his career, he hit .307 lifetime in pinstripes, and in 1985, won the American League MVP award. 

In Stanton’s short time with the Yankees, things haven’t gone his way. In 59 at-bats (.220 average), he’s struck out 25 times, and on Monday night, he went 0-for-3 and heard the boo birds in full song once again.

Although Stanton is a formidable veteran slugger, his past accomplishments and accolades have little bearing in New York, according to Mattingly. Perhaps Stanton knew this already, since he elected to waive his no-trade clause and accept a trade to the Yankees over the winter.

But Mattingly told The Post that there is still no way of knowing how Stanton will react to the levels of criticism and adversity from New York fans moving forward.

“I think that’s the one thing you never know,” Mattingly said. “That’s the only thing you really don’t know. Anybody that comes to New York — I’ve seen a lot of guys come into New York from other organizations while I played here, it’s just a different place. It’s just not the same. So you gotta go out and prove yourself on the field.

“You don’t really have any money in the bank. You come here as a free agent, you have no collateral. You gotta go show it.”

Granted, Stanton wasn’t a free agent. But Mattingly doesn’t seem to be interested in helping Stanton climb out of his hole.

 

JUDGE MAKES HISTORY… AGAIN

During the second inning of Monday’s game against the Marlins at Yankee Stadium, Aaron Judge hit a solo home run to the right-center field seats — his fourth blast of the season. 

As a result, the 25-year-old slugger became the fastest player in Major League history to reach 60 career home runs (197 games). The record was previously held by Mark McGwire, who hit 60 homers in 202 games.

“Happy to add another run to the board and help our team win,” Judge told NJ.com after the game.

In 15 games this season (57 at-bats), Judge has slashed .351/.479/.614 with three doubles, 13 walks, and 11 RBI. He also extended his current hitting streak to 12 games.