New York Yankees fans aren't happy with third place.
Yankees Facing Backlash for Giancarlo Stanton Decision Before Astros Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The New York Yankees are lucky that slugger Giancarlo Stanton is healthy, as they need all the help they can get right now. They're in third place in the AL East and 1.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final AL Wild Card spot heading into Friday night's slate.
Stanton hasn't played 140 games in a regular season since 2021 and hasn't played 150 since 2018, his first year with the Yankees. The 35-year-old was out until June this season with tendinitis in both elbows, but he's currently slashing .268/.340/.528 with 10 homers and 28 RBI over 37 games. That's his best slash line since 2021, when he slashed .273/.354/.516.
However, the Yankees benched Stanton against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday and Wednesday, although he did pinch-hit on Tuesday. The former Miami Marlin is also out of the team's lineup for its Friday night tilt with the Houston Astros, via its social media.
Superstar Aaron Judge will take the designated hitter slot once again as he rehabs his elbow injury. The ailment is currently preventing him from throwing at full capacity, although he did play catch with Stanton at the Rangers' Globe Life Field on Wednesday, via The New York Post's Greg Joyce.
The latter player hasn't played in the field since 2023, and New York manager Aaron Boone is sitting him out instead of testing his defensive capabilities at the moment. That creates a loss offensively, as Stanton slashed .284/.346/.635 with eight homers and 20 RBI in July.
However, Boone said "there's a good chance" that the veteran will play the outfield on Saturday, via SNY.
Friday Night Lights. #RepBXpic.twitter.com/weagkDEagd
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 8, 2025
Still, Yankees fans on social media are not pleased that Stanton is sitting out Friday's game.
"Did Stanton get traded?" one asked.
"No Stanton again," another said.
"Benching your hottest offensive player is a choice," another said.
"Where is Stanton?" another asked.
"Nothing says incompetence like finding a way to have [Austin] Wells in the lineup and not Stanton!" another said.
Yankees Fans Are Upset With the Product
While the Yankees haven't won the World Series since 2009, they still lead all major North American professional sports teams with 27 championships. Therefore, it's no surprise that their fans are complaining even though the squad is in playoff position, which would be an accomplishment for lesser organizations.
Boone has been the manager since 2018, and he has yet to deliver a title. He led the team to the World Series for the first time last season, but it lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. That's not a notable track record for a manager of an all-time great franchise, and it doesn't help that the Yankees are currently 6.5 games out of first place in the division. Until he finally leads the squad to the mountaintop, fans will continue to complain about his decisions daily.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
