AL DIVISION SERIES: ROYALS VS YANKEES

October 9, 2024

Giancarlo Stanton

Kauffman Stadium

New York Yankees

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Yankees 3, Royals 2

Q. Jazz just said in the clubhouse he could tell you were due for a big night tonight based on the work that he saw you put in earlier today. Did you feel like you were going to have a big night?

GIANCARLO STANTON: Well, can't put all that work in and have zero results, so I'm just glad I was working on the right things and was able to do something tonight.

Q. What is it about the postseason that brings out the best in you?

GIANCARLO STANTON: I mean, this is what I came here for. Not always going to be successful here, but just got to keep working and put yourself in the best opportunity.

Q. What were you working on early today?

GIANCARLO STANTON: Well, I wanted to see the backdrop. I wanted to see how the ball flew a little different way than just our BP, coach pitched. Yeah, just wanted to spread the field out, get some work in when it's a little quiet, get nothing but work in and see what I can do.

Q. (Indiscernible) were you trying to do that or what was your approach there?

GIANCARLO STANTON: I mean, just hit the ball hard. You can't go up trying to hit a homer. But you put yourself on time, and yeah, bat through the zone on time, and it was a good shot.

Q. What were your teammates' reactions to your stolen base?

GIANCARLO STANTON: Probably better than the homer, to be honest. No, it was good. It was an opportunity again that I could take, and I did.

Q. You obviously have seen Judge do damage throughout his career. How confident are you that he'll bounce back and deliver?

GIANCARLO STANTON: He's definitely going to do damage. It's only a matter of time. He's had good at-bats, so yeah, it'll come when we need him most.

Q. Can you take me through the at-bat against Bubic? The pitch right before you hit the home run was another slider but more towards the middle of the plate. What did you like about the one you hit out?

GIANCARLO STANTON: It wasn't a bad pitch. But yeah, just got under the shape, was on time and was able to scoop it out.

Q. How confident are you guys that you can wrap this up tomorrow with Gerrit on the mound?

GIANCARLO STANTON: Yeah, we need to wrap it up tomorrow, no wiggle room, and we've got to get it done.

Q. Do you think about the implication while you're coming up in the eighth inning and it's a tie game and one team is going to be a game away from moving on and one team is going to be a game away from the end of their season? Does any of that enter your mind coming into an at-bat?

GIANCARLO STANTON: Yeah, 1-1 is a huge swing game. But in that moment, not really. You come in the game understanding that, and that's as far as I'm concerned already understood. And then I've just got to focus, laser focus on the at-bat, and good things will happen from there.

Q. This question has come up from time to time this year, but so much attention has been focused on Judge and Soto this year. A little bit less on you. Has it benefitted you in some way to have a little more breathing room, just not as much scrutiny as in past years?

GIANCARLO STANTON: There's no benefit to not being successful here, no matter the case. It's always my job to put the work in, and there's ups and downs, but we're here now.

Q. Is there a reaction either from the crowd or a teammate after the home run that stands out to you that you feel like you're going to remember?

GIANCARLO STANTON: I mean, in those moments there's -- you're kind of blacked out. You've got to watch the video to take in the moments. But yeah, I didn't see directly, to be honest.

Q. Do you think the level of playoff experience plays into this elimination game coming up? Do the Yankees just feel it's part of the team, you guys are expected to advance through?

GIANCARLO STANTON: Expected and getting it done are different. We've got to go out and execute. It doesn't matter rankings, where we are in the series, expectations, whatever. We've got to go out and execute, and it'll take care of itself if we go out and play the way we can.

Q. Jazz got some boos tonight after his comments earlier in the series. What did you think of the way he responded to the crowd?

GIANCARLO STANTON: Great. He loves it. He enjoys it. Yeah, you get the crowd into it and get him distracted on something, and he'll be all right.

Q. What kind of energy has he brought to the clubhouse since he came over?

GIANCARLO STANTON: It's been great. It's been great. Popping homers left and right, is a spark plug on the bases, turning singles, walks into doubles, triples. He's been and will continue to be huge for us.