Stanton calls time when he doesn't need time, a breakdown
What Happened
In a crucial Game 2 matchup of the MLB playoffs, New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton steps up to the plate against Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber. Stanton takes a 2-0 pitch, swinging over the top of it as Bieber prepares to deliver the next offering. The count runs full, and on the payoff pitch, Stanton surprisingly calls time - even though he never steps out of the batter's box or adjusts his stance. Stanton simply says "time, time, time" to disrupt Bieber's rhythm, then immediately resumes his ready position, waiting for the pitcher to throw the next pitch. Bieber complies, and Stanton crushes the delivery for a towering home run, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Stanton's gamesmanship has worked to perfection. Later in the series, in Game 5, Stanton employs the same tactic against Guardians reliever James Karinchak. As Karinchak is about to deliver the first pitch of the at-bat, Stanton calls time, then instantly resets himself in the box, ready to hit. Karinchak tries to avoid the middle of the plate, but Stanton is undeterred, fouling off the next offering. On a 2-0 count, Stanton calls time again, only to immediately resume his stance, daring Karinchak to throw the pitch. The reliever complies, and Stanton launches another home run, extending the Yankees' lead to 3-0. "Usually, batters step out to mess up the pitcher's timing," explains , the baseball analyst breaking down the moments. "But here, Stanton is just calling time to get in Bieber and Karinchak's heads, without actually stepping out of the box. He's ready the whole time, just trying to throw off the pitcher's rhythm." Stanton's unique approach has clearly paid dividends for the Yankees in these high-stakes playoff games. His ability to mentally disrupt the opposing pitchers, all while maintaining his own focus and swing, has given the Yankees a significant edge. As the series continues, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Stanton employs his time-calling tactics again to help propel the Yankees to victory.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentGiancarlo Stan's been doing something
this postseason and that's been cracking
me up I love it this one is brought to
you by DraftKings here he is in game two
against Bieber he's got a 2-0 pitch he's
looked menacing he's ready to go but he
swings over the top of it so Bieber says
let's throw that one again
that's low doesn't get the call kind of
low and away so now it's a 3-1 Stanton's
ready to swing he wants to nope same
exact pitch oh but this time it's a
strike uh oh now the count is full he
can't believe it it's like the same
exact pitch and
by every graphic if they say it's low
and off the plate but called to strike
and it's blessing in disguise for the
Yankees because after the pitch Stan
does what I'm talking about he says time
time time never mind I'm ready
so he let me go back
so he's he's in the Box the pitcher is
about to pick his head up get the sign
and throw the pitch but Stan wants him
to pick his head up and see that it's
time out but Stanton doesn't step out of
the box he doesn't readjust he just gets
himself ready and says come on dude I'm
waiting for you now aren't you gonna
throw the ball to me
let's do it already and then the pitcher
throws it he says Kabam Homer to nothing
us
easy as that
just a little head games now batters
step out to mess up the pitcher's timing
all the time but usually they call out
they call usually they call timeout oh
nice strong guy look at that usually
they call timeout
and then actually step out and just
something fake it but here he is again
in game five and he's gonna get ready
enough time time time and then the
pitchers got to readjust and this is the
first pitch of the at-bat Stanton
doesn't step out doesn't get something
out of his eye doesn't do anything he's
just ready he's just messing with him
so this is the pitch one savali says I
don't really want to come close to you
you're going to swing and Miss at these
pitches pitch two
here we go he's gonna try and go outside
again Stan says not interested now it's
a 2-0 pitch kind of a scary pitch
because you got to come at him he says
time time time time time time and then
immediately is ready to hit it cracks me
up man uh time blue time blue time blue
I'm not ready I'm not ready just joking
I'm ready sucker are you I'm not even
gonna move my feet I didn't even break
eye contact with you are you gonna throw
this 2-0 pitch to me or not I've been
ready the whole time
I'm on I'm waiting on you and then
savali throws the 2-0 pitch bam Homer
three nothing sucker cracking me up he's
calling time just to mess with the
pitcher he doesn't need to time at all
it's just gamesmanship time time time
time okay uh just joking
I'm ready been ready the whole time and
now I'm hitting a home run Kabam
the bat goes up double grabs the bat
yep see ya this one was brought to you
by DraftKings thank you DraftKings
appreciate you as always for sponsoring
these breakdowns