Everyone entered the season with outsized expectations for Giancarlo Stanton. Why not? The reigning National League MVP was dealt to the New York Yankees and slated to play 81 games in a hitter-friendly ballpark. There was, it seemed, a tangible chance for something special -- something we'd never seen before.
Less than two weeks into the season, Stanton has done something never seen before -- but not in a good way.
On Sunday, Stanton went hitless in seven at-bats while striking out five times. That was Stanton's second such game this season in which he struck out five times and failed to record a hit. No other batter in the live-ball era has ever had multiple games like that in one season.
Giancarlo Stanton is the first player in the live ball era to have 2 games with 0 hits and 5 strikeouts in the same season.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 8, 2018
It's April 8th. pic.twitter.com/TBy91mpYcJ
Yankees fans, perhaps predictably, greeted Stanton's bit of history with more booing:
full-throated boos from the crowd here at the Stadium after Stanton strikes out for the fourth time today
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) April 8, 2018
Stanton is now hitting below .200 on the season. If there is a bright side, he entered the day with a 133 OPS+ thanks to his slugging performance -- five of his seven knocks have been of the extra-base variety, including three home runs.
All the same, it should go without writing that Stanton would like to make more contact heading forward.
