Ever since the Yankees acquired Giancarlo Stanton in a trade with the Marlins in 2018, the gargantuan outfielder has been a polarizing figure among fans in the Bronx.
Stanton's main problems have been his health and his inconsistency at the plate; fans grow frustrated during his cold spells and feel like he's an automatic strikeout at times. But they sure do love him when he's hot — and, boy, is he hot right now.
Stanton came up clutch yet again this postseason in Monday's ALDS Game 1 against the Rays in San Diego. Stanton launched a grand slam in the top of the ninth to give the Yankees breathing room in an eventual 9-3 win. He has homered in all three Yankees 2020 postseason games, all New York wins.
The Yankees are taking over Slam Diego.pic.twitter.com/XYJl7NGgPm
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 6, 2020
MORE: MLB playoff schedule 2020: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels for every series
As YES Network commentator Michael Kay would say, that was a "signature moment" for Stanton, who has yet to fully gain the type of trust of Yankees fans have in Aaron Judge, his Goliath-esque counterpart who homered in the fifth inning to give the Yankees the lead. It almost feels similar to how Alex Rodriguez was received during his time in pinstripes: Fans were happy to have him, but he always felt like more of a luxury than a player who could help in the postseason the way Derek Jeter, the homegrown product who already had four World Series rings when Rodriguez arrived, could.
Of course, fans warmed up to Rodriguez significantly after his hot hitting in the 2009 postseason — 19 for 52 (.365) with six home runs and 18 RBIs — led them to the franchise's 27th World Series title. If Stanton can continue his current hot streak — 3 for 11 (.273) with three home runs and seven RBIs through three games — and lead the Yankees to their coveted 28th World Series title, then fans would certainly find a place for him in their hearts, too.